Have you ever felt like the odd one out in your own family? In this episode, Mark chats with Kirsty Hockenhull, a fellow self-diagnosed neurotypical in the midst of a chaotic, neurodivergent household. They discuss how it feels to be the lone neurotypical in a family teeming with autism, ADHD, and PDA - touching on everything from helping them navigate everyday social conventions to how to cope when your emotional needs are the only ones not being accommodated for.

They discuss the challenges of bridging two worlds - interpreting “neurotypical” rules for neurodivergent loved ones, while also learning where those same social norms should be thrown out of the window altogether.

There are candid insights into parenting styles, navigating brutal honesty (“Mum, why are you so old?” or “Dad, you should iron your face!”), and the realisation that sometimes your greatest strength is simply having enough “spoons” to hold it all together.

Finally, there’s a celebration of the positive side: how being the lone neurotypical can be a privilege in its own right, helping you see the world from an entirely new perspective and become a better parent—and person—along the way.

⸻

LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:

Pizza Express - https://www.pizzaexpress.com/

The Great Escape - https://greatescapefestival.com/

Wife Swap - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wife_Swap_(British_TV_series)

Gorilla Gym - https://amzn.eu/d/bpK6C0G

Angela Barnes – https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk/

The Stimming Pool - https://www.thestimmingpool.com/

Electric Palace Cinema, Hastings - https://www.electricpalacecinema.com/

Lucy Bronze – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xriJ8wZm1w4

⸻

CONTACT US

If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions, or any “What the flip?” moments you’d like to share, feel free to email us:

hello@neuroshambles.com

⸻

FOLLOW US

Instagram: instagram.com/neuroshambles

TikTok: tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod

Facebook: facebook.com/Neuroshambles

Threads: threads.net/@neuroshambles

⸻

CREDITS

The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay:

https://pixabay.com/

Thank you for listening and being part of the Neuroshambles community. If you enjoyed this episode, please tell a friend, leave a review, or share it on social media. Have a nice life!