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Easy to Love but Hard to Raise: Real Parents, Challenging Kids, True Stories

June 12, 2025 by jennifer Leave a Comment

If there’s anything the 32 parent-writers and 15 experts of Easy to Love but Hard to Raise want you to know, it’s this:

YOU ARE NOT ALONE We’ve been there. We’ve done that. We’ve navigated the system. Some of us succeeded. Some failed. We’ve been judged by friends, teachers, family, & strangers.

We’ve gotten the phone calls & the looks. We’ve done things we never thought we’d do, good & bad. We’ve been up nights, cried in our pillows, and screamed in frustration.

We’ve doubted ourselves, our children, & our partners. We’ve had to educate everyone, including our children’s doctors. We are parents of children with alphabet soup diagnoses, invisible special needs, behavioral problems.

Our children are easy to love, but oh, so hard to raise.

This post contains affiliate links.

Easy to Love but Hard to Raise: Real Parents, Challenging Kids, True Stories

Easy to Love but Hard to Raise: Real Parents, Challenging Kids, True Stories

By Kay Marner, Adrienne Ehlert Bashista

Easy to Love but Hard to Raise is an anthology of personal essays written by parents of children with ADD, ADHD, OCD, PDD, ASDs, SPD, PBD and/or other alphabet soup diagnoses that takes the already difficult job of parenting and adds to the challenge.

These essays focus on honest feelings, lessons learned, epiphanies, commonplace and extraordinary experiences. They are written by parents of toddlers, young children, teens, and adult children; those who are in the parenting trenches now, and those looking back on their parenting experiences.

Topics include :

  • how children came to be diagnosed
  • the experience of dealing with problem behaviors in various contexts and settings
  • experiences with/feelings about treatment (therapies, medications, alternative treatments)
  • school (and other advocacy) experiences
  • children’s social interactions/friends
  • and the effect of parenting a difficult child on a parent’s emotional and physical health, marriage, and other relationships.

To purchase, click the image/link below!

Easy to Love but Hard to Raise: Real Parents, Challenging Kids, True StoriesEasy to Love but Hard to Raise: Real Parents, Challenging Kids, True StoriesEasy to Love but Hard to Raise: Real Parents, Challenging Kids, True Stories

 

For more reading about special needs parenting:

Mom and Dad, I Need You to Calm Down: Emotional Regulation Skills and Anger Management for Parents Raising Special Needs Children with ADHD, Autism or Anger Problems (Mindful Parenting)Mom and Dad, I Need You to Calm Down: Emotional Regulation Skills and Anger Management for Parents Raising Special Needs Children with ADHD, Autism or Anger Problems (Mindful Parenting)Mom and Dad, I Need You to Calm Down: Emotional Regulation Skills and Anger Management for Parents Raising Special Needs Children with ADHD, Autism or Anger Problems (Mindful Parenting)Positive Discipline for Children with Special Needs: Raising and Teaching All Children to Become Resilient, Responsible, and RespectfulPositive Discipline for Children with Special Needs: Raising and Teaching All Children to Become Resilient, Responsible, and RespectfulPositive Discipline for Children with Special Needs: Raising and Teaching All Children to Become Resilient, Responsible, and RespectfulBecoming a Seriously Happy Special Needs Mom: 21 Steps to Finding Your Happy PlaceBecoming a Seriously Happy Special Needs Mom: 21 Steps to Finding Your Happy PlaceBecoming a Seriously Happy Special Needs Mom: 21 Steps to Finding Your Happy PlaceThe Other Side of Special: Navigating the Messy, Emotional, Joy-Filled Life of a Special Needs MomThe Other Side of Special: Navigating the Messy, Emotional, Joy-Filled Life of a Special Needs MomThe Other Side of Special: Navigating the Messy, Emotional, Joy-Filled Life of a Special Needs Mom

 

Special Needs Resources

  • Growth Mindset Parenting Guide
  • Printable Visual Schedule for Special Needs
  • Parenting Principles – Ebook and Workbooks
  • Daily Routine Visual Schedules

Related

Filed Under: ADHD, Books Tagged With: Challenging Kids, True Stories

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