Comments on: “The Year My Son and I Were Born” A Review (for guys too)

By: FoxyJ

FoxyJ — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:44:56 +0000

I loved the book, and I honestly don’t know anyone with Down Syndrome. But my second child’s delivery was sudden, traumatic, and left me with severe PPD so I could easily relate to that aspect of the book. I also appreciated the honesty and the love that come through; even though we love our children, parenting also includes a lot of difficult moments too.

By: SteveP

SteveP — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:35:00 +0000

You are welcome Kathy, your book deserves much attention!

And if you want to see Thomas’ first year look at this:

–Wonderful!

By: Kathryn Lynard Soper

Kathryn Lynard Soper — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:30:52 +0000

Steve, this review means a great deal to me. Thank you.

Thanks, also, for these generous comments, everyone. I’m grateful to have such readers. And m&m, you’re a wise woman yourself.

By: m&m

m&m — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:40:58 +0000

o learn from her as a writer and wise woman.

Just to be clear — I learn from her skills as a writer, and from her wisdom as well. (I’m tired.)

By: m&m

m&m — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:39:47 +0000

What a great shoutout.

I love your perspective on how it helped you as a man to understand the depths of motherhood. For all that Kathy’s life has faced extra complexity, I was moved that you sensed that some of the complexity is inherent in motherhood.

I feel privileged to call Kathy a friend, and to learn from her as a writer and wise woman.

One quibble I have with this review is that I felt somehow by laying it out in stark contrast w/ “Ensignesque” material, somehow it left me feeling a little like the “courage, determination, and faith” that is also present in her journey was not acknowledged. I don’t think the realism and honesty left those characteristics out. (As a side note, I also think Ensignesque material sometimes does a better job at realism than we want to give it credit for.)

By: Clay Whipkey

Clay Whipkey — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:24:51 +0000

My wife’s brother has Down Syndrome. He is 34. He is in some ways the heart of this extended family, and in some ways the catalyst for chaos. Think of all those times when your young children are moody, stubborn, or throw little tantrums when things don’t go their way. Many parents comfort themselves by thinking its just a phase and it won’t always be like that. For my parents-in-law, this phase has never ended, and never will until either he or they pass away. They have raised him and loved him with extraordinary grace, but not without some pretty hard moments.

And that is not to say its all hard roads. He is often a beacon of innocence and simple love for us. I am personally proud to call him “brother”.

By: Ben Pratt

Ben Pratt — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:12:32 +0000

Thank you, SteveP. You know a review is successful if it makes someone want to actually go and read the book. You = WIN!

By: Thomas Parkin

Thomas Parkin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:35:46 +0000

The best thing, of all the great things, about Sister Soper’s wonderful book, imo, is her willingness to show woundedness. There are very few things our LDS culture needs more than a willingness to show our wounds.

I also felt an immense amount of personal pride that I not only share a first name name, but also a middle name, with her “luminous” son. :) ~

By: Kevin Barney

Kevin Barney — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:58:29 +0000

I bet this is the only review of the book that makes its entree to the subject via chaos theory. A great approach to the subject, SteveP.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:38:05 +0000

I think that a lot of people need to read this book. We had a young man in our ward that was father and mother to his down’s daughter. When I was RS president I had a lot of opportunity to work and visit with him and was amazed at how he handled things. Amazing review.