Moriarty’s son, Reid, is autistic, a fact that touches every part of both their lives. Recognizing a need for community, she gathered a group of fellow “autism moms” so that they could provide one another with support, friendship, and a whole lot of humor; they called themselves the Laughter Alliance. Moriarty’s guide draws from the group’s collective experiences to help readers cope with the various challenges that autism can bring. She punctuates the text with anonymized stories from Laughter Alliance members that will leave readers giggling and feeling a little bit less alone. Chapters focus on everything from Individualized Education Program meetings to worship services to bathroom mishaps; each one is chock-full of anecdotes, journal prompts, insights, and hopeful advice, and all end with a delightful recipe. Readers will also discover useful tips for advocating for autistic children in the educational system and finding qualified support staff, among other things. This is not to say that all the material is upbeat; some stories tell of frustration and unfairness, involving meltdowns and bad experiences with doctors and travel, but the author relates them with raw honesty and humility. When the author doesn’t have a simple answer or an easy fix, she aims to provide the comfort that one might receive from a venting session with a good friend who encourages laughter when all else fails. As Moriarty says, “It is brave to laugh in the face of trials, triggers, and tribulation.” Horwath’s illustrations are relatively few in number, but their simple, cartoonish style is friendly, comforting, and silly, accenting the ups and downs of caregiving in compassionate and engaging ways.
