ADHD Mums

• 33. CONFESSIONS: I Don’t Always Like Being a Parent

  Sometimes parenting feels like being pecked to death by tiny, unstable chickens. We love our kids fiercely — but that doesn’t mean we have to love every single moment of raising them. In this unfiltered Quick Reset, Jane says the thing so many ADHD mums are scared to admit out loud: I don’t always like being a parent. And no — that doesn’t make you a bad mum. It makes you human. From the endless to-do lists and medical appointments to the sensory overload and invisible labour, parenting as a neurodivergent mum is a full-body, full-time emotional marathon. And when you’re doing it without enough support, it’s no wonder your nervous system is running in the red. Jane breaks down the science of parental burnout, the myths that make mums feel guilty for struggling, and the quiet ways we can reclaim honesty, capacity, and space — without toxic positivity or pretending everything’s fine. 💬 In this episode, we cover: Why it’s normal to feel touched-out, overstimulated, and over it The clinical research on parental burnout — especially for ADHD mums How gratitude and burnout can coexist (and why ‘but you chose this’ is unhelpful) Scripts for asking for space — with or without telling the truth Why emotional honesty helps our kids more than pretending to be happy 💭 This episode is for you if: – You’ve ever thought, I can’t do this for one more second — and then kept going anyway– You’re tired of feeling guilty for not loving every moment of motherhood– You want permission to name the hard stuff without fear of judgment 📥 Add your own anonymous confession: 👉 https://form.jotform.com/251238072679867 🔗 References Parental Burnout (2021 Study) - A clinical study found that 12.9% of parents met clinical levels of parental burnout, with symptoms most common in mothers—especially those with perfectionism, neurodivergence, or low social support. Regret in Parenthood (2015 Study, British Parents) - Research revealed that 8% of British parents regret having children, highlighting how unprepared many were for the realities of parenting. Torn in Two: The Experience of Maternal Ambivalence by Rozsika Parker - This book explores how it is completely normal to love your child while disliking aspects of motherhood, offering a compassionate look at maternal ambivalence. Unequal Care Work (2022 Study on Heterosexual Households) - A recent study showed that women in heterosexual households do 2.5x more unpaid care work than men, often paired with feelings of guilt for not fully enjoying it. JOIN THE COMMUNITY: Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format! FOLLOW FOR MORE: Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube LEAVE A REVIEW: Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together. COLLABS: For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected]. MORE RESOURCES: Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here. Topics covered in this episode: ADHD mums, parental burnout, parenting shame, invisible load, executive dysfunction, emotional honesty, sensory overwhelm, overstimulation, parental regret, perfectionism, trauma triggers, motherhood myths, parenting capacity, neurodivergent parenting, chronic stress, guilt cycles, self-compassion, scripts for space, toxic positivity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• 32. QUICK RESET: My child is being bullied and I'm supposed to stay calm

  Your child comes home from school withdrawn, teary, or exploding in rage — and you’re expected to stay calm. Every cell in your body wants to burn the system down, but the school says ‘We’re handling it’. You can see your child’s spark dimming, and you’re being told to keep your emotions in check so you’re not labelled ‘the emotional mum’. Psychologist Mona Delahooke reminds us that children’s behaviour is a direct reflection of their nervous system regulation. If your child shuts down, lashes out, avoids, cries, or seems ‘off’, it’s often their nervous system saying: I’m not safe. And safety isn’t about compliance — a child can ‘behave’ all day and still be in distress. Dr Gabor Maté talks about how children’s experiences can activate a parent’s own unresolved trauma — especially for mothers. If you grew up feeling unprotected or disbelieved, protecting your child may feel like your number one mission. But when you’re operating from that deep trigger, the intensity can sometimes lead to mistakes — not because you’re wrong to protect them, but because the system forces you to fight while dysregulated yourself. This episode is for every parent sitting in that impossible gap between fury and strategy. Jane unpacks the nervous system science, the emotional triggers, and the practical advocacy steps that actually protect your child — without burning yourself out in the process. You’ll learn: How to recognise when your child’s behaviour is a nervous system ‘distress signal’ Why staying calm isn’t about ignoring your emotions — it’s about using them effectively What to do before approaching the school, so you’re heard instead of dismissed How to document incidents and escalate without losing trust or credibility The fine line between resilience-building and retraumatising Scripts and safety plans that support both you and your child Because protecting your child and staying grounded aren’t opposites — they’re both part of getting results that last. 🔗 ADHD Mums Resource The 4 F's FREE Resource & the Bullying Response Kit – A step-by-step guide to navigating school bullying, with scripts, documentation templates, and emotional regulation tools for both you and your child. Get the Kit here Making School Work - Your go-to advocacy guide for when your neurodivergent child isn’t coping — and the school says they’re fine. Packed with scripts, templates, and clarity for IEPs, school refusal, and shutdowns, it helps you hold your ground in the rooms that matter. Get it here A Kit for Making the Mental Load Visible - This kit gives you practical, ADHD-friendly ways to offload invisible tasks and delegate in a way that actually sticks – without micromanaging, nagging, or having it boomerang straight back onto you. Get the Kit here 🎧 Related Episodes Raising Strong Children: How to Support Without Always Solving Their Problems – Emma Rose Spotify: Listen here Apple Podcasts: Listen here QUICK RESET: Advocating for Your Child Shouldn’t Break You — But It Often Does Spotify: Listen here Apple Podcasts: Listen here SCHOOL SERIES: When School Stops Feeling Safe Spotify: Listen here Apple Podcasts: Listen here JOIN THE COMMUNITY: Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format! FOLLOW FOR MORE: Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube LEAVE A REVIEW: Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together. COLLABS: For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected]. MORE RESOURCES: Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here. Topics Covered in This Episode bullying prevention, ADHD parenting, school advocacy, nervous system regulation, fight-flight-freeze-fawn, co-regulation, trauma triggers, Dr Mona Delahooke, Dr Gabor Maté, documenting incidents, resilience vs trauma, protecting trust with teens, emotional safety in schools, trauma-informed parenting, parent nervous system repairSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• 31. The ADHD Mum’s Guide to Surviving School Mornings Without Tears (Theirs or Yours)

