Motherhood in ADHD – Parenting with ADHD, Productivity Tips, Brain based Science, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Education to Help Moms with Adult ADHD - podcast cover

Motherhood in ADHD – Parenting with ADHD, Productivity Tips, Brain based Science, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Education to Help Moms with Adult ADHD

Productivity, Parenting, and Education for Moms with Adult ADHD Are you overwhelmed by the never-ending to do list of motherhood? Are you burnt out and barely keeping your head above water? Are you confused and frustrated by how all the other moms make it look so easy? And somehow you're still floundering despite trying even harder... Your purse is as overflowing as your mind, you never feel like a good enough mom, and you don't dare have anyone over to visit to witness your messy home. You just want the best for your kids, but you can't figure out how to manage the chaos, both in your mind and in your house. Oh, I've been there, mama. Some days, I'm still there. Parenting with ADHD is hard! We want to be structured for our kids, yet we can't seem to stay consistent even for ourselves. But I'm letting go of everyone else's perception of a "good mom" and stepping into loving who I am a little more each day. Will you join me? Whether you have ADHD like I do, or think you might, here is your permission slip to let go of the pinterest worthy visions of organization and structure fit for everyone else. Let's do life like our brains do life: creatively, lovingly, and with all your might. Moms with ADHD have a superpower of always trying their best, even when it doesn't pan out. How do I know? I have known about my ADD for over twenty years, and I want to share all of this hard-earned ADHD knowledge with you, making your adjustment a lot easier and faster than mine was. What does Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder look like in women? We'll dive into emotional regulation, motivation, executive function, hormones, medication, and natural treatments. Women with ADHD share their diagnosis stories with us, whether inattentive, hyperactive or combined, from childhood through adult diagnoses. We also talk about ADHD's so-called friends like depression, anxiety, addiction, disordered eating, other learning differences, and what I've learned through therapy and CBT. Science is my jam and learning about how our brains work through the lens of scientific research helps us understand who we are. ADHD is not just for little boys; it looks different in girls. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological medical condition, not an excuse for lazy, stupid, unmotivated people to not live up to our potential. Let's agree to throw that thought in the trash. Once we understand how our brains work, we can dive into the practical strategies like structuring our day, minimalism, money, nurturing our relationships, daily rhythms, using a planner, and improving our sleep. I want to help you build your version of a joyful family life. We talk about everything from ADHD to Zebras, because that is how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder works: to us, our thoughts are clearly connected, but non-linear to everyone else. I want you to love being a zebra in a world full of horses. We were born as unique, gorgeous creatures, not meant to blend in with the usual nor mundane. When we embrace who we are and how our brains work, we can figure out how to live out lives successfully and in turn, lead our families well. At the end of the day, we just want to be good moms. Spoiler alert: you are already a great mom. If you're ready to see that with your own two eyes, hit play and listen in as we love ourselves a little more each day of our ADHD lives. ADHD does NOT mean you're doomed to be a hot mess, mama! You CAN rewrite your story from shame spiral to success story, and I'll be right here beside you to cheer you on! With love, Patricia Sung, a fellow mama with ADHD Free Resources and Transcriptions at: motherhoodinadhd.com Connect with Patricia Sung on Instagram: www.instagram.com/motherhoodinadhd Join like-minded mamas in our Successful Mama Meetups online community: https://www.patriciasung.com/meetup Sign up for community, courses, coaching, and tons of free resources to learn about ADHD: www.patriciasung.com

Episodes

E229: Putting Off Your Big Dreams & Goals as a Mom

Are you feeling anxious or lazy cuz you’re avoiding tasks you need or want to do? Do you want to achieve a big goal but think it isn’t realistic right now? What if you *never* get around to the big dreams you have? *cue PANIC* When you’ve spent years feeling like you’re procrastinating, being lazy, and not understanding why you can’t just do the thing, you can easily get confused when there is something you really want to do but it’s not a good fit right now. Sometimes life is too full for one m...

