Precerpt from Raising God's Rainbow Makers: The Surprising Banning of a Particular TV Show in the Mahlou Household
In our household, we’ve banned very few things. We’re more
likely to adapt, explain, or redirect than to outright prohibit. But one
evening, when Doah was about seven or eight years old, a certain
black-and-white sitcom earned itself a permanent spot on the “nope” list.
It started with a scream.
Not the kind of scream that makes you pause and say, “Hmm,
that’s odd.” No, this was the full-body, sobbing, clutching-his-stomach,
begging-for-the-hospital kind of scream. It was late—only the ER was open. I
checked his temperature. Normal. Breathing? Fine. No distended belly, no change
in skin tone. But the pain appeaed relentless. After a long stretch of
inconsolable wailing, I bundled him up and drove to the emergency room.
The ER doctor was kind but puzzled. He found what I had
found: nothing remarkable. He ordered an x-ray. Still nothing. “Take him home,”
he said gently. “Watch him. Bring him back if anything changes.”
We stepped out of the hospital doors, and Doah—my sweet,
dramatic, clever boy—brightened instantly. His steps quickened. His face lit
up. And then he said it:
“We get ice cream now!”
“Ice cream?” I asked, still reeling from the emotional
whiplash.
“Yep! Beaver get sick. Beaver go hospital. Beaver get ice
cream!”
Ah! There it was! The culprit.
Leave It to Beaver.
Apparently, in one episode, Beaver had gone to the hospital
and was rewarded with ice cream. Doah, ever the observant and resourceful
child, had internalized the lesson: stomach ache = hospital = ice cream. And he
had executed the plan with theatrical precision.
That was the last time Leave It to Beaver aired in
our home. We may be the only household in America that banned it. That little
sitcom-inspired adventure cost us $500.
Sometimes parenting means banning a TV show. Sometimes it
means laughing all the way home from the ER. And sometimes it means marveling
at the creative logic of a child who just wanted dessert.
Book Description:
A Family Memoir of Grace, Grit, and Growing Up Different
What happens when a military family welcomes four children—each with wildly different needs—into a world not always built to support them?
In Raising God’s Rainbow Makers, one mother shares the remarkable journey of raising two children with complex disabilities—one with spina bifida, one with CHARGE Syndrome—and two intellectually gifted children, all born in different states during years of military life. Through medical crises, educational challenges, and societal roadblocks (both intentional and unintentional), this honest and inspiring memoir tells the story of how one family built a life of strength, compassion, and resilience.
With warmth and unflinching honesty, the author reflects on emergency surgeries, IEP battles, unexpected victories, and the fierce sibling bonds that formed in the face of it all. The children—now grown—bear witness to the power of support, faith, and never giving up.
This is not just a story of survival. It is a celebration of difference, a chronicle of hope, and a powerful testament to what love and determination can build when the world says "impossible."
Keywords:
Parenting memoir; Special needs parenting; Raising children with disabilities; Military family life; Family resilience; Inspirational family story; Faith-based memoir; Coping with medical challenges; Sibling support stories; Gifted children; Spina bifida; CHARGE Syndrome; Hydrocephalus; Congenital disabilities; Complex medical needs; Pediatric neurosurgery; IEP and special education; Gifted education; Educational advocacy; Inclusive education; Hope and healing; Courage and strength; Love and perseverance; Raising different children; Disability acceptance; Parenting through adversity; Overcoming barriers; Finding joy in hardship; Special needs journey; Family unity and support; For parents of disabled children; For parents of gifted children; For educators and therapists; Christian parenting memoir; For families facing rare diagnoses; Real-life parenting stories; Memoirs about raising children; Stories of medical miracles
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