  If school mornings in your house feel like a high-stakes obstacle course — socks missing, bags unpacked, emotions running high — this episode will feel like a deep breath you didn’t know you needed. Jane is joined by Sharon Collon from The Functional Family to talk about how to survive those brutal pre-school hours without burning every ounce of patience you have before 9am. This isn’t about colour-coded charts or impossible routines — it’s about understanding ADHD brains, setting realistic expectations, and making mornings less about conflict and more about connection. Sharon shares her game-changing tips for managing transitions, reducing overwhelm, and creating a morning rhythm that actually works for neurodivergent kids (and parents). Expect real-life stories, scripts you can try tomorrow, and the relief of knowing you’re not the only family wrestling with mismatched socks at the worst possible time. In This Episode Why “just get ready” doesn’t work for ADHD kids — and what to say instead How to identify and remove the hidden triggers that derail mornings The one small change that can stop meltdowns before they start Why your own regulation matters more than your schedule How to use connection as a tool (without adding to your mental load) Rethinking reward charts, punishments, and morning “discipline” This Episode Is For You If – You dread the school run before you’ve even opened your eyes– Your mornings are a mix of tears, yelling, and frantic searches for missing shoes– You want calmer starts without sacrificing your sanity About Sharon Collon Sharon is the founder of The Functional Family, helping families with ADHD create systems that work in the real world.🌐 Website: thefunctionalfamily.com 📸 Instagram: @thefunctionalfamily Related Episodes S1 E34: Being Neurotypical in a Relationship with an ADHD Person 🎧 Spotify | Apple Podcasts S1 E42: ADHD and Parenting 🎧 Spotify | Apple Podcasts JOIN THE COMMUNITY: Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format! FOLLOW FOR MORE: Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube LEAVE A REVIEW: Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together. COLLABS: For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected]. MORE RESOURCES: Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here. TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ADHD school mornings, parenting burnout, neurodivergent routines, emotional regulation, school run stress, ADHD parenting tips, transitions for ADHD kids, low-demand mornings, connection before compliance, realistic family systems, executive function support, parenting scripts, reducing morning meltdowns, ADHD-friendly routines, self-regulation strategies, school preparation tips, functional family systems, neuroaffirming parenting, behaviour without punishment, practical ADHD strategies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• 30. MY UPDATE: The Lipedema Op: The Invisible Illness You Weren’t Supposed to Notice

