Former deputy headteacher Sarah Chilton is very proud of her son Jamie. Believing him to be far ahead of his classmates in reading, writing and general knowledge, it seems to her he will sail through primary school without any problems. Unbeknown to Sara as he joins Year 2, however, it becomes more apparent that his social skills are discrepant. Inexplicably Jamie falls behind at school, finding it difficult to follow instructions and relate to his peers. His classmates encourage his strange behaviour, which annoys his teachers who believe that he is simply being rude and disruptive. Sarah and her husband Matt have very different parenting styles, which often leads to arguments. Matt, along with his interfering elderly mother, believe that Sarah's more relaxed approach to parenting is the reason behind Jamie's unacceptable behaviour. As the years roll by, the Chilton family is rocked by a series of stressful events which affects the family dynamics, push Matt and Sarah further apart and affect all who come in contact with Jamie, hence, the title, Ripples in a Pond. At their wits' end, Jamie's teachers eventually seek professional advice. An unexpected diagnosis is reached which explains why his behaviour has been so unusual, but unable to accept it, Matt makes a seemingly irrevocable decision. Heartbroken, Sarah has to come to terms with her new reality: bringing up two children without her husband's co-operation. Can her marriage survive, and Matt's relationship with Jamie, ever be fixed? Ripples in a Pond is the poignant, humorously written tale of a family's struggle to understand their child. It will appeal to those affected by, or wishing to learn more about, the difficulties faced by not only children with disordered social communication skills, but also their schools and families.
- ISBN10 1785890492
- ISBN13 9781785890499
- Publish Date 28 March 2016
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 26 May 2021
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Troubador Publishing
- Imprint Matador
- Format Paperback
- Pages 384
- Language English