What Color is Monday?: How Autism Changed One Family for the Better

by Carrie Cariello

Overview

"One day Jack asked me, 'What color do you see for Monday?' 'What?' I said distractedly. 'Do you see days as colors?"

Raising five children would be challenge enough for most parents, but when one of them has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, life becomes a bit more chaotic, a lot more emotional, and full of fascinating glimpses into a unique child's different way of thinking. In this moving memoir, Carrie Cariello invites us to take a peek into exactly what it takes to get through each day juggling the needs of her whole family. Through hilarious mishaps, honest insights, and heartfelt letters addressed to her children, she shows us the beauty and wonder of raising a child who views the world through a different lens, and how ultimately autism changed her family for the better.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849057271
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	02/21/2015
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	205,682
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Carrie Cariello lives in Southern New Hampshire with her husband, Joe, and their five children. Her second child, Jack, is on the autism spectrum. She is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post, Autism Spectrum News, and has been published in several local parenting magazines. She is a frequent speaker at autism events, and she blogs regularly about Jack, autism, and motherhood at www.carriecariello.com.

Table of Contents

Note to Self 11

Early Days 17

Jack 25

Beware the Busy Urologist 33

Snowflakes 41

Making Progress: Stretch, Don't Break 53

My Paper Boy 63

When We Can't Find the Words 69

Cookies for Dad 77

A Letter to Henry 85

Lessons at the YMCA 89

The People We Meet 99

Dogs on Parade 105

A Letter to Joey 115

What Does Heaven Look Like? 121

Obsession 131

Karate 137

A Letter to Rose 145

Anxiety and Medication 149

Cariello Cruise 159

A Letter to Charlie 171

Believe and Breathe 175

The Autism in All of Us 187

Signs 193

A Letter from Joey 197

Where We Are Now 201

A Letter to Jack 213

Glossary of Terms 217

Acknowledgements 221

About the Author 223

Editorial Reviews

As the Cariello family faces challenges and fears, readers find wisdom and inspiration in an ingenious love that never gives up. This is a family you'll hold to your heart long after you've turned the book's last page

Mary Johnson

... a positive perspective on the challenges of raising a child with autism... The strength of Carrie and Joe and the love that they obviously share for each other and their family are incredibly inspiring.

Doug Flutie