Dancing with the Maternal Bond: Life with an Unusual Child

Thea initially wrestles with the idea of motherhood and the threat of losing her identity if she were to become a mother. However, all that is soon consumed by the birth of her first child, Julian, who is developmentally delayed and challenging.

The story follows Thea and her son's struggles to find acceptance in the education system, and mirrors Thea's own internal battles with the realities of having a child with a disability, and the effects it has on her marriage and her sense of self. It culminates with Thea seeking an intimate partner for her son as he approaches adulthood, and her sense of hope that Julian will be able to find love like everyone else. This is ultimately a positive and rewarding story, which will benefit those parents and carers of children with a disability, as well as anyone working in that space. It is also an enjoyable read for those not in the same situation but interested in equality and the human spirit.

AUTHOR:
Born in Perth, Western Australia, Thea Calzoni came to Melbourne in 1990 on the trail of The Jam Tarts, a band supported by her saxophone-playing partner, Ron. She and Ron settled in Brunswick, Melbourne, where they raised two children, Julian and Memphis. Thea has turned her passion for writing for communities, such as the NDIS Every Australian Counts Campaign, into blogging about her own experiences on her website disability-carepeople.com.

ISBN: 9780645069082
Author: CALZONI, THEA
Format: Paperback
Publication date: 01/10/2021
RRP: $27.99
Pages: 224
Dimension: 215mm X 152mm
Imprint: Bad Apple Press