Jennifer Graf Groneberg | Road Map to Holland

Published: April 2, 2008

Jennifer Groneberg, reeling from the discovery that one of her premature twins has an extra 21st chromosome, finds comfort in the words of another mother, who says having a child with Down syndrome is "like planning a trip to Italy, only to get off the plane and discover you're actually in Holland." Groneberg's warm, fiercely honest book tells how she finds a road map for this country she had never planned to visit.

As Jennifer and her husband, Tom, find room in their hearts and lives for Avery, some friendships flourish, and others wither. As Avery grows and develops, his mother does the same, learning new skills for coping with his special needs, and finding deep joy in their bond.

"The most important things don't fit on any form," she discovers. "They are not quantifiable, or able to be gauged. But they count - they are the measure of love."

Groneberg lives with her husband and three young boys near Polson. This is her first book - and it's a compassionate reminder of the rough, yet infinitely rewarding terrain of parenthood.

- Kristi Niemeyer