Different Dream Parenting {book review & giveaway!}
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I don't have a child with special needs, but I do lead a growing special needs ministry at a large church. Because of that, I seek out blogs and books and other resources that can help me gain insight into the families I work with each week. Different Dream Parenting: A Practical Guide to Raising a Child with Special Needs is a book that is both useful to me and the families I serve alongside each week.
I first met Jolene Philo eight months ago, when she was speaking about "Reconciling Dreams and Banishing Guilt" at a special needs ministry conference. I sat front and center during her session and took copious notes; I still refer back to that packet often and recently scanned it so that I could have easy access to it electronically.
What I like best about the book is the clear outline and practicality. While raising a child with special needs, parents won't be able to luxuriate, book in one hand and chilled beverage in another, by the pool. No, they might instead be looking for one specific section that relates to their struggles in that moment. To that end, this book is organized:
From the standpoint of a special needs ministry leader, this is helpful because each parent doesn't have time to describe their emotions and circumstances in as much detail as we'd both like. Just as stretching out with a book by the pool isn't likely, neither is a sustained conversation for many of the parents I work with each week. This book is that sustained conversation for me when I need it.
When I'm supporting a family through a diagnosis or helping one of our pastors do so, I turn to the first section. Visiting a family in the hospital? There's a section for that. Loving a family through the loss of a child? That's here too (though if you're like me, you'll need an entire box of Kleenex for that section). Understanding parenting realities for these families? Yep, that's covered in depth.
If that wasn't enough, the appendices include several prayer guides, each lasting thirty days and including a Bible verse or two and a prayer stemming from that passage:
And not only did I want to share with you how valuable I think this book can be, but I'd also love to share a copy with one of YOU! You can join the giveaway in five different ways:
The giveaway ends at noon Eastern time on Friday, December 9, so don't delay!
I was provided two copies of the book from the publisher, one for my review and the other to give away to one of you! I was not required or ask to write a positive review, just an honest one.
What I like best about the book is the clear outline and practicality. While raising a child with special needs, parents won't be able to luxuriate, book in one hand and chilled beverage in another, by the pool. No, they might instead be looking for one specific section that relates to their struggles in that moment. To that end, this book is organized:
- Diagnosis: From Ambushed to Advocate
- Hospital Life: From Confused to Confident
- Juggling Two Worlds: From Chaos to Calm
- Long-term Care Conditions: From Trepidation to Triumph
- Losing a Child: From Loss to Comfort
- Raising a Survivor: From Fragile to Fearless
From the standpoint of a special needs ministry leader, this is helpful because each parent doesn't have time to describe their emotions and circumstances in as much detail as we'd both like. Just as stretching out with a book by the pool isn't likely, neither is a sustained conversation for many of the parents I work with each week. This book is that sustained conversation for me when I need it.
When I'm supporting a family through a diagnosis or helping one of our pastors do so, I turn to the first section. Visiting a family in the hospital? There's a section for that. Loving a family through the loss of a child? That's here too (though if you're like me, you'll need an entire box of Kleenex for that section). Understanding parenting realities for these families? Yep, that's covered in depth.
If that wasn't enough, the appendices include several prayer guides, each lasting thirty days and including a Bible verse or two and a prayer stemming from that passage:
- Thirty Prayers of Dependence
- Thirty Prayers for a Hospital Stay
- Thirty Ways to Pray for Your Family
- Thirty Prayers for [Your Child's] Educators and Therapists
- Thirty Prayers for Grieving Parents
- Thirty Scriptures to Pray for Your Children.
And not only did I want to share with you how valuable I think this book can be, but I'd also love to share a copy with one of YOU! You can join the giveaway in five different ways:
- Leave a comment on this post letting me know why you'd like a copy. (For example, are you a special needs ministry coordinator? a parent of a child with special needs? a Christian who would like to be better equipped to support friends who have a child with special needs? is it for you? your church library? a friend? a pastor?)
- If you have a special needs ministry established at your church, leave another comment with your church name and city and website.
- Follow the blog using one of the options on the right side of the page, and leave a comment stating "I followed your blog!" (Or, if you already follow it, add a comment telling me, "I already followed your blog!")
- Subscribe to the blog by entering your email address in the box just under my picture on the right side of the screen, near the top, and - you guessed it! - leave a comment saying something like "I subscribed!" (Or, once again, "I already subscribed!" works too, if that's the case.)
- Go to The Works of God Displayed Facebook page, and "like" it. And then - once again - leave a comment with something like, "I liked this blog's Facebook page!"
That's FIVE different entries if you are willing to do each one AND leave a comment for each entry. And, because I want the word to get out about this giveaway, I'll offer an extra entry if you blog or tweet or post on Facebook about this giveaway, including a link to this post. The more, the merrier when we're getting the word out about a helpful resource, right?
The giveaway ends at noon Eastern time on Friday, December 9, so don't delay!