I Wish I Were Engulfed in Flames: My Insane Life Raising Two Boys With Autism

by DECKER,JENI

• ISBN13: 9781620876077
• ISBN10: 1620876078
• Edition: 00
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2013-06-17
• Publisher: FRWHEEL

Summary

Welcome to the down and dirty world of one autism mom'sjourney-from Sex-Ed to Santa Claus. Jeni Decker is five-foot nothing and one-hundred and [redacted] pounds-a selfdescribed roly-poly, forty-something, Reubenesque bon-bon of a gal, oftencalled cute but never sexy. She has two sons with autism on opposite ends ofthe spectrum (Jake and Jaxson), a husband who prefers hunting to householdchores, an Australian Shepherd named Sugar, and an albino frog named HumbertHumbert. This is her story-a brash,personal, and sometimes shocking memoir of one woman's determination to raisetwo healthy kids with autism and keep her sanity in the process. It's not always easy. Between "poop" incidents, temper tantrums,and the "helpful" advice about parenting from her fellow citizens in the grocerystore, Jeni often finds herself at her wit's end. Or wanting to throw something. With chapters like: "Tickling the Weiner,""Why I Hate Pokemon," "Santa: Give it a Friggin' Rest, Already," and "Oprah'sthe Reason My Kid Thinks I Want to Drown Him in the Tub," I Wish I Were Engulfed inFlames also includes mini-chapters written by Jeni's eldest son,Jake. Readers looking for laughter andinspiration will find it here aplenty, along with tons of surreal anecdotesthat will have you either shaking your head in disbelief (for thoseunacquainted with the world of autism) or nodding with recognition (for thosewho are). As Jeni says, "I developed a new 'normal.'" Includes a tongue-in-cheek discussion guide for book clubs with questions like: After reading this book, do you think Jeni is abad person? Discuss. Please take her hemorrhoids, two autistic children, lackof an early moral compass, and the fact that she hasn't taken a nap in fifteenyears into account.