The tortuous path of parents of autistic children

Tuesday's books - Lauriane Pipoz

In his first novel, A happiness I wish to no one, Samuel Le Bihan talks about autism through the character of Laura. Laura is the mother of two children, including an autistic boy. Having refused to place him in a psychiatric hospital, she is the founder of a structure that accompanies autistic children in their differences.

Parents of of autistic children face a number of challenges that we don't necessarily think about. After the diagnosis is announced, it's a matter of holding on to cope with outbursts of anger, the insensitivity of others and the administrative challenges that are particularly numerous in France. And without wavering: autism does not allow doubt. The slightest insecurity or unforeseen circumstance can cause a state of anguish that can materialize into a crisis.

A path strewn with pitfalls

«In the spring, however, we had to start from scratch, or almost: we had to put together new files, go before the school medical services and psychologists to prove that he could not only move up to the next class, but also stay in school. This may not always be the case... Nothing can be taken for granted, especially for César.»

This is the Laura's story. It's the viewpoint of a woman who devotes all her energy energy to creating an environment for her child that enables her to make progress. Unfortunately, she sometimes forgets about the other people around her and often herself.

Touching on such a sensitive subject, this book is of course more than just fiction. You probably had to be close to this reality to be able to write it so well. Through his main character, Samuel Le Bihan shares his experience as the father of an autistic child, as do many parents in France. In shaping Laura, he drew not only on his own experience, but also on the experiences of the extremely devoted mothers around him. These mothers have to fight to be heard in a country where this disability is poorly understood and therefore poorly treated.

Sensitive descriptions

Over the course of 247 pages, we experience with the main character all her victories and failures. The author gives us privileged access to Laura's thoughts, thanks to her first-person narrative. first-person narrative. It's easy to identify with overwhelmed mother who tries to do her utmost for her child while juggling the structure she's created, the education of her first son, her work and her well-being.

«I think it's by doing this that we end up accepting a life that's too narrow. We give ourselves good reasons to be right and we're neither happy nor unhappy, we're just surrounded by choices that aren't ours and we accept out of habit.»

But Samuel Le Bihan has chosen a very positive angle to tell us this story. He reminds us that battles can bring us great satisfaction, and that we shouldn't miss out on our lives. Despite its powerful message, the book leaves us full of hope.

«For those who find the use of good points inappropriate, let me remind you that life is full of rewards and punishments. Children with autism need encouragement so badly that I can't imagine how lacking it is in our society. So let's go for it, let's value what's beautiful, what's successful, what moves things forward, it's so much nicer to live looking at the glass half full.»

Samuel Le Bihan
A happiness I wish to no one
Flammarion
2018
247 pages

Write to the author: lauriane.pipoz@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © Jonas Follonier for Le Regard Libre