diff --git a/ast-generator/src/deserialize.rs b/ast-generator/src/deserialize.rs
index 4c199cd..a4d95e7 100644
--- a/ast-generator/src/deserialize.rs
+++ b/ast-generator/src/deserialize.rs
@@ -70,11 +70,12 @@ fn get_single_child_to_build(name: &str, rule: &str, build: &Yaml) -> SingleChil
     }
 }
 
-fn get_single_child(name: &str, rule: &str, build: &Yaml) -> ChildSpec {
+fn get_single_child(name: &str, rule: &str, build: &Yaml, optional: bool) -> ChildSpec {
     ChildSpec::SingleChild(SingleChild::new(
         name,
         rule,
         get_single_child_to_build(name, rule, build),
+        optional
     ))
 }
 
@@ -92,18 +93,25 @@ fn get_child_specs(children: &Yaml) -> Vec<ChildSpec> {
                     .map(|(name, props)| (name.as_str().unwrap(), props))
                     .unwrap();
 
-                let rule = props["rule"].as_str().unwrap();
+                let rule = props["rule"]
+                    .as_str()
+                    .map(|s| s.to_string())
+                    .unwrap_or(name.to_case(Case::Pascal));
 
                 if get_skip(&props["skip"]) {
-                    return ChildSpec::SkipChild(SkipChild::new(name, rule));
+                    return ChildSpec::SkipChild(SkipChild::new(name, &rule));
                 }
 
                 let build = &props["build"];
 
                 if get_vec(&props["vec"]) {
-                    get_vec_child(name, rule, build)
+                    get_vec_child(name, &rule, build)
                 } else {
-                    get_single_child(name, rule, build)
+                    let optional = props["optional"]
+                        .as_bool()
+                        .unwrap_or_else(|| false);
+                    
+                    get_single_child(name, &rule, build, optional)
                 }
             } else {
                 ChildSpec::SingleChild(SingleChild::from_name_snake(child_spec.as_str().unwrap()))
diff --git a/ast-generator/src/spec.rs b/ast-generator/src/spec.rs
index c6bddb4..5211799 100644
--- a/ast-generator/src/spec.rs
+++ b/ast-generator/src/spec.rs
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ pub struct SingleChild {
     name: String,
     rule: String,
     build: SingleChildToBuild,
+    optional: bool
 }
 
 impl SingleChild {
@@ -234,14 +235,16 @@ impl SingleChild {
             build: SingleChildToBuild::Type(SingleTypeChildToBuild::from_build_or_rule(
                 &name.to_case(Case::Pascal),
             )),
+            optional: false,
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn new(name: &str, rule: &str, build: SingleChildToBuild) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(name: &str, rule: &str, build: SingleChildToBuild, optional: bool) -> Self {
         Self {
             name: name.to_string(),
             rule: rule.to_string(),
             build,
+            optional
         }
     }