NORMAL SCHMORMAL EB

Ashley Blaker

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Year: 2023
• eBook ISBN: 9780008558123
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

The heartwarming and hilarious part-memoir, part-guide from comedian and father-of-six Ashley Blaker, on parenting, adoption and raising children with special needs.

'A funny, irreverent and loving book' Daily Express

'We had such a variety of experts visiting our home, we really needed a revolving door. All these professionals would watch our son playing while shaking their heads and making tutting sounds, like builders considering a bad job you wanted them to fix. "Tut tut tut. No speech, disordered social skills, sensory issues. This is going to cost you!!"'

Ashley Blaker has six children, three of whom have an SEN diagnosis. Between endless meetings, countless therapists, public humiliations, failed playdates, surreal monologues and occasional violence, it's certainly not what anyone would call a 'normal' household – but would he want it any other way?

Normal Schmormal is part-memoir, part how-to guide, highlighting the many challenges, as well as the hugely rewarding elements, of parenting children with additional needs. Written with humour, compassion and a lot of love, it's a must-read for parents, carers and teachers of children with SEN, either looking for a bit of support or in need of a very big laugh.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Advance Praise
• Advance Criticism
• Copyright
• Note To Readers
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• List of Abbreviations
• Preface
• Introduction
• 1 M is for Meetings, Meetings, Meetings
• 2 Q is for Questionable Social Skills
• 3 D is for Diagnosis Autism
• 4 X is for X-rays and Other Hospital Appointments
• 5 F is for Friendships
• 6 P is for Playdates
• 7 B is for Battles over Food
• 8 Z is for Zzzzzzz
• 9 I is for Ignoring the Idiots
• 10 G is for Getting Help
• 11 Y is for Your Smell Is Too Loud for My Eyes
• 12 E is for Embarrassing Photos
• 13 N is for No Room at the Inn
• 14 J is for Just Not Made for School
• 15 T is for Trips and Vacations
• 16 W is for Waiting for the Bus
• 17 S is for Spouse
• 18 A is for Adoption
• 19 L is for Love Like No Other
• 20 C is for Celebrations
• 21 K is for Kids Have Their Say
• 22 V is for Various Times My Children Have Humiliated Me
• 23 R is for Routines
• 24 H is for Home School
• 25 U is for Unbelievable, But They Really Are Growing Up
• 26 O is for Onwards and Upwards
• About the Publisher