Jun 06, 202420 min

E228: Balancing Work, Family, and ADHD with Crystal Ware

How do you juggle growing professionally while also being a great mom and taking care of yourself? Meet today’s guest, Crystal Ware. Crystal and I dive into a dual episode that is being aired both on my podcast and on her podcast “Get Clear with Crystal Ware”. From discussing the struggles of balancing work and family, to offering advice on advocating for a raise at work, Crystal's insights provide valuable guidance for women in professional settings. Together, we’re exploring the complexities o...

May 30, 20241 hr 5 min

E227: Restart Habits You Gave Up On

When you feel like a BIG loser and failure… Eryn asks for help: “I'm always disappointed in myself that when faced with one small obstacle, I give up and cave on everything I've worked so hard to build and then it takes me WEEKS just to summon the effort/courage to get back on track - whether with diet/exercise, my small business, supporting my husband in his own business, or keeping a consistent routine for my 4 kids. It's so defeating and, as a wife & mom, makes me feel like the BIGGEST loser ...

May 23, 202420 min

E226: Why You Can’t Afford to Skip Self-Care as a Mom

Recently, I discussed with 4 mom friends the point of Mother’s Day. Spoiler Alert: We all had differing opinions and none of us do the same things on Mother’s Day. While some dislike its baggage and some of us loved a day of being treated like a queen, we did agree that moms could all use a lot more care and rest. You deserve more than 1 day out of 365, mama. Because caring for yourself isn’t an optional activity. At some point, your body or mind will make you take a break when you haven’t made ...

May 16, 202421 min

E225: 8 Tips for Making New Mom Friends

Scared of meeting new people? Does small talk give you hives? If you want to make new mom friends, but aren’t sure what to do next, let’s hang out on today’s episode! Until recently, parties where I didn’t know anyone were scarier than any snake, clown, or ghost. As someone who’s been painfully shy my whole life, I never knew what to say or how to leave a conversation before it got awkward. I was so awkward! Today I’m sharing my struggles with making friends, especially in new situations with ne...

May 09, 202426 min

E224: Self-Acceptance & Fair Play in ADHD Relationships with Tami Hackbarth

When is it too late to get an ADHD diagnosis? For today’s guest, Tami Hackbarth, getting diagnosed with ADHD at age 53 was worth it. After years in the classroom working with copious ADHD children, Tami has plenty of strategies and tools to help those of us with neurodivergent brains. We dove into Tami’s journey of self-discovery, self-compassion, and self-acceptance. She opens up about her struggles with sleep apnea, the impact of medication on her daily life, and the importance of Fair Play an...

May 02, 202458 min

E223: Building a Stronger, Healthier Family for Generations

We all know someone who has an emotionally immature parent. The one who lays on guilt trips. The one who never shows up. The one who struggles with demons bigger than their kids. Maybe it’s you. Maybe it’s your neighbor or your best friend. As a mom, it hits different. You see the pain, the nuance, the struggle a little more clearly. And yet you still can’t fix the other person. But you can make changes in your life and for your own children. Today, I’m not holding back from the tough conversati...

Apr 25, 202418 min

E222: Constantly Feel Like You’re Behind? 4 Reasons Why

What “should” you have done already? Finish your degree? Pass your driver’s license test? Make that doctor’s appt? Left the house for school pickup? If you’re constantly thinking “I’m behind!”, this episode is for you. Often it’s literal, as in, “I’m 20 minutes late to my appointment!” But it’s also in the big things, like you “should” have more kids by now or gotten that promotion. You’re not alone! Feeling behind has come up in several discussions recently both in my Lighthouse Group ADHD Coac...

Apr 18, 202412 min

E221: Why Do I Get Frustrated So Easily? ADHD Meltdowns & Mood Swings in Adults

Do you ever feel like an emotional sponge, absorbing the feelings of others around you? Especially when you’re with someone you care about? Especially when you’re in certain parts of your cycle? Extra especially when they are agitated, frustrated, angry, or anxious? In this episode, we dive deep into understanding emotional regulation, stress management, and the unique challenges faced by moms with ADHD. From absorbing everyone else's emotions to navigating the stress ladder, we'll explore the s...

