Since I am not a mother of a special needs child, I will never truly understand the experience of being one. Despite that, Andrew and Rachel Wilson do an excellent job of inviting you into their lives as parents of two children diagnosed with regressive autism. The Life We Never Expected is their very honest and intimate real-life story of two parents, just like any parents, who had dreams for the children they would have. The plans they made never included the path they now walk as they navigate through the mess, the beauty and blessings of it all; the life they never expected.
Andrew and Rachel Wilson allow you into their world that is full of challenges with loss and unending trust in God as they seek joy in a life they never planned. Have you ever caught yourself eyeing the parents of a child that appears to be failing to discipline? The Wilsons may be those parents. Better yet, if you know their struggles, you may be those parents another is eyeing. Those on the outside – ones who do not have a special needs child – do not understand the process and the energy involved in raising a child with special needs. The morning and the nights are long. The consistent challenges change daily. For the Wilsons, There are no real answers as to why their two otherwise healthy children regressed before their eyes.
The Wilsons walk the reader through the five cycles they went through, each in five stages – weeping, worshipping, waiting, witnessing and breathe – that have helped them navigate through their lives in search of joy. The birth of their son Zeke, his diagnosis and then the realizing their dreams he would never experience. Then their daughter Anna. Her birth brought more hope, then her diagnosis and again realizing their dreams for her would never come to pass. At times while reading, you may feel their sorrow, you may be dismayed by their words, but in the end you may also feel encouraged. Andrew and Rachel are managing through their experiences, their lives with their children the best way they can. All the while Andrew and Rachel cling to God and live the “normal” their lives have become.
You do not have to be a parent of a special needs child to relate to the Wilsons’. Any person whose life may have taken an unplanned direction leaving them feeling confused or discouraged can benefit from the words the Wilsons share.
The Life We Never Expected is available in paperback for $8.64.