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Your Child is Not Broken: Parent Your Neurodivergent Child Without Losing Your Marbles
NEW UPDATED EDITION
Your Child Is Not Broken is THE book for parents who need permission to do things differently
An unapologetic, deeply moving manual for parents of neurodivergent children from Heidi Mavir, a late-identified, neurodivergent adult and parent to an autistic/ADHD teenager. This updated edition includes information on Pathological Demand Avoidance, Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, an interview with Heidi's son Theo and more.
Follow Heidi's irreverent and brutally honest story of her fight to be seen, heard and supported, while swimming against a tide of parent blame, ableist stereotypes and the weight of other people’s opinions. Your Child Is Not Broken is a call to arms for parents and carers of autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent children. It is the book that no one has dared to write but every parent needs to read. Heidi’s hilarious anecdotes and heartbreaking storytelling offer validation, comfort, reassurance and wisdom to parents who need it the most.
Your Child Is Not Broken is THE book for parents who need permission to do things differently
An unapologetic, deeply moving manual for parents of neurodivergent children from Heidi Mavir, a late-identified, neurodivergent adult and parent to an autistic/ADHD teenager. This updated edition includes information on Pathological Demand Avoidance, Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, an interview with Heidi's son Theo and more.
Follow Heidi's irreverent and brutally honest story of her fight to be seen, heard and supported, while swimming against a tide of parent blame, ableist stereotypes and the weight of other people’s opinions. Your Child Is Not Broken is a call to arms for parents and carers of autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent children. It is the book that no one has dared to write but every parent needs to read. Heidi’s hilarious anecdotes and heartbreaking storytelling offer validation, comfort, reassurance and wisdom to parents who need it the most.
288 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2024
14 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 26, 2025
Out of the few Nerodiversity Parenting books that I've recently read, it's clear why this one is the most popular.
The author raising so many intresting points having experienced of barriers and difficulties especially the battles with the schooling system.
One of the biggest takeaways from this was how the author talks about the world is not built for them and they're just trying their best to function.
So the more helpfully information a SEN parent can will only massively help.
New Information not a New Child.
It was also a comforting read in places as it spoke to me as having neurodivergent child can be incredibly isolating - work colleges say they understand but I don't think they fully appreciate the whole picture.
Very insightful and supportive, a must read.
The author raising so many intresting points having experienced of barriers and difficulties especially the battles with the schooling system.
One of the biggest takeaways from this was how the author talks about the world is not built for them and they're just trying their best to function.
So the more helpfully information a SEN parent can will only massively help.
New Information not a New Child.
It was also a comforting read in places as it spoke to me as having neurodivergent child can be incredibly isolating - work colleges say they understand but I don't think they fully appreciate the whole picture.
Very insightful and supportive, a must read.
April 11, 2024
This is probably the next book on Autism written from a mother’s perspective that I’ve read. It was enjoyable to read and I could relate to many situations she discussed. I enjoyed the bullshit bingo card at the end too :)
June 28, 2024
I feel like this book was missing its second half. It told me plenty about how NOT to parent… but where are the chapters about how TO parent? I walked away with a feeling of gloom, not comfort.
November 21, 2023
A very easy read, and I loved the ranty-sweary style of writing. It’s very validating knowing other peoples (shitty) experience of navigating the system and knowing how to advocate for your child. And it is definitely helpful in tapping in to where my own feelings of failure with my parenting comes from. I loved the interview with Theo at the end of the book, especially his views on how mainstream schools don’t seem to work for any child (neurotypical or neurodiverse). And his response to the view that “no child wants to go to school” was very wise.
The subtitle of this book is about parenting your neurodiverse child without losing your marbles. And it focuses very much on pressure (and gaslighting)from professionals and how this can override your own instincts about your child. It also has the added benefit of being written by a parent who was diagnosed later in life with autism and adhd, so it is super interesting and helpful in understanding a neurodivergent adults perspective and experiences.
However, I think for me to have completely resonated with this book (especially the part of not losing your marbles) I perhaps need more of the perspective of the difficulties of actually parenting your neurodivergent child in the day to day, and how draining this can feel.
The subtitle of this book is about parenting your neurodiverse child without losing your marbles. And it focuses very much on pressure (and gaslighting)from professionals and how this can override your own instincts about your child. It also has the added benefit of being written by a parent who was diagnosed later in life with autism and adhd, so it is super interesting and helpful in understanding a neurodivergent adults perspective and experiences.
However, I think for me to have completely resonated with this book (especially the part of not losing your marbles) I perhaps need more of the perspective of the difficulties of actually parenting your neurodivergent child in the day to day, and how draining this can feel.
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August 10, 2025Quick read for parents that are new to their kid’s diagnosis. Personally I didn’t find anything new in the book as I already did a lot of reading on ASD and ADHD.
I was hoping to find more advice on parenting neurodivergent child, instead there is a lot of general information and comfort for parents to trust themselves and advocate for their child.
I was hoping to find more advice on parenting neurodivergent child, instead there is a lot of general information and comfort for parents to trust themselves and advocate for their child.
August 22, 2025
Among the many neurodiversity parenting books I've read, this one stands out as one of the top five must-read books.
I found this book to be an invaluable resource for parents navigating the early stages of their child's diagnosis. The author writes in an engaging, conversational style while incorporating relevant studies, making complex information accessible without feeling overly clinical.
One of the book’s strengths is the author's personal insights into the barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals, particularly within the educational system. They highlight the struggles that parents often encounter in securing necessary support for their children.
A key takeaway for me was the recognition that the world is not built for neurodivergent children, who are simply trying their best to navigate it.
