An Unexpected Joy: The Gift of Parenting a Challenging Child [Paperback]

Mary Sharp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2003

Dr. Mary Sharp shares her grief, anger, depression, and now acceptance of her son's autism. This memoir offers parents of autistic children:

• A sense that someone else knows what you’re going through
• Help in dealing with the inevitable emotional and spiritual struggles
• Insights into pitfalls to avoid and issues to address

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Previous title: The Gift of Autism

From the Back Cover

Lost and Found. Nic is a handsome boy who only wants to wear his Batman pj’s and cowboy boots––preferably at the same time. He’s trying to learn, to catch up, but with Nic everything comes more slowly. You see, Nic has autism. Mary is Nic’s mom. A family practice doctor from Michigan, she's spent the past twelve years vacillating between denial, depression, rage, and despair. And now, acceptance. Mary has come to see her son as a true gift from God. But it hasn’t been easy. With a tender strength, her memoir offers: · A sense that someone else knows what you’re going through · Help in dealing with the inevitable emotional and spiritual struggles · Insights into pitfalls to avoid and issues to address Whether or not you have children with autism or other special needs, An Unexpected Joy will speak to your heart. It is a story of realistic hope and emergence––the pain of feeling lost and the joy of being found.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: NavPress; First edition (September 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576834611
• ISBN-13: 978-1576834619
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,325,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book, February 17, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: An Unexpected Joy: The Gift of Parenting a Challenging Child (Paperback)

A friend from church gave this book to my wife to read. Roughly two weeks before that, my son was diagnosed with a mild form of autism. This struck a big blow to me as a father. After reading the book, my wife told me I needed to read it. While I read it, I was transported into Mary Sharp's world as she raised her son. It dealt with many of the issues and questions we had about ourselves and our future. Though not a "text book" like some other books that deal with Autism, "An Unexpected Joy" deals with the emotional struggles that they faced. I could definitely relate as we have been facing the some of the same issues. I would recommend this to any parent, especially those with "normal" kids, because it helps you understand those special ones.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perspective, humor, and honesty., August 21, 2007

By 

MTB "MTB" (San Antonio, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Unexpected Joy: The Gift of Parenting a Challenging Child (Paperback)

The life and world Dr. Sharp writes of is incredibly isolating, but the moments of grace experienced give insight into all of us. Her experiences mirror my family's, but she found the words we have struggled to identify due to exhaustion. Sleep is not for the weak, it is for the survivors. Those with special needs children will, hopefully, see themselves and know they are not alone. Those with friends with children with special needs will see their friends, and know in some small way just what a blessing their relationships are to these families. Those who have limited interaction or understanding of special needs families may gain some understanding and compassion for those so challenged. And those who provide help, via therapists, babysitting, house cleaning, dog walking, anything, may finally know just what angels they are.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars author hates homeschooling????, February 10, 2007

By 

Susan - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Unexpected Joy: The Gift of Parenting a Challenging Child (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book up until chapter 3 when the author launches into a diatribe against homeschooling. She describes her "visceral anger" about homeschooling, creating some of my own anger.