‘Your Child is Not Broken’ by Heidi Mavir
A Literally Ausome Book Review
‘Your Child is Not Broken’ by Heidi Mavir arrived last week.
It arrived during what feels like week 1000 of the Summer holidays.
Reading the title, I ironically managed to one-up it with a, ‘my child might not be broken, but fuck me, they’ve broken me’! 
BUT
Yesterday I read this book.
From cover to cover. (And yes, with a highlighter, cos ADHDer. (And before you ask, NO, not every word is highlighted. I wanted to but was too scared the highlighter would bleed & then I wouldn’t be able to read the next page mental loop).
So, what do I think?
Yeah it was an ok read.
Kidding!!
I bloody LOVE this book.
Thank you Heidi.
* This is the most validated I have felt out side of my close friends EVER.
* The trust I have in my gut has been validated & in some ways even renewed.
* My motivation has been restored.
* My energy will increase (am hopeful…. but gimme a minute…. last day of Summer holidays & we have no internet at home).
* My self-belief, my core, my everything is going to cop a crime-scene clean & be wiped from years of self-doubt, gaslighting, manipulation, coercion & pain.
* My ‘personal’ need, yeah ok yearning, for external acknowledgement & encouragement, disbanded. See ya.
* My resilience – yeah nah. That word can fuck right off!
* I feel a sense of belonging & community – I already knew I wasn’t alone…. But now I FEEL it.
The past few years have been nothing short of challenging, painful, confusing, tiring & disheartening (not to be interpreted for disappointing, unless referring to therapists & schools).
Tomorrow’s the start of the 2023 school year & I’ve worked my arse off preparing & assisting my kids for this day & for the days that lie ahead in relation to school. (Yeah there’s other shit too, but stay focussed). Who knows how things will go, but one thing for sure is that I will not accept anything less than what will actually support my kids.
I might not know what this is or what it will look like, but I won’t give up & won’t stop trying until I do.
I’m going to forgive myself for my past mistakes & remind myself that I did what I thought was best at the time & what I was counselled by professionals to do.
I’m going to remind myself & encourage myself to say ‘no’ – using that word or phrases that lead there – to those that have been pedestaled by society as being experts when I feel their suggestions, advice, techniques & measures unsettle me.
If I’m unsure, I’ll allow myself to take pause until I work this out & decide on a way forward.
I’m bloody exhausted but I feel a sense of positivity that I can’t describe.
Meanwhile, I’ve got a feeling I made this post about me & not about the book
In conclusion, READ THIS BOOK.
Read it more than once. (Although a highlighter would help)
Give it to the people in your life who are your cheerleaders, not because they need to improve or change, but because you trust them enough to view inside your soul.
Heidi, thank you. (Would a friend request be crossing boundaries? – I’m an Aussie so you can be rest assured that I won’t rock up to your house).
My life has literally turned into what I thought & how I felt BEFORE reading this book, & what I thought & how I feel now AFTER reading this book.
Grab your copy on Amazon NOW… Aussies, here: https://www.amazon.com.au/YOUR-CHILD-NOT-BROKEN-Neurodivergent/dp/1915771099/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=your+child+is+not+broken&qid=1676252278&sprefix=your+child+%2Caps%2C272&sr=8-1
Brilliant review of a brilliant book, it also left me with a feel of, “I’m not alone (even though I knew that) and I can carry on the fight for my child”. I have been feeling so disheartened the past few weeks, hitting wall after wall while trying to find even the smallest bit of help for her.
This book is going straight to the school (well to my sister first) along with can’t not won’t, which is another good book that so simply puts our and our children’s struggles on to paper.
With books like this there is hope.