Apr 11, 202416 min

E220: Spending Money on Yourself Guilt-free! Plus How to Talk to Your Partner about the Budget

Sometimes you need a reminder that it’s okay to spend a little money on yourself, especially when the guilt of the last 3 wasteful impulse buys are still weighing on you. In this episode of Motherhood in ADHD, we're diving headfirst into why self-care is NOT selfish. I want you to know that putting yourself on the budget’s priority list is worth it - without guilt creeping in and talking yourself out of it before you ever get that much deserved break. Often that guilt (or fear of something else)...

Apr 04, 202430 min

E219: Parenting a Struggling Child with ADHD: Where to Start When Your Kid is in Crisis

Watching your child struggle is pretty much the worst. Not knowing what to do about it is more than icing on the doo-doo cake. I've got your back, mama! In this episode of Motherhood in ADHD, I dive into the rollercoaster of emotions and challenges of parenting a struggling child. When your child needs help, but you don’t know where to begin, this episode is for you. From dealing with overwhelming chaos to understanding the unique dynamics in a family affected by ADHD, here are my key tips to he...

Mar 28, 202425 min

E218: Finding Calm in the Chaos: Holiday Self-Care Tips

It’s here again… that awful feeling: I’m behind. You swore this year you’d print those adorable Christmas cards with your family’s smiling faces in front of a glowing tree, but it’s December and you haven’t even started. Your friends are sending you theirs, and just seeing them makes you feel guilty. You’re scrambling to shop for presents online, wondering how you’re going to fit it into your budget. And that damn elf on the shelf? Hasn’t moved for days. Mama, the holidays are a stressful time f...

Dec 07, 202334 min

E217: Friendships & ADHD: Ghosting, Awkwardness and More with Social Skills Expert Caroline Maguire

Ever feel like making friends is a puzzle you can't quite solve? You're not alone, mama! In this episode of Motherhood in ADHD, we unpack the nuances of friendship with our guest Caroline Maguire. Caroline is a leader in social skills development and the author of the book, “Why Will No One Play With Me?” – a handbook on how to communicate social skills training for your kids… and yourself! If you’ve ever felt like your ADHD impacts how you make and keep friends, this episode is for you. We're t...

Nov 30, 20231 hr 2 min

E216: What I Wish I Knew Before Taking ADHD Medication: Your Questions Answered! Best Of Series

How do you feel when you think about taking ADHD medication? Nervous? Hopeful? Overwhelmed? The process of obtaining and finding the right medication can feel like A LOT. First, you have to approach the subject with your doctor (who may or may not be well-informed about ADHD) -- and then there is finding the right type and dosing of medication, dealing with potential side effects, and the whole process of trial and error. It never goes perfectly. But it can go more smoothly -- when you take a fe...

Nov 23, 202340 min

E215: I Don’t Know What Else To Do! 5 Ways to Find Fresh Solutions When You Feel Stuck and Hopeless in the Same Old Frustrating Problems

“I’ve tried everything!” When you’re dealing with a particularly frustrating problem that’s gone on for years, like parenting your exasperating child, looking for relief from a chronic health issue, or advocating for your child struggling at school, you start to run out of energy AND optimism. When you’ve got a situation that feels hopeless… When you’ve run out of ideas… When you’ve looked under every rock and barked up every tree… Should you just give up? Sigh. Except you REALLY want to find a ...

Nov 16, 202326 min

E214: Parenting Lessons from Bad Bosses: When Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) affects our Parenting and Partners

What’s your story of working under an unqualified or unsupportive boss? I’m sharing a few of my terrible boss experiences. But today’s episode is not just about the bad bosses in the workplace. As a parent, we often feel underqualified. You don’t want to be a “bad boss”, but no one handed you an instruction manual when your children arrived! What do you do when you don’t know what to do? When you don’t feel sure of your choices, it starts to seep into your confidence level. Rejection Sensitive D...

