The Magic Of Not Fitting In: A Story of Family Empowerment in Changing Times

As Tory faces the myriad challenges of raising her autistic son, she is forced to confront the harsh realities of a society that often falls short in its promises of support and justice.

Breaking through the tumultuous landscapes of education, healthcare, and the legal system, she discovers the disheartening gap between service, family, and community. Tory's story sheds light on the systemic failures that hinder rather than help, and the relentless spirit that is required to navigate these obstacles and advocate for the rights of our children.

“As a mother of a son diagnosed with ASD, I have embraced the role of home as our family's primary place of education. My approach to parenting and education is centred on providing children with the practical tools and resources they need to thrive. I believe this is the antidote to the speed-living and the mental health crisis we are seeing in our children. ‘The Magic Of Not Fitting In’ is a reflective account of how we came to be here.”

Founder of Gemini Directions and Co-founder of Adventures in Learning, Tory Lenormand is a passionate Mother, Coach, Cacao Practitioner, and Author who champions family, well-being, and community. She believes in empowering others to explore their needs, question long-standing practices, and develop thoughtful perspectives that align with a greater sense of purpose and balance.Tory understands that one size does not fit all for our communities. Following her years of experience as a police officer and financial investigator, she learned to embrace difference whilst becoming a keen observer of how government services increasingly rely on threat and force as a quick fix for deeper issues. Having witnessed with dismay children being pulled into school in their pyjamas, teachers unable to manage competing needs of children, and parents feeling increasingly powerless against the growing control of this system, she offers her book, The Magic Of Not Fitting In, to review these patterns and question oppressive conduct. Tory encourages others to reconsider what they believe is possible. As a Cacao Practitioner, she shares this old plant medicine to support her family and the wider community. She strives to promote balanced well-being for everyone, particularly our children. With both her sons, Tory has experienced the joys and challenges of different educational paths. Her oldest son thrived in a traditional school environment, while her youngest, diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), faced difficulties in that setting. This led Tory to embrace home as the primary space for her youngest son's education, creating a nurturing and supportive learning environment tailored to his needs. Torys parenting and education philosophy focuses on equipping children with practical tools to thrive, and counters the pressures of high-speed living whilst fostering a sustainable, supportive legacy where children feel seen and heard. Governments don't change the things we need. People do.

Founder of Fae Blood Publications, Ruth Fae is an Intuitive Writing Coach, Editor, Publisher, Author, and Youth Mentor. She helps writers of all ages be seen and heard through the powerful and magical art of storytelling. Through her years in the journalism, copywriting, and publishing industries, she has witnessed the transformation that occurs when people speak their truth with courage. Her deep love for storytelling reignited during her own period of self-discovery, as she learned to connect with her voice, spirituality, and intuition.As an author, Ruth loves to explore the diverse facets of writing, parenting, personal growth, and spirituality. She is an advocate for our youth, and empowers adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse as a facilitator for "Left Write Hook."A rebel at heart, Ruth embodies the belief that we can challenge the systems we live in and create change through sharing our stories and speaking our truth.