For people who have read this book more than once, did your readings differ over time? If so, why?

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Jennifer Graf Groneberg

I read EA several times before Thomas (son with DS) was born, and once afterward. Each reading has been a different experience. The first time I read, my heart busted open. I had a very strong emotional/spiritual experience as I read about Adam. In fact, from that point on, I suspected I might have a child with DS someday, and I was not nearly as afraid of that prospect as I was before reading the book.


After Thomas was born, the book did not feel as powerful to read, because I knew I had begun creating my own story. But I've taken many potent lessons from Martha's experience and I am now living my own versions.

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Kathryn Lynard Soper

mother of Thomas (DS) 10/2005
Sam - 2003
Matt - 2001
Christine - 1999
Andrew - 1997
Ben - 1994
Elizabeth - 1993

I've just read it twice. I read it right after Avery's diagnosis, when I was reading everything I could get my hands on. I was mostly interested in Adam, so I skipped around a lot, and I can see how that was doing a disservice to the narrative as a whole.

Then this time, and Avery is three. I found myself surprised at how much I missed the first time around (A Rumi poem? Hello?) and felt much more comfortable letting the whole story unfold.

In both instances, I liked Adam best. That hasn't changed.

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Jennifer Graf Groneberg

I read Expecting Adam right after Aaron was first diagnosed. There is no other book out there that talks about what it is actually like to have a child with Ds. In my experience, and through visiting new parents, that's what new families really want to know.

We were given 'Babies with Ds' which is a very medically-orientated book. It reminds me of a medical textbook. Expecting Adam was a nice anecdote to that.

Anyhow, yes, I've read parts of the book over the years. So much so that I've tagged my favourite bits with little stickie flags! I have actually written out excerpts to give to new families. The 'stop to smell the bushes' story is my favourite.

Hi all! So excited about this book club.

I've read Expecting Adam three times. The first a few months after Emma Sage's birth and I read it non-stop [OK, except to feed the children, go to the bathroom, kinda stuff] as I was immediately drawn into to her story, as I had many premonitions during my pregnancy with Emma Sage and it just blew my mind to read a book about someone who has similar spiritual messages during her pregnancy with a child with T21.

I then re-read it after I realized she was writing for Oprah.....and I enjoyed this read, at a much more relaxed pace.

I then re-read it after reading about Martha's own personal life changing events, as I wanted to read her account of her life and marriage at that point and try to fathom the changes that had recently came about. I also read her current book right after this third read, to get a better sense of 'who Martha Beck' was as opposed to the Down syndrome connection.

Anyway, I have a bad case of 'placenta stupidity' as my brain does not retain things as well as it should, so to post on the other threads, I might have to breeze through the book again.

So glad to be here....

Peace, Tara Marie

Hi TM! So good to have you in the discussions!

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Jennifer Graf Groneberg

I read it right after Nick's diagnosis and I didn't like it because I felt she portrayed her son as quite low-functioning and this depressed me. But in the state I was in, I think anything would have depressed me! I read it again when Nick was one and I could appreciate it more.

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Jennifer
Mom to Nicholas (3/31/05)DS
And Baby June (6/29/06)

The first time I read it I enjoyed it quite a bit but the second time it all seemed too magical, too unbelievable. The first time I read it Mikey was less than two so perhaps I was looking for something to help me accept things? Perhaps I was more open to the magical?

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Tom

Dad to Beth (14) and Mikey (10 - Ds and PDD-NOS)
My Blog - Random Thinking


What a difference a haircut makes!

Interestingly enough, I read through EA again about a week before it was announced that we would be discussing this book. I have to admit, the first time I read EA my grief and pain over Polly's diagnosis took precedence. I devoured the parts about Adam and accepted the rest of her journey without much thought. I was quite numb at the time. Definitely in a fog. EA was the first book I read regarding Ds therefore it was a recognition of heart for me. The second read allowed for more scrutiny. The use of hyperbole, odd occurrences and extremes in general bothered me much more. But, I had also learned more about MB, and that definitely colored my opinions. Overall, I still think that her book is one of the best (as far as writing goes) about Ds. Come on, ladies, get your books out there! We need something to sink our teeth into and to help hydrate our souls.

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Gillian
wife to Sergei and mom to Elaina (7), Zoya (5 1/2) and Polina (04/05/06 DS)