Book Review: 'The Journey about Me and My Son', or how to remain hopeful in times of distress

The author reminisces about the growing-up days of her son right from when he was a toddler. She remembers the pranks and mischievous acts her son indulged in as a small kid. She notes how, like other parents, she and her husband recorded videos of all the special moments of their son’s antics and fun times.

Then she comes to the point in the book where her son was noticed behaving restlessly and absent-mindedly. While narrating her son’s behavioral oddities, she cautions other parents and asks them to be more attentive towards their kids’ behavioral patterns, as ignorance of such critical things can often land a child in trouble later.

She has elaborately described each incident involving her son at school and at home. She helps us see the significance behind each event where her son might have exhibited a different behavioral pattern from other kids of his age. Alongside, she also explains what actions could have been taken during those times to avoid the incidents.

As the narrative progresses, the author comes forth as a strong mother who did not give up dreaming a good future for her son even when he was diagnosed with dyslexia, dyscalcia, and dysgraphia.

She became his support system, and her purpose in life was to make her son stand before the world as a normal boy. She relates how the negative comments coming from people around her did not dampen her confidence and determination; rather she fought against all odds to give a normal life to her son.

She gives details about the therapy period of her son, and the problems that arose during that time. The entire narrative, besides being interspersed with tips from the author about the symptoms of ADHD and techniques to deal with it, has a whole chapter at the end of the book listing the solutions in a most detailed manner so that parents facing a similar problem with their children do not have to go through the same hassle as her.

The most interesting feature of the book is that besides being a personal diary, the author as a mother guides and cautions other parents to look out for any signs in their child that strikes as different from the normal, and immediately take the appropriate course of action.

The book is a heart-warming recollection of a beautiful journey of a mother and a son—the narrative touches your heart and explores the pure bond between a parent and a child.

(Reviewed by Suknya Sur)