Mother Plus Podcast - podcast cover

Mother Plus Podcast

Stacey Hutson & Stephanie Sprengerwww.buzzsprout.com

This is the podcast for "too much" moms who feel like they are failing at motherhood and don't want to fail anymore. Your hosts, Stacey Hutson and Stephanie Sprenger, two ADHD moms of four girls ages 4-18, most definitely don't have it all figured out. But we know one thing for sure: understanding our brains is the key to enjoying our motherhood, and our SELVES again.

Here, we are brutally honest about our ADHD motherhoods (the missed Spirit Weeks, the mountains of laundry, the nostalgia for our old "fun" pre-mom selves) so you know you're not the only one struggling.

When we don't know the answers, or aren't qualified to give them, we bring on the experts. Mental health therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, women's doctors -- we want to learn from them all. Because we believe once you know how to work WITH your ADHD brain rather than against it, it changes everything. 

You found your people. We're them. And you're ours. Let's figure this out together. 

*To Join the ADHD Mom's Club so we can hang out, visit: https://www.motherplusser.com/ADHD-mom-club-waitlist**

Episodes

8 Spiritual Woo Woo Practices For The ADHD Mom

Send us a text In this episode, we cover: We went viral last week with a reel about 1990s Gifted and Talented Girls with ADHD, anxiety, perfectionism who are "now immersed in a spiritual journey," and it must have struck a nerve—today we are exploring the connection between women who have ADHD and are into all things spiritual and woo. We wonder if the creative, intuitive, daydreamy qualities ADHD women possess makes us more drawn to the spiritual realm, and we have some 8 tips for how to incorp...

Mar 28, 202439 minSeason 3Ep. 98

A Psychologist Explains How The ADHD Mom Can Advocate For Herself: Part 1

Send us a text In this episode, we cover: The diagnosis process can be fraught. Dr. Richey says that you do NOT need a diagnosis to start giving yourself love and compassion. You don't need a label to understand yourself. The DSM is very limited, and is inadequate when it comes to diagnosing women and girls as well as the BIPOC community. Dr. Richey breaks down the difference between screening and testing, and outlines the different types of practitioners who provide diagnosis. Understanding WHY...

Mar 26, 202430 minSeason 3Ep. 97

Clearing Storage & Memory In Your Computer For The ADHD Mom

Send us a text Stace and Steph have a dirty secret—their computers' storage and memory are AWFUL. Do you have a "thing" like this that makes you feel embarrassed, ashamed, and overwhelmed? Something that feels like a weight on you but you can't seem to make yourself address it? Steph decided to clean up her computer's storage over the weekend—here's how she did it. Decluttering—MacBook style! We'll walk you through step by step the things you need to do to get your computer running better. We ar...

Mar 21, 20249 minSeason 3Ep. 96

An ADHD Professional Explains Why Motherhood Is Such A Struggle For Women With ADHD: Part 2

Send us a text In this episode, we cover: What internalized values have contributed to women with ADHD feeling like a failure, and how do we shake off cultural beliefs and gender roles that we do not subscribe to? ADHD moms have interest-wired brains: We talk about the impact of having our interests align with our children's and how much easier it is to connect with them when we aren't forcing ourselves to sit on the floor and engage in imaginative play. Hot topic of the day: "Does everyone have...

Mar 19, 202434 minSeason 3Ep. 95

BONUS: An ADHD Mom Loses It

Send us a text Today, we're going to spend 10 minutes talking about ADHD and losing it. As in, your temper and your mind. In this quickie episode, we're going to cover: How ADHD and losing your temper are related What Leah Barnes mentioned in the previous episode: "I was struggling to begin with, but now, instead of keeping track of my own life, I've also got to keep track of these other people too." What do you do with that pressure? If you don't deal with it? The answer: Explode. Stacey shares...

Mar 14, 202410 minSeason 3Ep. 94

An ADHD Professional Explains Why Motherhood Is Such A Struggle For Women With ADHD: Part 1

Send us a text Steph and I are more than ready to talk about ADHD for moms with a professional. Welcome Leah Barnes, licensed clinical mental health counselor with a specialty in ADHD for adults. We ask her EVERYTHING about ADHD in women and ADHD in motherhood. Here's what we cover: The phenomenon of moms realizing they have ADHD after getting their kids diagnosed (which actually happened to Leah) You don’t know what to look for “until you know what you’re looking for” Nobody is going to advocat...

