How Neuro-Verse Began

Hi, I'm Bobbie. A mum, not a psychologist, neurologist or medical professional. And I have ADHD.

Neuro-Verse started with my daughter, Lux. But the idea of using stories to help explain life's more complicated things began long before her ADHD diagnosis.

At 21, I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure, which meant my husband and I would need an egg donor to have a family. We were incredibly fortunate to welcome Lux through IVF.

From the beginning, we knew how important it was that Lux understood her own story. That she knew she was conceived with the help of an egg donor, and that we could talk about it openly and naturally as she grew.

So I wrote her a story.

It was a whimsical little tale about how we'd found her in the Lux Store, and how we'd needed an egg to bring her home. It wasn't scientific, and it certainly wasn't medically accurate. But that wasn't the point.

We read it to her before she could even talk, and it became one of her favourite stories.

More importantly, it opened the door to conversations. As she grew, so did her questions, and the story gave us a familiar, comfortable place to start.

I learnt that sometimes a story can explain something far better than a conversation ever could.

Years later, when Lux was diagnosed with ADHD, I found myself needing that same approach.

I wanted her to understand what was happening inside her wonderfully busy brain. But I also wanted to give her a way to explain it to the people around her.  Her teachers, classmates and family, without always having to find the right words herself.

So I wrote another story.

This time, it was about her Neuro-Verse.

It explained ADHD in language she could understand, through a story that was entirely about her. Her personality, her strengths, the things she found tricky, and all the little things that made her Lux.

She took her book to school, where her teachers used it to help her classmates understand ADHD and why some brains might learn, feel or behave a little differently.

Then, as other children we knew received their own diagnoses, Lux wanted them to have their own special books too and now she is 10 she wants these to be available to everyone to help them through their similar stage in life.

And that's how Neuro-Verse grew.

I'm not creating these books as a clinician. They aren't intended to diagnose, treat or replace professional advice.

I'm creating them as a mum who discovered that a personalised story could make difficult conversations easier. A mum who wanted her daughter to understand herself, feel comfortable with her differences and have the confidence to advocate for her own needs.

And I wanted other children and families to have that opportunity too.

Every Neuro-Verse book is personalised because no two children, and no two ADHD brains, are exactly alike.

We talk about the tricky bits honestly, celebrate the brilliant bits just as loudly, and help children understand that having a brain that works differently is simply one part of what makes them who they are.

Their brain. Their universe. Their Neuro-Verse.