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Normal Schmormal

My occasionally helpful guide to parenting kids with special needs

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Normal Schmormal

By: Ashley Blaker
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Summary

The heartwarming and hilarious part-memoir, part-guide from comedian and father-of-six Ashley Blaker, on parenting, adoption and raising children with special needs.

‘A funny, irreverent and loving book’ Daily Express

‘We had such a variety of experts visiting our home, we really needed a revolving door. All these professionals would watch our son playing while shaking their heads and making tutting sounds, like builders considering a bad job you wanted them to fix. “Tut tut tut. No speech, disordered social skills, sensory issues. This is going to cost you!!”’

Ashley Blaker has six children, three of whom have an SEN diagnosis. Between endless meetings, countless therapists, public humiliations, failed playdates, surreal monologues and occasional violence, it’s certainly not what anyone would call a ‘normal’ household – but would he want it any other way?

Normal Schmormal is part-memoir, part how-to guide, highlighting the many challenges, as well as the hugely rewarding elements, of parenting children with additional needs. Written with humour, compassion and a lot of love, it’s a must-read for parents, carers and teachers of children with SEN, either looking for a bit of support or in need of a very big laugh.

©2023 Ashley Blaker Children's Health Fatherhood Parenting & Families People with Disabilities Relationships Special need Funny Comedy Witty Adoption Health
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I’ve never felt so seen as a parent! Great book. Highly recommend to all parents with kids who differ from the norm.

Loved this

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Written with an incredible balance of humour, heart and helpful reminders that as parents were all trying really hard, this is a brilliant read.

Laugh out loud funny, but enormously helpful too.

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On occasion I found this to be stating the obvious.. but I’m guessing, since he had to say it, not obvious to all! Short and entertaining as well as getting over the sheer frustration of dealing with the bureaucracy of having a SEN child and what some of us may be in a position to be able to do to make life less tough, should be a compulsory read for all in or on the edge of this world , it would save a lot of explanations!

Accessible, humorous, informative

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Thank you!!! This is going to help so many children, young people and their families.

Honesty

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This audiobook was Just what I needed! I listened to the whole thing in 3 days and laughed out loud a lot as well as feeling validated, inspired and supported along the way. We have a super fuelled zapper and when we explained the difference between a cold play and a zapper to him by playing him the two artists on you tube so he could see what we meant, he turned around and said no I’m neither of those, I’m a rose. It took us a little time to work it out but in the end we figured out he meant that he was an axel rose! From guns and roses! So from now on, inspired by this fantastic book, our son is now known as ‘the rose’.

Super refreshing laugh out loud ah ha moments!

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