Mar 12, 202424 minSeason 3Ep. 93

BONUS: How To Clean Your Fridge For The ADHD Mom

Send us a text Steph tackles her chaotic fridge in today's Tedious Task of the Week episode. Step 1: Throw out the questionable stuff—no guilt, just toss it! Step 2: Remove leftovers you know you aren't going to eat and put the containers on the counter. Step 3: Take out trashy items your kids left in there (or you did, oops) like cardboard packaging and half-consumed smoothies. Step 4: Reorganize just a tiny bit to make it look prettier and less overwhelming. Step 5: Clean out the leftover cont...

Mar 07, 20247 minSeason 3Ep. 92

I Am An ADHD Mom: What Do I Do Now? (The Best Resources & Recommendations Inside)

Send us a text ADHD meds—what it's supposed to feel like, how it's going for Steph, and the challenges of getting meds right now. Our favorite books on ADHD—especially for women—and the things we love about them. Applying the ADHD filter to our lives and our motherhood feels embarrassing at times, like it's all we can talk about. But the integration, healing, and reclamation are such an important part of the diagnosis process. But the hyper-focus on ADHD has also been a useful tool for taking AC...

Mar 05, 202426 minSeason 3Ep. 91

BONUS: How To Match Socks For The ADHD Mom

Send us a text Today is our very first episode and our series that we were calling big tedious task of the week. Big Tedious Task = The really seemingly menial, tedious little things that every other mom seems to have no issue with, but you feel like it's equivalent to climbing Mount Everest. One of the challenges with ADHD or a neuro divergent brain, is that it doesn't think in order. Instead of past present and future. Everything is now. Moms with ADHD get overwhelmed with the everyday tedious...

Feb 29, 202411 minSeason 3Ep. 90

When You Finally See Yourself Clearly: An ADHD Story (With Inspiration from Alice in Wonderland)

Send us a text It can feel vulnerable and uncomfortable when you learn something major about yourself and it's all you want to talk about—like, for example, a brand new ADHD diagnosis. Looking back at your life through a new lens is an important part of integration and healing. Steph has always been a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland, and shares her lightbulb moment when she realizes that maybe it's because it was a bit neurologically autobiographical—a "lost" girl trying to find her way back hom...

Feb 27, 202419 minSeason 3Ep. 89

How To Get Tested For ADHD And The Ways In Which It Could Change Your Life

Send us a text Welcome back to the ADHD in Motherhood Series. It's been a ride. Today, we cover: The process to getting an ADHD evaluation can be tricky, which sort of feels like a sick joke when you're already struggling to complete tasks you don't like. Be prepared to feel big feelings after your diagnosis: anything ranging from grief to relief. You may experience the regret of wondering what would have happened if you'd been diagnosed sooner—there is a grief that accompanies looking back at h...

Feb 21, 202426 min

The Things That You're Good At Because You're An ADHD Mom

Send us a text Let's talk about the positive qualities about women with ADHD—because, yes, we have our own superpowers! We had a major breakthrough about our "Remember her?" moments when we are longing for our pre-mom selves: Of course we miss the person we used to be before all the things we struggled with became magnified. Motherhood + ADHD can wreak havoc on self-esteem, and it's important to remember the things you really love about yourself instead of focusing on your flaws and struggles. W...

Feb 13, 202428 minSeason 3Ep. 87

This Is For The Moms Who Feel Like They Are Failing At Motherhood

Send us a text **TO JOIN US AT THE NEW MOON VIRTUAL RETREAT, CLICK HERE: https://www.motherplusser.com/new-moon-retreat ** We are so excited to share the first episode in a 5-part series for moms who basically feel like they suck at this whole motherhood thing. Stace and Steph look at motherhood through the lens of ADHD; getting a diagnosis opened Steph's eyes to a major puzzle piece as to why she has always felt like a failure at motherhood, an "impostor mom." We represent the moms who feel lik...

Feb 05, 202432 minSeason 3Ep. 86

How To Create A New Moon Ritual For Yourself To Do Every Month (With Mother + Astrological Intuitive)

Send us a text Stace and Steph welcome Jamie DeLuccio, astrological intuitive, yogi, and women's circle facilitator, back to the podcast for a follow-up episode. As always, we are all about permission on this podcast! Understanding your birth chart and how astrology can impact your life is the ultimate permission slip to understand and accept who you are. Jamie teaches us how following the lunar cycles can give us an accessible introduction to learning astrology. We talk about how to create a sp...

