Leaning On Mom: Letters To Roberta, How a Mom of Three with Autism Found Strength During the Pandemic

Leaning on Mom is a compilation of letters written by Melanie Donus, a Mom of three school-aged children with Autism, during the first four months of the coronavirus pandemic. These letters to her own mother, Roberta, share an honest look into her family and the coronavirus impacted their daily living. It’s raw, funny, and takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions, while Melanie leans on Roberta for support and interaction during a period of unplanned survival and isolation.

Leaning on Mom gives a snapshot of a family living through an unexpected pandemic, but more-so, opens the door to educating the reader about how school age children with disabilities, who mostly learn through face-to-face interaction, were suddenly expected to learn virtually and accept an oncoming “new normal” for their education. 

Melanie also delves into her own personal health challenges. A true story of how she found the necessary inner strength and resilience during a “sink or swim” time that provided little to no emotional support, Melanie takes the reader through her struggle with alcohol during the quarantine.

But don’t expect all “doom and gloom.” There are miracles, heroes, surprising acts of kindness that leaves the reader full of hope, motivation, and a call for change.