Not What I Expected

Help and Hope for Parents of Atypical Children

By: Rita Eichenstein, Daniel J. Siegel MD - foreword

Narrated by: Rita Eichenstein

A pediatric neuropsychologist presents strategies to help parents of special needs children navigate the emotional challenges they face.

As diagnosis rates continue to rise for autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and other developmental differences, parents face a maze of medical, psychological, and educational choices—and a great deal of emotional stress. With compassion, clarity, and an emphasis on practical solutions, Dr. Rita Eichenstein walks listeners through the five stages of acceptance and helps listeners understand their own emotional experience, so that they can embrace their child with acceptance, compassion, and joy.

©2015 Rita Eichenstein (P)2022 Recorded Books

Heartfelt and affirming

Such a wonderful book that came at the right time. As a single mom with two autistic children, this book gave me hope.

Good points but supports ideas only accessible to the wealthy

there are great points in this book, but the ideas are all exorbitant expensive. Nearly every recommendation revolved around doctors, specialists, private schools, therapists, or8vate medical researchers, and even babysitters for date nights. Frankly, this addresses only those parents who can afford such things. The author also is confusing in her position on alternative treatments stating they are only for wealthy parents who can do so under a supervising medical doctor. She also uses language around how parents need to get on board with their providers treatment plan and trust them, but then also states many patients and patents have been given bad advice from those professionals. This doesn't do any favors for parents by stating they should just trust the experts. She also is a therapist who sees affluent families in an area filled with affluent people. The author is out of touch with the realities of middle and low income families, their ease of access to care and support and is further insulting to parents in those areas by stating they shouldn't do their own research or rely on it. I'm very disappointed in this book.

Excellent book. Poor narration.

The topic of this book is so important. It was very useful for me, and addressed so many issues that come up when parenting a child with special needs. It would be worthwhile getting a professional narrator, especially since many parents of children with special needs do not have time to sit and read a book but can listen to books while multitasking.