Your Child Is Not Broken: Parent Your Neurodivergent Child Without Losing Your Marbles

Working in SEND education I like to read and educate myself on different experiences people have. This was a very honest and witty account of the lived experience of so many parents. It has encouraged me to be mindful of the language I use when discussing students barriers and to challenge others using what can be seen as judgemental and damaging language. Both the child and the parents live in limbo until someone listens and believes how they are being affected. As educators it is not for us to pre diagnose, it`s to support families through the bad as well as the good.Thank you to Heidi Mavir for taking the time to put her experiences down in black and white. This will help so many people to not feel isolated or silly and to ask those questions! An easy read and will make you smile despite the empathy you develop for the futile attempts at `support` from the schools involved.Highly recommend.

The best book I have ever read on parenting a neuro-divergent child. Extremely relatable (just change the names and it could have been written about my very situation!) Heidi has the rare skill of being able to cut through the crap and tell it like it is, with the brutal honesty that has been severely lacking in my journey. For anyone who criticises the swearing, I can only say, you’ve obviously never been through this because I have learnt a whole new vocabulary dealing with the broken school and social care system and the only way to describe it is in the exact tone Heidi has! Heidi - I thank you, I salute your bravery and I wish there were more people just like you. You are what the world needs. From a fellow Fig.

I was near tears one minute , laughing the next . Heidi is a brilliant author , the story is so relatable and I think a lot of neurodivergent families will agree . It’s great to know we aren’t alone 🫶

I read this in one sitting, it is utterly refreshing to have people like Heidi sharing her story with complete honesty. This book took me right back to some very difficult moments with my own child, articulated that feeling when you go with the advice from the experts rather than trust your gut and what your child is telling you. The next page would have me reading with a knowing smile at some of the situations, through to laughing out loud. Heidi perfectly articulates the experience of parents of ND kids, it’s utterly relatable and validating.

Bought this being sceptical but it hit a nerve & was like reading my own story.Not a lot of advice but made me realise we are not on our own on this journey.

Heidi has a fantastic understanding of the issues discussed in the book and her way of writing reaches out to families with a struggling child.Real, funny, supportive. A must read!

I cried. So much of this book resonates with me & my family, it hit so very hard, but in a good way. Every single day I find myself questioning my decisions, fighting guilt & wondering if I’m pushing too hard or not enough, but reading this book has made me realise I’m not alone. This book will stay with me forever & will be a guide when I need reminding that doing what is right for my family is 100% the right thing to do. I recommend this book to all parents but especially those of neurodivergent children. The swearing & brutal honesty is just an added bonus!

This book is an amazing readI am a mum of 2 autistic kids and this book Honestly has been amazing to read I would highly recommend it