Jan 26, 202435 minSeason 3Ep. 85

It's Good For Kids To Help: A Sneak Peek

Send us a text In this mini episode, find out what we learned from Parent Coach Cindy Shuster in our virtual workshop, It's Good For Kids To Help. Cindy reminds us to be kind and gentle with ourselves first and foremost—give yourself a break! We learn the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and why extrinsic doesn't really work. Cindy shares her feelings on chore charts, and why they probably haven't worked out for you in the past. Let's talk about our boiling points—can you r...

Jan 24, 202412 minSeason 3Ep. 84

Flying Under The Radar of ADHD Because You're A Smart "Good Girl"

Send us a text Moving beyond the stereotypes: ADHD can show up very differently in women/girls than in men and boys. Steph shares what it felt like to be a sensitive daydreamer in school, a "good girl" who got good grades and flew under the radar because her symptoms were all internalized. Do you feel like you've had a "secret" your whole life, that maybe there was something wrong with you or different about you that you didn't want anyone to know about? Steph shares her "breaking point" moments...

Jan 17, 202428 minSeason 3Ep. 83

What Do I Do With My Screen Time Guilt?

Send us a text Screen time: Some of us hate it, some of us rely on it, some of us feel guilty and confused, but almost all moms have BIG feelings about screen time. It's a slippery slope—Stacey shares how her zero tolerance screen time went from the occasional TV show to weekend cartoon marathons and iPads in the car. Steph's kids are older, and she shares a completely different perspective on TV shows, devices, and active vs passive screen time. Oh, the guilt! So many of us feel so guilty when ...

Jan 09, 202440 minSeason 3Ep. 82

It's All On Me: Moms Talk Failure To Delegate In Their Houshold

Send us a text **SIGN UP FOR THE PARENT WORKSHOP HERE: https://www.motherplusser.com/parent-workshop ** In this episode, we cover: Stace and Steph confess that they are total Montessori Failures—after trying to empower our kids' independence when they were toddlers, things aren't going so well these days. It feels impossible as parents to commit to a "chore plan" with consistency and so we end up taking the path of least resistance. We are so burned out of all the failed responsibility charts, "...

Dec 13, 202324 minSeason 3Ep. 81

Holiday Magic For Moms: The Antidote To Holiday Stress & Disappointment

Send us a text ** Download the Self-Indulgent Season Inspiration List FREE: https://www.motherplusser.com/Self-Indulgent-Season ** In this episode, we cover: •Holiday magic fades fast as mothers, despite our big daydreams that it will be extra magical when we make our favorite childhood holiday moments happen for our own kids. •When holiday disasters befall us, everything feels much worse than regular crises, and it's generally the parents—aka holiday project managers—who suffer the most while t...

Dec 05, 202326 minSeason 3Ep. 80

Are You A Main Character Mom? Don't Be Embarrassed. So Are We.

Send us a text Are you a Main Character Mommy? Don't be embarrassed—so are we. Can we ditch the narrative that quirky, charismatic moms have something wrong with them? Even in this age of feminism and female empowerment, we are resistant to the idea that a mom can and should be the main character. The one line in the Barbie movie that Stace and Steph can't stand—because we won't stand still. Letting our own lights shine does not mean extinguishing our children's lights—we are all allowed to be t...

Nov 29, 202311 minSeason 3Ep. 79

The Mother Daughter Journey Part 2: How To Find Connection With Our Daughters Again As They Grow Up

Send us a text **To sign up for the Emerging Writer's Workshop, click here !** Deb shares her opinion on the biggest obstacle in mother-daughter relationships right now, and it's probably not what you think. Grief is a huge part of our journey with our daughters—letting go is hard, and even when you have a secure relationship with your daughter, your influence in their lives changes, which can be difficult to accept. Tough conversations: raising daughters in a sexualized culture where we have ma...

Nov 21, 202331 minSeason 3Ep. 78

The Mother Daughter Journey Part 1: What Happens To Our Relationship When They Turn 9?

Send us a text ** To sign up for the emerging writers workshop, click here: https://www.motherplusser.com/writing-workshop ** In this episode, we cover: As parents, we can't help but project "our stuff" onto our children: Deb talks about "conscious adulting," in which we show up responsible for who we are and invite our children to learn how to be exactly who they are. Deb gives us a crash course in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which is Steph's favorite kind of therapy and large part o...