Nov 09, 202324 min

E213: ADHD Junk Drawer: I Read My Bad Reviews, Late Diagnosis Grief, and When You Forget to Take Your ADHD Medication

What does the inside of your kitchen junk drawer look like? And why is it always in the kitchen? We all have a random smattering of ideas laying around and today I’m sharing a few that wouldn’t necessarily make a whole episode in and of themselves, so I’m combining these random thoughts rattling around my brain into one Junk Drawer episode. First, we cover a few questions around ADHD medications with some crowdsourced helpful tips on how to find medicine with shortages happening everywhere, as w...

Nov 02, 202334 min

E212: Should I Become a Mom if I Have ADHD? How Pregnancy Influences ADHD and How to Treat Your ADHD when Pregnant with Therapist and Mom-to-Be Candin Phillips

“Should I become a mom if I have ADHD?” Here’s an episode you’ve been asking for - pregnancy and ADHD! You ask me so many questions around pregnancy friendly symptoms management, ADHD medication while pregnant, and the big question of should I even have kids if I can’t take care of myself??? It’s been almost 6 years since I was pregnant, so I called in a friend who’s in the thick of it. Today’s guest is Candin Phillips of Humanity Hive . Candin is a licensed therapist with over ten years of expe...

Oct 19, 202355 min

E211: The Power of Community: 5 Things I Learned From Hanging Out With ADHD Moms This Weekend

When you’re dreaming about taking time for yourself, does that nudge (or wave) of guilt make you pause? Today, I’m reflecting on 5 things I learned this weekend while I hung out with many of you. This past weekend was my ADHD Moms Weekend Retreat and we had a blast! It was soo soo good and I didn’t want it to end! We rested, we ate hot food, and we focused on ourselves. One of the things we all discussed was how refreshing it was to be the most important person on the agenda, and the moms wished...

Oct 12, 202314 min

E210: I'm Sorry, I Forgot! Please Don't Be Mad At Me...It Was My ADHD

Appointments, birthdays, permission slips, library books, names, the one thing you went into the store for… In today's episode, I delve into one of the most frustrating features of ADHD: forgetting important things. From my personal experiences of forgetting to pick up THE ONE THING that my husband had requested while I went backpacking through Spain to missing my child's swim lesson due to a mix-up in scheduling, we’ll explore the guilt and shame that often accompany these forgetful moments. Bu...

Oct 05, 202322 min

E209: Cleaning Up You and Your Child's Mental Mess: Lies You’ve Been Told About Your ADHD Brain, Building Habits, and Finding Mental Peace with Dr. Caroline Leaf

Oh, the lies you’ve been told about your brain… Today’s guest challenges the traditional description of ADHD, viewing it not as a disorder, but as a unique collection of traits that showcase different ways of thinking and experiencing emotions. Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist, audiologist, and clinical and cognitive neuroscientist specializing in psychoneurobiology and metacognitive neuropsychology. Her passion is to help people see the power of the mind to change the brain, con...

Sep 28, 20231 hr 3 min

E208: Live Coaching: How to Stop Yelling at Your Family with Successful Mama Meetup Member Jess

When you want to help your kid, but you’re triggered yourself, it’s really hard to show as the mom you want to be. Today I’m taking you behind the scenes of one of our July meetups in Successful Mama Meetups . The theme for the month was "Angry Moms Unite," focusing on how to stop yelling at your family and regulate your emotions, so you can show up as the mom you want to be more often. We’re not looking for perfection, but progress. Empowerment. Giving you the confidence that you can change the...

Sep 21, 202330 min

E207: Angry Moms Unite! How to Stop Yelling at Your Family: Behind the Scenes Peek into Successful Mama Meetups

Did you spew angry volcano-vomit on your family today? Or yesterday? Or right before this, which is why you’re listening to this episode right now? IYKYK. Today I’m taking you behind the scenes of one of our July meetups in Successful Mama Meetups. The theme for the month was "Angry Moms Unite," focusing on how to stop yelling at your family and regulate your emotions, so you can show up as the mom you want to be more often. We’re not looking for perfection, but progress. Empowerment. Giving you...

