Life with Jj: Lessons from a Special Mom

By Candice Grace Cabras Maque

The book is about my journey of raising my son, Jerry II, whom we fondly call JJ. He happens to have Down syndrome, and because of this, I decided to write the pains and joys of raising a special boy.

When JJ was born, I felt the world crashed on me. I was in grief that I was given a son I had not prayed for. But through the different experiences I went through while raising him, I discovered lifes greatest lessons. My son became an instrument for me to write and share the other side of special parenthood.

As my way of giving back to God for giving me such a wonderful blessing, I am also sharing to you how beautiful it is to be blessed with a special son.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524658830

Candice Grace Cabras Maque

Candice Grace Cabras Maque is a public school teacher. She is a member of the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. She is also into running and uses this as a platform for her advocacy, to end discrimination among children with special needs. Her son, Jerry II, “JJ” is her inspiration in writing this book.

Book preview

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Lesson 1

My Son, My Teacher

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My imperfect journey together with my son brought a lot of perfect memories to every person we meet and to any event we encounter. We discovered together that there are angels in human form, that there are blessings hidden in the most difficult situation we are in.

For the past years, I have come to realize that after all, JJ is not just my SON, he is my TEACHER as well. While I am a teacher myself, there is no greater honor than to be his MOTHER.

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Lesson 2

New Possibilities

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Raising special children may have been very difficult to imagine. Everything is unknown to you from the moment they are born until they grow up. Due to their limited population, it is also too difficult to source for comparisons and observations which you can learn from.

However, raising my very own JJ is such an adventure. I had the most memorable discoveries about life and love.

Yes, difficulties are given, but possibilities are also made available. There was never a time when solutions are absent. There are ways, there are means.

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Lesson 3

Random Happiness

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Have you been so happy? A lot of us would want to be in that state that is why I would like to share how my son JJ taught me another lesson about how to be truly happy.

Most of the time it just happens. No definition. No descriptions.

JJ’s random acts of goodness makes life very light for the family.

If he miss to do something, he repeats it over and over until it’s done.

If he stumbles and falls running after his brother, he stands and lift himself up.

If he forgets a lot of his routines, he stops, smiles and do it again.

He makes everything simple and easy.

I think what makes life difficult now, is we overthink a lot. We want to rationalize