Unmasking Mum: The Highs and Lows of Life as a Neurodivergent Parent

by Lisa Lloyd

Overview

“I’ve always been weird. Not in a mysterious, sexy way—more like a ‘Where’s her caregiver?’ kind of way.”

When Lisa Lloyd became a mom, her own needs quickly dropped to the bottom of a very long list. But adjusting to life with kids was an uphill battle—complete with frequent meltdowns from both her and them. When her two children were diagnosed with autism, everything began to click. Her struggles growing up, the jobs she couldn’t keep, the emotional rollercoasters—maybe there had been a reason all along.

In Unmasking Mum, Lisa shares her journey to being diagnosed with autism at 41. With wit and honesty, she explores the highs and lows of parenting while neurodivergent, offering hard-won insights and practical advice along the way. From sensory overload and boundary-challenged kids to the imposter syndrome that strikes when other parents seem to have it all together, Lisa tackles it all with warmth, humor, and heart. Bit by bit, she’s peeling away the mask to reveal the real woman who’s been there all along.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781785045905
Publisher:	Penguin Random House UK
Publication date:	10/13/2026
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	135.00(w) x 216.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Lisa Lloyd is a best-selling author, advocate, and mother navigating life and parenthood through a neurodivergent lens. After her two children received autism diagnoses, Lisa was later diagnosed herself—an experience that reframed her past and fueled her mission to bring honesty, humor, and hope to families often left feeling invisible.

As the co-founder of the advocacy group S.E.N.D. Reform England, she campaigns tirelessly for educational reform, inclusive learning environments, and greater understanding of hidden disabilities. Her breakout book, Raising the SEN-Betweeners, offers a candid guide to parenting children who fall between the cracks—neurodivergent, yet often unsupported.

Lisa’s voice resonates widely through social media, speaking engagements, and her writing: she meets parents where they are, acknowledges the mess and the magic, and shares the tools she’s learned along the way. She lives in the UK with her family—and proves every day that different wiring doesn’t mean broken wiring.