I Wish I Were Engulfed in Flames

My Insane Life Raising Two Boys with Autsim

By: Jeni Decker

Narrated by: Tess Malis Kincaid

The down and dirty world of one autism mom's journey - from sex-ed to Santa Claus.

Jeni Decker is five-foot nothing and one hundred and [redacted] pounds - a self-described roly-poly, forty-something, Reubenesque bon-bon of a gal, often called cute but never sexy. She has two sons with autism on opposite ends of the spectrum (Jake and Jaxson), a husband who prefers hunting to household chores, an Australian Shepherd named Sugar, and an albino frog named Humbert Humbert. This is her story - a brash, personal, and sometimes shocking memoir of one woman’s determination to raise two healthy kids with autism and keep her sanity in the process.

It’s not always easy. Between “poop” incidents, temper tantrums, and the “helpful” advice about parenting from her fellow citizens in the grocery store, Jeni often finds herself wanting to throw something. With chapters like: “Tickling the Weiner”, “Why I Hate Pokemon”, “Santa: Give It a Friggin’ Rest, Already”, and “Oprah’s the Reason My Kid Thinks I Want to Drown Him in the Tub”, I Wish I Were Engulfed in Flames also includes mini-chapters written by her eldest son, Jake.

Listeners looking for laughter and inspiration will find it here aplenty, along with tons of surreal anecdotes that will have you either shaking your head in disbelief (for those unacquainted with the world of autism) or nodding with recognition (for those who are). As Jeni says, “I developed a new ‘normal.’”

©2012 Jeni Decker (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Heartbreaking and honest

This book was hard to follow, but I get the author’s need to share her story. I hope she and her family are doing well 11 years later. Absolutely loved the narrator.

I have felt like this mom on numerous occasions.

I love the humor and dry wit of this mom as well as the clearly fierce love she has for both boys. Her son Jake has so much in common with my son with autism that I may be somewhat biased; because I loved hearing someone else dealing with things I feel very alone in sometimes. From the haircut hell, to the Santa list asking for a grappling hook (same!), I loved it.

Great to know I'm not alone.

loved this book!

It is wonderful to know that someone else has similar crazy experiences.

Have re-read many times.

I felt this!

As a momma of a son with Autism, I felt this book to my core. While it is incredibly overwhelming at the time, the ability to look back at situations and laugh is truly a gift. I highly recommend this book to other mamas of Autistic kids and to educators who struggle to imagine the whole picture.

Just no

I only made it about an hour into this book but within the first 10 minutes this woman writes about ignoring all consent and ignoring her child being uncomfortable with physical affection. Can’t support this type of behavior regardless of a child’s disability.