Sep 14, 202322 min

E206: Lots of Ideas and No Action: When You're Too Tired to Plan or Do the Plan and Need an ADHD Energy Recharge

You want to grab dinner with your best friend… You want to do that cool volcano science project with your 4 year old… You want to snuggle on the couch with your partner and watch a movie… But you also need sleep. You feel like the worst friend, daughter, mom, partner, when you promise to do something and then cancel plans at the last minute because you don’t have the energy to do it when the time comes around. You’re feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, and at capacity on top of the guilt. Ugh. Havin...

Sep 07, 202331 min

E205: Emotional Sponges: How to Stop Absorbing Other People's Feelings by Defining Your Boundaries and Building Your Emotional Regulation Tools - A Behind the Scenes Look into my Small Group ADHD Coaching Program Lighthouse

When your child charges in the room raging or super sour, how do you react? Do you immediately tense up, knowing that the battle is about to begin? When your spouse arrives home, do you listen to the noises they make outside the door to prepare yourself if they’ve had a rough day at work? Does your stomach fall into the pit of your stomach, because you know the rest of the night is ruined? For most of my life, someone else’s bad mood would ruin my mood. Every time. And I hated it. It didn’t matt...

Sep 05, 202345 min

E204: Are You a Good Mom? The Gift of Presence in Joyful or Joyless Motherhood

How many times have you questioned whether you are a “good mom”? In the last 2 months, I’ve asked myself this at least 4000 times. This summer did not go as expected which made me doubt if I’m being a good mom. Am I spending enough time with my boys? Am I putting my phone down and paying attention when they talk? Am I making my kids a priority over endless stress and anxious thoughts swirling around my head? Here’s some wise advice I received recently from an older, more experienced mom, on how ...

Aug 31, 202319 min

E203: Create the Calm: Lesser Known and Underappreciated Ways to Reduce Stress as a Mom with ADHD

Are you juggling 6,358 things? If life’s been a little too much today or in general, let’s talk. I’m hanging on for dear life as things get next-level chaotic over here in the Sung house… And I haven’t lost my ish on anyone yet! *celebration* Last year, I couldn’t have said that. I would have yelled at kids or my spouse or both, felt awful about it, and then hid under my covers and as I sunk into shame and guilt. But this year is different. I’m prioritizing different things, and they aren’t fanc...

Aug 24, 202331 min

E202: The Same Fight Again: How to Improve Your Romantic Relationship When it's Impacted by ADHD with Melissa Orlov

“My partner says I’m using my ADHD as an excuse. They’re not really understanding ADHD at all or how it affects me!” You shared your relationship struggles and you’re not the only one! Today’s guest, Melissa Orlov, answers YOUR questions from my free Facebook group . We discuss ADHD as an excuse, partners who don’t understand ADHD, communication obstacles between ADHD partners and non-ADHD partners. We also dive into guilt, shame, trust, coping with RSD (rejection sensitivity dysphoria) when it ...

Aug 17, 202346 min

E201: Practice Makes Progress, Not Perfect: ADHD and Perfectionism from the Journey With Me Through ADHD Podcast with Guest Host Katelyn Mabry - Best of Friends Series

How do you explain ADHD to your child? Start with the Journey with Me Through ADHD, a podcast for kids. Katelyn’s humongous heart for helping kids understand their ADHD is contagious! She knows just how to explain tough or complicated stuff in a digestible manner so kids can feel confident and empowered. Katelyn speaks straight into the heart and mind of kids with ADHD. Helping them learn and understand the way their brain is wired differently and come up with tools and strategies that work best...

Aug 10, 202318 min

E200: Understanding ADHD in Neurodiverse Kids and Their Parents from the On The Hard Days Podcast with Guest Host Megan Champion - Best of Friends Series

Have you ever hated your own child? While you may not want to say it out loud, sometimes parenting is just. so. hard. that this burning hatred overtakes you in a fiery blaze. And when your child is extra… extra needy, extra sensitive, extra different, extra angry, extra aggressive, extra anything, the usual parenting advice doesn’t work. Maybe you feel like a failure or a terrible mom. Meet Megan Champion, who started her podcast as a “regular mom” who needed to know she was not alone struggling...

Aug 03, 20231 hr 28 min