Jane Alison Sherwin began a successful career in the family business at the age of 19. When her daughter began displaying difficulties in school, eventually being diagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA), Jane gave up work to concentrate on being her daughter's carer, teacher, advocate, psychologist, psychiatrist and her mum all rolled into one. The same drive that made her successful in the workplace was now concentrated on her family and a need to understand what drove their unique difficulties. Jane has no professional qualifications in the field of PDA; her knowledge has been self-taught through literature, media and life experience. She lives in Staffordshire, UK.
Knowledge and understanding of PDA is still at an early stage, but there are exciting developments happening in diagnostic understanding, greater awareness of successful educational approaches and the perspective that is now being gained from further research...Jane Sherwin's book, the account of the mother of Mollie, a ten-year-old girl with PDA, will add to that knowledge by highlighting the perspective of a parent, as well as giving fascinating glimpses into how the world seems from Mollie's point of view. -- from the foreword and introduction by Phil Christie, Consultant Child Psychologist, The Elizabeth Newson Centre, UK My Daughter is Not Naughty charts the up and down journey of Jane and her daughter Mollie as they discover, and then begin learning to live with, Pathological Demand Avoidance syndrome. It is a down-to-earth read that tackles difficult issues with refreshing honesty, but is delivered with the warmth and sensitivity of a mother's touch. This may be Jane and Mollie's story, but the degree to which it will resonate with other PDA parents, means it could easily be their story too. -- Neville Starnes, PDA parent and member of the PDA Society's management committee, UK Sherwin comes to this subject as a parent as opposed to a professional and her knowledge is self-taught as she came to terms with her daughter's difficulties... (The author) outlines the strategies that she has developed to cope with Mollie's meltdowns and anxieties and her 'huge issues' with sleep... Sherwin writes frankly about how Mollie's PDA has affected her personally and her family and this book is a moving and informative guide. -- Mary Mountstephen, author, editor * SEN Magazine *