This is an autobiographical novel that delves into the experience of raising a child with autism. Written from a mother’s perspective, the narrative revolves around her 9-year-old son, Daniel, and the challenges they face together. It explores the difficulties she encounters in her journey as a parent and the strain of getting through each day. Yet, it is also a story filled with love.
What sets this novel apart is its straightforward and simple language, which candidly reveals the intricacies of life with an autistic child. It portrays the myriad nuances involved in navigating this challenging situation, addressing both the everyday dilemmas, such as handling her son’s aggressive behavior, and the larger challenges, including explaining his condition to others. It paints a portrait of an unconventional family profoundly impacted by their eldest son’s autism, a life that oscillates between meticulous routines and unexpected chaos.
The narrative shifts between struggling to articulate the experience and moments when words flow effortlessly. This juxtaposition beautifully captures the ambivalent emotions the mother experiences. The novel’s straightforward and unassuming language carries the weight of its tough and challenging themes, making it a work that is both poignant and, at times, even humorous.
One of the heartwarming activities shared by the mother and son is driving in the car, listening to music, and singing along. This ritual is as close as they come to having a conversation, and a spontaneous declaration of love from her son during one such moment becomes a profound source of relief.
The family grapples with a system that doesn’t accept their skepticism about the diagnosis, resulting in delays in getting the help they need to care for their son. Their refusal to accept the label “mentally disabled” results in their son being placed on waitlists for institutions, leading to the mother’s persistent efforts to navigate the bureaucratic system for a few days of respite each month.
The mother confides in her psychologist but finds little guidance and resorts to researching her situation on her own. She grapples with overwhelming anger and frustration that she fears might harm her son, yet at times, it provides the motivation to persevere.
For the parents, Daniel is not just a boy with autism, but a child with a unique personality. They fondly remember a time when he was like other children, bright, inquisitive, and quick to learn. However, at the age of three, he began losing his ability to speak. Despite their efforts, professionals see a different child from what the parents remember, and the mother feels like she’s losing her son amidst a sea of diagnoses.
The novel is a portrayal of a mother who continues to soldier on despite self-doubt. She worries that if she only discusses the difficulties with psychologists, they won’t see the positive moments. When purchasing medication, she faces judgment from the pharmacist for acquiring sleeping pills for her son, despite a doctor’s prescription. Her persistence and love drive the narrative, illustrating the challenges of motherhood in an unyielding system and the unwavering voice of love throughout it all.