Normal isn't anything more than a setting on the washing machine.... When Sophie was born, she was a beautiful, happy, normal baby girl. There was nothing different about her at all. In fact, the pediatrician mentioned how social she was. However, between Sophie's first and second birthdays, things began to change. Her language stopped developing; she was hardly speaking at all. She didn't seem to notice when someone entered a room. She no longer wanted to play with her friends. Something was different about Sophie, but no one could tell us exactly what it was. Though she seemed to have symptoms of autism, there were no conclusive answers. Could it be sensory integration disorder? Perhaps selective mutism? This is Sophie's story; the story of how a little girl overcame her inability to speak and understand language. It is the true story of my very own precious, amazing daughter and how living with autism has effected each of us. It is compromised mainly of my own blog posts, written as the story unfolded, with details and updates woven in. You will walk along with us and feel our heartache through the pitfalls and rejoice with us through the triumphs. Sophie's story is a beacon of light for other families traversing a similar path. Regardless of where your family might be along this journey, Sophie will inspire you to keep reaching for the light.

"Praised by RJ Palacio as "wondrous"--this moving memoir follows a teenage boy with TC syndrome and his exceptional family from diagnosis at birth to now. "This touching memoir is a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about the real world experiences of a child with craniofacial differences and his extraordinary family. It's also more than that. It's a story about the love between a mother and a son, a child and his family, and the breadth of friends, helpers, and doctors that step in when the unexpected happens. It's a story that will make young readers reevaluate the word "normal" -- not only as it applies to others, but to themselves. Any book that can do that is pretty wondrous, as far as I'm concerned." --R. J. Palacio, author of Wonder"--

In a fascinating and compelling description of one mans search for satisfaction and fulfillment, the author learns that the dissatisfaction that overwhelmed his life found its root cause in his lack of intimacy with Jesus Christ. (Practical Life)

There are so many people in this world who are struggling with all sorts of problems and there are so many people who are going through life so heavily. It is my firm belief that the reason for this is that they do not have the right mentor/master. In the Indian cultural traditions, the importance of the Guru can be understood by giving the second Place after ‘mother and father’, Hence, the elders said that… “Matrudevobhava…Pitrudevobhava…Acharyadevobhava..” I do not know if I have the experience and qualifications to talk about a Guru…but Through all the problems I have seen so far in my life journey, the many problems I have encountered, the many experiences I have overcome, my experiences in life, the lessons I have learned from those experiences, the knowledge I know, a strong desire has arisen in my mind. Then I decided to write a book on the subject of the greatness of the Guru, the need for a Guru, and why the real Guru should be in our lives, with the firm feeling that the greatness of the Guru needs to be known to all the experience which I know in the life I have come across.

Labeled "dyslexic and profoundly learning disabled with attention and behavior problems," Jonathan Mooney was a short bus rider--a derogatory term used for kids in special education and a distinction that told the world he wasn't "normal." Along with other kids with special challenges, he grew up hearing himself denigrated daily. Ultimately, Mooney surprised skeptics by graduating with honors from Brown University. But he could never escape his past, so he hit the road. To free himself and to learn how others had moved beyond labels, he bought his own short bus and set out cross-country, looking for kids who had dreamed up magical, beautiful ways to overcome the obstacles that separated them from the so-called normal world.--From publisher description.

Joseph Noshpitz was at the forefront of psychodynamic treatment and research with children and adolescents. These previously unpublished papers are introduced by experts who contemporize and contextualize the work for the modern reader.--[book cover].

When her husband died suddenly on New Year’s Eve, Carol was left to raise their six boys, ages 11 months to 16 years.