Boring but …

Listening to the minutiae of someone else’s child’s preferences, likes, dislikes, wills and will nots is excruciatingly dull. However, what emerges from beneath this litany of dull detail is enlightening, reassuring and makes me grateful for the likes of Steph and Chris Curtis in our midst.

These two are saints and they are trailblazers. They have raised not only two children but also nationwide awareness and understanding of the presentation and needs of youngsters with these diagnoses.

I was amazed at how boldly Steph expected Sasha’s needs to be met by her carers and schools: I am always ashamed to ask. From now on I will take inspiration from Steph’s lead and will state my two ND kids’ needs without shame or embarrassment that I’m asking for too much or the feeling that maybe they’re, “not that bad”.

There are also lots of pointers to good resources. I’m already fully involved with Dr Ross Greene’s ideas, but haven’t tapped the PDA Society fully.

Thank you Steph, for documenting your life’s ups and downs and sharing the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

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Knowing we are not alone!

Steph comes across as a methodical mum trying to explain that PDA is something that can be managed (sometimes), when we as a family are struggling to understand and work out how to! It was helpful knowing we are not alone!
Towards the end of the book the PDA and ADHD link especially resonated with us and I think more of this subject would be interesting if Steph follows a diagnosis for her daughter.

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1 person found this helpful

Relief

I found this book a great support, being both informative and heartfelt.
The compassion displayed by the parents is a credit and evidence of their resilience and understanding. The experience they courageously share has been a relief for me as a neurotypical parent of someone who faces challenges I often struggle to understand and indeed accept.
Much appreciation to all the Curtis family for this ‘gift.’
Thank you
W

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Real life experience so valuable

This is a brilliant real life experience of a family who have had their personal challenges and have generously shared to enable others to gain insights that will support children and families in their daily lives. Thank-you so much for this ‘unknown’ aspect of the wide spectrum of autism, hugely appreciated

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A very honest account of life with PDA

I listened to this book and wanted to go straight back to the beginning to start again. I have seen so much of our family in what she writes, and it often made me emotional hearing this. Thank you for reminding me that we aren’t alone.

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Amazing

Amazing content, really highlighting the experience of having PDA in the Family. This is so well written, and it would be great if every professional in education read it. It could give such valuable insight into our children’s inner thoughts, feelings and drives, as well as what the world is like from our perspectives. I can’t praise this highly enough.

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Amazing!!

This book has given me hope again that we are not alone in the journey with our pda young people. I can’t thank you enough.

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Full of lots of things I hadn’t thought of!!

A really great story of one families life with PDA. The issues and challenges of the education system and some brilliant tips for those navigating it!

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clear and honest

I liked the clarity and detail of the book. As a dad of a pdaer I can honestly relate 100% to this book and can back the aproaches and accuracy of the joys struggles and realities of parenting a pdaer. If you are at the start of your jouney this is be a great book to get to grips with the type of things you as a family are dealing with.

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Beautifully read, succinct & relatable

I have been reading articles/websites/blogs about PDA for over 2 years, this is the first book I've picked up about it because living a similar experience, I found it too overwhelming to listen to a whole book about it in our scarce downtime. However, this book SO well articulates the journey of PDA I now don't fear picking up another book on the subject. Steph (and a good, honest chapter by husband Chris) reads her story beautifully, clearly honestly without the doom & gloom that us parents often feel when reading about the complexities of PDA. A big Thank YOU to the author. I hope that family & friends will pick up this book to help understand this very complex way of life.

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