For the Love of Oscar

by Sarah Roberts

An open and honest account of a first time mum, except things for Sarah didn't pan out the way she imagined they would. When Oscar was diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth, Sarah talks about coming to terms with her new normal . How for a while there she grieved for the baby she always believed and hoped she d have and how she d suddenly found herself on a different path to the one she d always seen herself on. It ll take you on a journey of the very raw and real emotions she experiences, yet it's both heart warming and funny in parts. She talks candidly about the ups and downs of not only parenthood but also parenting a child who happens to have additional needs. About people s attitudes towards her and her child and the ridiculous things some say. She talks about the choices she faced when she made the decision she d like to go on and have more children. The hospital appointments, the therapy sessions, the mountains of paperwork, the tantrums, the tears, the really stinky nappies. Did she mention the hospital appointments? - The juggle IS real.

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 3, 2019

Reviews

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cried and laughed multiple times while reading this book. My son is four and autistic but I could relate to so much of this mums story. The feelings after diagnosis, the exhaustion of bringing up a child with additional needs, the stress, the worry, trying to get them into the right school, dealing with ignorant people, feeling alone when other mums can sit and have a coffee while their kids play but you have to climb on all the equipment with your kid, dealing with communication problems and so on. But all the positives as well, how they communicate with their peers in their own way, how tenacious they are, how they do totally random things like pour sugar on your kitchen floor for fun! I loved the cute pictures of the kids in the middle of the book.

Knocking a star off Cos the book editor needs sacked, I’m a grammar nazi and there were so many mistakes! Didn’t take away from the story though!

[Michelle Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fair play to Sarah Roberts for giving an honest account of her feelings and life with a child with Down Syndrome. It’s neither a happy ever after nor doom and gloom book. It’s just life and dealing with the twists and turns that come your way.

For me it was her openness about the negative feelings she experienced, how people reacted to DS, the struggles with health, the joy and hope she expressed and the blog entries she included from other people that made me love reading her account of family life. She tackled issues head on and didn’t shy away from saying possible controversial things. She’s opened up the discussion of DS and given people like me with limited experience of DS a chance to see it from a mother’s perspective. Great read.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book! I have followed Sarah on social media for a long time and was very excited to read her first book! I even pre-ordered it on Amazon! (I have never pre-ordered anything before!!) A well-written and lovely insight in to the not-so-different world of Down Syndrome! It was great to see Sarah sharing her thoughts and ideas and I wish Sarah every success with the book!

[Bec Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the fist pages I felt like I was reading my own story; then only difference being I’m on the other side of the globe. I cried, I laughed and I nodded, thankful that I wasn’t crazy in my thoughts and feelings having a child with Down Syndrome.

I’ve passed it around to family and friends as it’s easier than trying to explain the complexity of my world.

[Rebecca Sigsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve followed Sarah’s page for a while now and have wanted to read her book for ages. After working with a child with DS a few years back I have become really interested in other families with children with ds. This was raw, funny and a great read all round.

[Amanda Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book. Applaud the honesty