It's All About Attitude Book Review and Giveaway Closed

It’s All About Attitude, written by Kathy Almeida and Gayle Nobel. Both Kathy and Gayle have a son that is diagnosed with Autism. They met in 1991 and have maintained a friendship from a long distance. Kathy lives in Florida and Gayle lives in Arizona. Together, via email and phone calls, they have written a wonderful book.

This book is all about their attitude towards life, family and raising an autistic child. I found this book to be comforting. Both of their boys are now adults, and the two moms have experienced a great deal in the parallel journey that they both lived. This book is meant to give other moms hope and encouragement as they struggle with their journey. Raising a child with Autism isn’t easy. In the beginning, it feels like you have fallen into quicksand and can’t get out. In time, it does get easier. You learn how to juggle multiple items at one time. You learn how to care for your family and yourself. You also learn that things may never be easy, but with the right attitude, you and your family can live happy and productive lives.

Gayle and Kathy take turns explaining how their attitudes have helped them in their lives. Here is a quote from Kathy, relating a boat ride and her being extremely seasick to life.
“In the midst of all of this, I became aware of something new. Every time we approached a new wave, I would prepare my body by flinching, getting ready to fight the movement. I realized that when I resisted, trying to protect myself, I felt even worse than before. So I decided to use a concept I had heard of – “going with” the movement, versus fighting it. With the next wave, instead of putting my body in fight mode, I relaxed. Something exciting happened. Even though I still didn’t feel like dancing, I wasn’t throwing up.”
“This experience taught me how important it is to relax and go with the flow.”

These two quotes show how life’s lessons, experience, are our greatest teachers. We learn by doing. We learn by living. Yes, we will make wrong choices. Who doesn’t? It is all about attitude. Don’t dwell or feel guilty about the mistakes. Instead, learn from them. Adapt or change things in the present based on what you have learned from your mistakes. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do everything right. To make all the right choices for our special child. The fact is, we are going to make the wrong choices from time to time.

Reading Gayle and Kathy’s book made me realize that I must be doing something right. My son is happy and healthy. He makes progress on his own schedule, not mine, and that is ok. I also learned that I need to take time to focus on my own approach, my own attitude towards my son. I thank them both for reminding me that by changing how I approached situations involving my son, I can help make everyone happier.

This Giveaway will run from May 31, 2009 to June 13, 2009. The winner will be announced on June 13, 2009. This giveaway is for USA and Int’l. Below are rules for entering this giveaway. Good luck.


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