Overall, this book is filled with relatable experiences and valuable information. I highly recommend it to fellow parents and caregivers of our strong and unique neurodivergent kids.
I found this book to be an invaluable resource for parents navigating the early stages of their child's diagnosis. The author writes in an engaging, conversational style while incorporating relevant studies, making complex information accessible without feeling overly clinical.
One of the book’s strengths is the author's personal insights into the barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals, particularly within the educational system. They highlight the struggles that parents often encounter in securing necessary support for their children.
A key takeaway for me was the recognition that the world is not built for neurodivergent children, who are simply trying their best to navigate it.
Overall, this book is filled with relatable experiences and valuable information. I highly recommend it to fellow parents and caregivers of our strong and unique neurodivergent kids.
December 23, 2024
Some good. Mostly a victim-mentality rant filled with foul language. Seems that it was ok that she lived her life until 40 being uneducated and ignorant about ND, but others? They must just be terrible, awful people.
February 4, 2024
Made me cry. Healing for my inner child also.
Incredibly important and consoling book.
Incredibly important and consoling book.
September 24, 2024
I have a son who began rejecting school in elementary…it has been a complete mess trying school after school after school (literally a new school every year and most years were 2 different schools before the year ended) to figure out how to navigate this all the way up until now when he is 17 and graduating high school early from an online program🥵. We literally moved across the country thinking we’d found the perfect private school to fit him for high school - nope! He hits the wall of not being able to go one more day to listen to teachers he cannot understand and face kids who are mean and laugh at him or ignore him all day. Like it’s 💔and this was the first resource I found that made me feel like maybe this is actually “normal,” and I REALLY appreciated reading it. We didn’t know he was autistic until he was 16, then a few months later I figured out I was?! So life-changing. So this book was refreshingly relatable and I love her candor.
The things that made this 4 stars instead of 5 for me were that I don’t like cussing (sorry 😫) and I didn’t think all the epilogue stuff was helpful except for her “fig” thoughts and the interview with Theo. Other than that that, this was a book I could not put down!
The things that made this 4 stars instead of 5 for me were that I don’t like cussing (sorry 😫) and I didn’t think all the epilogue stuff was helpful except for her “fig” thoughts and the interview with Theo. Other than that that, this was a book I could not put down!
April 20, 2024
I liked this book and it's a great book for when your child is first diagnosed. I got a paperback copy from my library printed in open dyslexic font which makes reading a breeze for me.
The part I liked the best was when the author said to trust our insights more than what supposed experts tell us. Or even non experts! I tried a kooky diet for a few weeks to see if helped with symptoms ( spoiler alert, it did nothing but cost more money, so it alleviated the symptom of cash in my wallet).
Trusting your own instinct is so difficult when you are a late dx person. For decades we stuffed down and ignored our instincts, thoughts, feelings. Until like in John Carpenter's The Thing, we "don't know who to trust."
Trust yourself. Trust your child. You both know what won't work soon as you hear it. Do what you know to be best for yourselves and your situation. Be the advocate you wish you'd had growing up.
The part I liked the best was when the author said to trust our insights more than what supposed experts tell us. Or even non experts! I tried a kooky diet for a few weeks to see if helped with symptoms ( spoiler alert, it did nothing but cost more money, so it alleviated the symptom of cash in my wallet).
Trusting your own instinct is so difficult when you are a late dx person. For decades we stuffed down and ignored our instincts, thoughts, feelings. Until like in John Carpenter's The Thing, we "don't know who to trust."
Trust yourself. Trust your child. You both know what won't work soon as you hear it. Do what you know to be best for yourselves and your situation. Be the advocate you wish you'd had growing up.
August 16, 2024
This is an engaging and informative read. The writing style is conversational yet cites relevant studies. I appreciate that this book provides information without feeling super clinical. There is quite a bit of cursing, but I think the content around it outweighs that small negative.
Though this book did leave me with a lot of questions and feelings of "what now?", I feel like it is a great starting point for information about parenting a neurodivergent child.
Though this book did leave me with a lot of questions and feelings of "what now?", I feel like it is a great starting point for information about parenting a neurodivergent child.
November 18, 2023
A great little book full of useful insights. Very real and a bit sweary- suits me. Made me cheer in some parts. Well worth the read if a parent or professional working with neurodiversity.
This version is the revised version. I have to say I didn’t find the addition as readable as the original despite there being some useful info.
This version is the revised version. I have to say I didn’t find the addition as readable as the original despite there being some useful info.
August 16, 2023
Some great snippets of information and a very easy read
July 14, 2024
Affirming.
July 20, 2024
This book helped me so much and showed me I am not alone. Thank you so much Heidi!
February 5, 2025
4 ⭐️ great read if you’re looking for a mindset shift and permission to take a custom parenting route. Less great if you’re in search of tangible steps.
February 6, 2024
This is the book I would suggest to all autistic parents of autistic kids, and especially those who are neurotypical. It's honest, funny, and written from a perspective that aligns with neurodiversity.
The parts that really spoke to me were the ones either I or my fellow parents lived. I have a lot of regrets and seeing how Mavir handles it really made me feel less alone and remorseful. I'm really loving how she incorporates "What I didn't know then" explaining the situation as seen in the past with a follow-up "Please know" and "What I know now" sharing the new information, experience and growth.
The parts that really spoke to me were the ones either I or my fellow parents lived. I have a lot of regrets and seeing how Mavir handles it really made me feel less alone and remorseful. I'm really loving how she incorporates "What I didn't know then" explaining the situation as seen in the past with a follow-up "Please know" and "What I know now" sharing the new information, experience and growth.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews