The Crazy Mother’s Guide To Raising Exceptional Children.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Crazy Mother's Joy
Reviewed in Australia on 24 February 2025
Sonia's book explains the tribulations of raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Dissociative Identity Disorder but also expresses the joys that those children bring to the family. Her book is written with sensitivity, empathy and humour. She addresses, for example, issues such as self-harm, suicidal ideation and how to cope. Because the book is written with humour and real life stories, it is easy to read and gives insight on how to work through day-to-day ups and downs. Sonia demonstrates that every parenting situation is unique and hopes that some of the strategies she developed will help other parents in dealing with their special needs child. It is a heart-warming book to read, and it is obvious that despite the trials she and her partner have faced, the children have brought them a lot of laughter and happiness.

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic depiction of real-world experiences of living within the world of ASD, DID and Faith.
Reviewed in Australia on 17 February 2025
In this heartbreakingly beautiful memoir (of sorts), Sonia shares her life’s blessings, struggles and sometimes extreme heartaches of living in the world of ASD, DID and ADHD diagnoses.
This novel is not only an amazing guide for parents, especially mothers on the trials, tribulations and rewards of this amazing little world in which we thrive, but also a Devine declaration of absolute love, compassion and commitment to her children, her husband, her support network and her faith.
Very well done, Sonia.
A must for any “Crazy” Mother ready to run off with the circus!

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book! Great read
Reviewed in Australia on 13 February 2025
This is a great read! It is a wonderfully encouraging account of one families journey with ASD children. Sonia tackles her story with love and honesty. What I appreciated most about this book was her positivity on what must be difficult circumstances at times. I found it a very easy book to read. I enjoyed it so much I read it in one session.

The typesetting and layout really helped me continue reading the book.

I am going to recommend this book to all my friends who are stuggling with special needs children
One person found this helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book offering incredible insight into life as a mother of exceptional kids!
Reviewed in Australia on 28 February 2025
I love how this book is both light-hearted and humorous whilst tackling big hurdles and difficult scenarios that mothers with exceptional children often face. It shines the much-needed light of awareness on issues that often harbour misconception and indifference in the minds of many of us and it does so in a refreshing manner - well done Sonia!
One person found this helpful

BOOK REVIEW
Reviewed by for Readers' Favorite FIVE STARS
The Crazy Mother's Guide to Raising Exceptional Children by Sonia D. Hebdon is a deeply personal blueprint from an Australian mom who is right in the thick of it, helping her son and daughter manage severe
behavioral, physical, and mental health challenges. Sonia shares her reality of raising a twelve-year-old son with autism and a nineteen-year-old daughter facing both dissociative identity disorder and severe PMDD depression. Her emergency guidelines offer safety steps for major crises, like hiding kitchen knives, keeping suicide prevention hotlines handy, and giving kids crunchy snacks because the physical act of swallowing can actually halt a psychotic episode. She walks you through her home systems, including a family digital calendar called the brain, a cotton ball jar that serves as a reward system, and grounding strategies like drinking cold liquids through straws. To get her kids talking, she uses outside-the-box ideas like a crocodile hand puppet to break down emotional walls. She wraps things up with a safety check on teen romance. listing nine predators
partner red flags, and recommends accredited distance homeschooling to escape bad school environments
The Crazy Mother's Guide to Raising Exceptional Children by Sonia D. Hebdon is a helpful parenting guide that shines because it values raw truth over rigid medical rules. I think it's a great manual to have if you're trying to organize your life around your child with special needs. One of the most encouraging parts of the
book is how Sonia focuses on what her kids can do. highlighting her daughter's national art awards and her son's beautiful sculpting skills. Her core parenting rules offer a beautiful framework for keeping your marriage strong under pressure by finding tiny moments to connect through a quick walk or simple affection.
Her wilingness to talk about her own mistakes and teach set-torgiveness is a huge comfort for any mom whc
feels complete v overwhelmed by medical appointments and daily stress. She keeps things highlv practical reminding parents to journal exactly which medications and therapies work best so they are ready for doctor reviews. Through smart scheduling and cutting out toxic people from your space, Sonia gives readers a perfect model for turning challenging situations into a structured but loving home. Very highly recommended.