If you missed Part1 or Part 2 of my interview with Virgina G. Breen, I would encourage you to take a few minutes to read them before reading the final installment of our conversation about the book she co-wrote with her daughter, Elizabeth M. Bonker. I AM IN HERE: The Jouney of a Child with Autism Who Cannot Speak but Finds Her Voice is one of my favorite books about autism and hope! I want to extend my appreciation to Virgina & Elizabeth for working with me on this interview and for sharing their wonderful story with the world. ~Leigh
LAW: Finding joy is something you write about eloquently in the book. Raising a child with autism is not easy. It can be downright painful to watch our children suffer, and like in Elizabeth’s case, to watch them physically harm themselves. Would you share a little about how you work to find joy rather than dwelling in dark moments and depression?

If you missed Part 1 of my interview with Virginia G. Breen last week, you can read it HERE. The book she wrote with her daughter, Elizabeth M. Bonker, I AM IN HERE is a must read! I hope you enjoy Part 2 of our interview below. ~Leigh
LAW: You state in the book that it isn’t enough to be a persistent parent when raising a child with autism…that instead you’ve found that being relentless is a must. I adore the 10 Rules you created for yourself. Can you share a little about that thought process so that other parents might create their own “rules” to live by?
VGB: I really appreciate how you understand that these are my Rules and how we each have to make our own. For me, it’s important to recognize upfront that being a parent of a special needs child is hard (Rule #1: Survive) but also full of joy (Rule #9: Celebrate Your Victories) if you make the right choices (Rule #10: Be a Victor, Not a Victim). I just tried to think about what was important to Elizabeth’s success and what it means to be a relentless parent including being upbeat (Rule #8) and keeping her dreams alive (Rule #7). Elizabeth says it more poetically:

With this post, I am thrilled to bring you a brief book review and Part 1 of an interview series with Virgina G. Breen who co-wrote I AM IN HERE: The Journey of a Child with Autism Who Cannot Speak but Finds Her Voice with her daughter Elizabeth M. Bonker.