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Summary
Summary
Jeni Decker is five-foot nothing and one hundred and [redacted] pounds--a self described roly-poly, forty-something, Reubenesque bon-bon of a gal, often called cute but never sexy. She has two sons with autism on opposite ends of the spectrum (Jake and Jaxson), a husband who prefers hunting to household chores, an Australian Shepherd named Sugar, and an albino frog named Humbert Humbert. This is her story--a brash, personal, and some-times shocking memoir of one woman's determination to raise two 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 grocery store, Jeni often finds herself wanting to throw something. With chapters like: "Tickling the Weiner," "Why I Hate Pokemon," "Santa: Give it a Friggin' Rest, Already," and "Oprah's the Reason My Kid Thinks I Want to Drown Him in the Tub," I Wish I Were Engulfed in Flames also includes mini-chapters written by her eldest son, Jake.
Readers looking for laughter and inspiration will find it here aplenty, along with tons of surreal anecdotes that will have you either shaking your head in disbelief (for those unacquainted with the world of autism) or nodding with recognition (for those who are). As Jeni says, "I developed a new 'normal.'"
Author Notes
Jeni Decker lives on a farm in rural Michigan with her husband, two autistic sons, an Australian shepherd, and an albino frog named Humbert Humbert. In between kid-wrangling and writing, she is also an independent filmmaker. You can find her at her website: closetspacemusings.blogspot.com or on Twitter @Jeni_Decker.
Reviews (1)
Library Journal Review
Decker, mother of two and an independent filmmaker, has found herself living a life she never imagined as a parent with both sons on the autism spectrum, wife of a husband who doesn't know what to do with boys uninterested in Little League or Yankees games, and caretaker of a dog and albino frog. Decker's memoir is a laugh-out-loud, though often unbelievable look at her daily life and the way she has chosen to embrace the unexpected each day brings. Decker focuses on her sons' abilities and uniqueness rather than their differences. Short chapters by Decker's oldest son, Jake, are included. In the final chapter, "The Weight of Normal," she writes about accepting children for who they are, not who you thought they were going to be-the key to her enjoyment of her children and all the joy and laughter they bring to her life. VERDICT Brash, sarcastic, irreverent, heartfelt, and touching, Decker's memoir is all this and more. Highly recommended.-Lisa M. Jordan, Johnson Cty. Lib., KS (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.