Nov 14, 202328 minSeason 3Ep. 77

Cycle Sync With Me! Part 2: Follicular Phase

Send us a text Welcome back to the Cycle Sync with me series. Today, we're going to discuss what comes AFTER your period: The Follicular Phase. Most of us haven't spent a lot of time understanding what is happening during this phase of our cycles. But it's actually a pretty beautiful, uplifting time. It's really your body taking a fresh start. In this episode, we'll cover: What the Follicular Phase looks like when your hormones are balanced. And then we'll dive deeper into the four categories of...

Nov 08, 202323 minSeason 3Ep. 76

I'm Not A Real Writer/Artist/Creative: The Excuses We Tell Ourselves To Not Do The Things We Love To Do

Send us a text Impostor syndrome for creatives is a real thing—today we approach it through the angle of writing, and our tendency to say, "I'm not a real writer." What pulls you to feel the need to write/create/sing/paint? Many of us do these things because we simply feel like we have to, like there is something inside that needs to get out—it's a catharsis. We talk about the obstacles that hold us back from claiming our titles—"I am a writer/painter/dancer"—and prevent us from putting our crea...

Nov 01, 202332 minSeason 3Ep. 75

When Was The Last Time You Asked Yourself: Do I Like My Days?

Send us a text We learned that our retreat attendees' goals weren't as specific and project-oriented as we imagined—most of them wanted to reassess their day-to-day routines and priorities to make themselves feel better and happier. Zooming in to the small details of your day rather than zooming out to the big picture/pie in the sky goals can be intuitive and healthy, especially when you're in the weeds with young kids. Knowing when something has run its course: during the early months and years...

Oct 25, 202335 minSeason 3Ep. 74

Parenting Insecurities and a Maternal Identity Crisis: A Super Mom Road Trip Story

Send us a text In today's solo episode, Steph shares an update on her memoir and reads an excerpt. When you're a nostalgia junkie, saying goodbye to your childhood home can be rough—Steph dragged her young kids on a 25-hour pilgrimage to the midwest nine years ago to see her old house one last time. Being a solo parent is a ripe opportunity to confront one's parenting inferiority complex, and Steph found herself face to face with her biggest fears about herself. When we "go home again," even if ...

Oct 18, 202326 minSeason 3Ep. 73

I Didn’t Realize I Was This Depleted: Why You Need To Fill Up On You-Time Regularly

Send us a text Stace and Steph share the "secret sauce" we've learned from our experiences working with women during our two September events. We discuss the power of intentional connection with women who want to "go there" with each other and get real—and how the effort leaves you feeling filled up instead of depleted. You can't plan for the unique alchemy that happens when women gather and are present in the moment—everyone's gifts and needs naturally rise to the surface. Small talk is SO over...

Oct 10, 202324 minSeason 3Ep. 72

Cycle Synch With Me! Part 1: Menstrual Cycle

Send us a text Come cycle synch with Stacey in this four-part series, all about why and how we can cater our lifestyle choices to what time of the month it is. In Part 1, she discusses the menstrual phase of cycle synching. She talks about: Why we should see our period as a beautiful sign to slow down our bodies and embrace the “lazy” What she eats to keep her body nourished during this time What type of exercise she does — if any during this time How she approaches social situations The best ty...

Oct 03, 202322 minSeason 3Ep. 71

People-Pleasing, Disclaiming, & Qualifying: Why Do Women Feel The Need To Diminish Their Stories?

Send us a text Being a woman writing memoir is scary and can bring up fears that writing about your own life is self-absorbed or navel-gazing. Why do so many women feel the need to apologize for their work or offer disclaimers that diminish the value of their stories? Mother-plussers can be a bundle of contradictions: Steph describes herself as unapologetically apologetic, a nice girl who hates being nice, and an approval-seeker who rails against the systems that cause women to seek approval. St...

Sep 12, 202314 minSeason 3Ep. 70

How Does A Type B Mother + Entrepreneur Keep Her Sh*t Together To Run A Business?

Send us a text In this episode, Stacey gets the honor of interviewing one of her business mentors, Allie Casazza. She is a #1 best-selling author, a podcast chart topper, and thought leader when it comes to minimalism -- not just in your home, but in your life. Today, we talk motherhood + business. We cover: The power of changing your mind in your life and in business Being unapologetic about who you are How much better a mom you can be when you follow your passions and creativity Mom guilt - th...

Aug 29, 202357 minSeason 2Ep. 69
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