  If you’ve already heard MY UPDATE: What Happens When You Lose the Meds That Helped You Survive, you know Part 1 ended on the decision to have lipedema surgery after years of chronic pain, medical dismissal, and the sudden loss of ADHD medication. This is what happened next. In this follow-up episode, Jane takes you behind the curtain of the surgery itself — the reality of navigating a system that still sidelines women’s pain, the complications that no one warns you about, and the rare heart condition that made recovery far more complex than expected. From confronting family history to managing without ADHD meds during the most physically demanding season of her life, Jane shares the messy truth of advocating for your health when the system isn’t built for you. It’s raw, unfiltered, and painfully familiar for anyone who’s ever been left to fight for care they shouldn’t have to beg for. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: What surgery for lipedema is actually like — and what recovery demands of your body The rare heart finding that changed everything mid-recovery The emotional toll of being unsupported in hospital The overlap between lipedema, neurodivergence, and chronic illness How losing ADHD medication in the middle of recovery amplified every challenge Why women’s health advocacy has to start with telling the full, unvarnished story 💭 This episode is for you if: – You listened to Part 1 and want to know the full story– You’ve experienced surgery or medical treatment without adequate support– You’re living with invisible illness and fighting to be believed– You’ve faced the grief of losing tools that helped you function Listen to Part 1: What Happens When You Lose the Meds That Helped You Survive Check out IG posts here. 📚 Resources & References Related Episodes: Connection Between ADHD, EDS and POTS Listen here on Spotify Listen here on Apple Lipedema surgery information ADHD Mums blog post — Photos, personal journey, and practical tips for navigating the lipedema surgery system. Check your symptoms – Lipedema Foundation — Clear, accessible checklist to help identify potential signs of lipedema and start informed conversations with health providers. 💓 SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia) Heart Foundation – Heart Arrhythmia & SVT — Evidence-based info on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for heart rhythm conditions including SVT. 🦓 Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Ehlers-Danlos Society Australia — Advocacy, support, and medical resources for people with EDS. Episode 41: ADHD + EDS and POTS – Spotify | Apple Podcast — How these conditions overlap, with expert and lived-experience insight. Episode 62: Burnout, Pain & Weird Symptoms? The ADHD Link No One Told Us About – Spotify | Apple Podcast — The hidden ADHD links to chronic pain, fatigue, and “mystery” symptoms. 🧬 RYR2 rare heart gene MedlinePlus – RYR2 Gene Information — Plain-language explanation of this rare genetic variant linked to heart rhythm issues. 💬 Community ADHD Mums Facebook Group — A safe, neuro-affirming space to connect with other ADHD mums, share resources, and get support. JOIN THE COMMUNITY: Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format! FOLLOW FOR MORE: Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube LEAVE A REVIEW: Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together. COLLABS: For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected]. MORE RESOURCES: Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here. 🧠 TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: lipedema surgery, invisible illness, women’s health gaslighting, rare heart conditions, SVT, RYR2 gene, ADHD medication access, stimulant withdrawal, chronic illness grief, hypermobility, ARFID, anorexia history, medical trauma, neurodivergent women’s health, hospital recovery, emotional regulation, executive dysfunction, parenting with chronic illness, survival mode, neuroaffirming support.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• 29. MY UPDATE: What Happens When You Lose the Meds That Helped You Survive

  This isn’t just about medication. It’s about the pattern so many ADHD mums find themselves in — chasing answers, finding partial relief, and then hitting a wall you never saw coming. In this raw, unfiltered episode, Jane shares the deeply personal story of what happened when her body could no longer tolerate ADHD medication — and how a lifetime of overlapping diagnoses, chronic conditions, and medical gaslighting shaped the road to that moment. From discovering she had lipedema after years of pain, to navigating a brutal and underfunded surgery system, this is an honest account of resilience, privilege, and the fight to be taken seriously in a medical landscape that often dismisses women’s health. It’s about grief for the tools you lose, hope for the ones you gain, and the messy truth of managing ADHD when your options suddenly shrink. 💬 In this episode, we cover: The moment ADHD meds stopped being an option — and what came next The hidden connection between neurodivergence and lipedema What lipedema actually is (and why it’s so often misdiagnosed) The physical and emotional toll of chronic pain What it’s like to navigate an inaccessible surgery system in Australia Why women’s pain is still minimised, dismissed, and underfunded The real cost — financial, physical, emotional — of managing an “invisible” disability What needs to change so ADHD mums aren’t left without safe, effective support 💭 This episode is for you if: – You’ve ever had to choose between functioning and your health– You’ve been dismissed or told to “just lose weight” when something was wrong– You want to understand the overlap between ADHD, autism, chronic pain, and women’s health neglect– You’re tired of hearing “we can’t help you” from the systems meant to support you Check out IG posts here. Listen to Part 2: The Lipedema Op: The Invisible Illness You Weren’t Supposed to Notice 📚 Resources & References Related Episodes: Connection Between ADHD, EDS and POTS Listen here on Spotify Listen here on Apple Lipedema surgery information ADHD Mums blog post — Photos, personal journey, and practical tips for navigating the lipedema surgery system. Check your symptoms – Lipedema Foundation — Clear, accessible checklist to help identify potential signs of lipedema and start informed conversations with health providers. 💓 SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia) Heart Foundation – Heart Arrhythmia & SVT — Evidence-based info on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for heart rhythm conditions including SVT. 🦓 Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Ehlers-Danlos Society Australia — Advocacy, support, and medical resources for people with EDS. Episode 41: ADHD + EDS and POTS – Spotify | Apple Podcast — How these conditions overlap, with expert and lived-experience insight. Episode 62: Burnout, Pain & Weird Symptoms? The ADHD Link No One Told Us About – Spotify | Apple Podcast — The hidden ADHD links to chronic pain, fatigue, and “mystery” symptoms. 🧬 RYR2 rare heart gene MedlinePlus – RYR2 Gene Information — Plain-language explanation of this rare genetic variant linked to heart rhythm issues. 💬 Community ADHD Mums Facebook Group — A safe, neuro-affirming space to connect with other ADHD mums, share resources, and get support. JOIN THE COMMUNITY: Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format! FOLLOW FOR MORE: Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube LEAVE A REVIEW: Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together. COLLABS: For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected]. MORE RESOURCES: Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here. 🧠 TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: ADHD medication side effects, ADHD mums, stimulant intolerance, lipedema, neurodivergence and chronic illness, women’s health funding, medical gaslighting, ADHD alternatives, chronic pain management, surgery access Australia, disability advocacy, invisible disability, health privilege, neuroaffirming care, ADHD burnout, emotional resilience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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