Hilarious and heartwarming stories that will empower you to make space for the other and discover the extraordinary, welcoming heart of God. Author and Instagram star Heather Avis has made it her mission to introduce the world to the unique gifts and real-life challenges of those who have been pushed to the edges of society. Mama to three adopted kids–two with Down Syndrome–Heather encourages … encourages us all to take a breath, whisper a prayer, laugh a little, and make room for the wildflowers.
In a world of divisions and margins, those who act, look, and grow a little differently are all too often shoved aside. Scoot Over and Make Some Room is part inspiring narrative and part encouraging challenge for us all to listen and learn from those we’re prone to ignore.
Heather tells hilarious stories of her growing kids, spontaneous dance parties, forgotten pants, and navigating the challenges and joys of parenthood. She shares heartbreaking moments when her kids were denied a place at the table and when she had to fight for their voices to be heard. With beautiful wisdom and profound convictions, this manifesto will empower you to notice who’s missing in the spaces you live in, to make room for your own kids and for those others who need you and your open heart.
This is your invitation to a table where space is unlimited and every voice can be heard. Because when you open your life to the wild beauty of every unique individual, you’ll discover your own colorful soul and the extraordinary, abundant heart of God.
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In Scoot Over and Make Some Room, author Heather Avis discusses Inclusion and the many places in our lives where we can look outside of ourselves and make room for someone who is on the sidelines, someone different than ourselves.
Chapter by chapter Heather speaks to different aspects of this idea of making room in our lives. This is not just a book about making room for those with Down Syndrome, it is making room for those of a different race, have a different culture, religion, opinion, etc.
When I began this book I was excited to read new words from a woman I admire, a down syndrome mama, and a hero I follow on Instagram.
As I settled into its pages, I discovered this book held powerful truths learned from life lesson, after life lesson. I am a different, better member of humanity at the end of it then I was at the beginning.
I learned so much from the pages of this book. There are so many ideas that I want to try, so many quotes that I want to share, so much learning I need to do, and changes I want to begin.
“When we use the power of our voice and the power of our ears, we can truly begin to make a difference in the world.”
I highly recommend this book to all of humanity who I think could learn to use the power of their voice and ears differently, to make a positive difference in our world.
“Scoot Over and Make Some Room” is an amazing juggernaut of a book. The author, Heather Avis, is a mom of three unique children who shares her parenting journey and struggles. The book is open, vulnerable, funny and tugs at the reader’s heart in all the right ways. I found myself crying during some chapters, nodding and verbally responding,”YES!” in others, and laughing out loud throughout the book.
Avis does a wonderful job of explaining the need for inclusion in all aspects of life, not just parenting. The topics she addresses are handled with tact, lots of insight and an overall feeling of welcome, even if you haven’t been in these waters before. She shares the challenges and joys of raising her adopted children; two which have Down syndrome and one who is neurotypical and of African American/Guatemalan descent. She shines a bright spotlight on the wonderful gifts of those same children. The reader connects with each of these amazing kids, from wild and wonderful Truly to sweet August and Macyn, the dancing wildflower.
Avis examines the overall motives of why we choose to settle for the comfortable, not noticing the ones on the fringe excluded from the table. Often we don’t even realize we are leaving anyone out until it personally affects us. As the author shares the impact that raising kids who don’t fit into society’s molds for what a child ‘should’ be has had on her personally, it challenges the reader to think more of those around us, noticing the places within our reach that are isolationist or just plain forgetful to provide equality for those with differences, be that race or physical ability. (The discussion does go quite a bit deeper in later chapters, so don’t assume the book is only about parenting or inclusion!)
The author draws the reader back to Jesus and His persistent inclusion of the ones society said were unclean, unworthy or not enough. She encourages us to embrace the uniqueness of those who view life differently and to value the joy therein. By sharing her real life stories of triumph, pain, consistent issues (that may or may not resolve as quickly as expected), Avis gives the reader insight to choose to face differences in those around us in a healthy, affirming way.
Witty, honest, and at times convicting, “Scoot Over and Make Some Room” is a book that will leave a lasting impression on your heart and mind. As someone who has family members and friends who face challenges with inclusion on a regular basis, I appreciate this tender, yet fierce call to action by a Mom who has had to prove to a world that values conformity that those who are unique, wild and wonderful are worthy of a seat at the table. If we have the influence to change the narrative, we should be the ones stepping up. Don’t expect to read this book and walk away unchanged–I don’t think that’s possible!
I able to read this book early, thanks to Zondervan. All opinions are my own.