Claim OwnershipThe ADHD MUMS Pod
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Description
Real talk from two ADHD mums in the thick of parenting, chaos, and clutter. Gen and Claire share honest highs and lows of neuro-divergent life. We are Mums, but you don't have to be to listen!
We share real, unfiltered stories about parenting, neurodivergence, and daily struggles like executive dysfunction, disorganisation, overstimulation, and Mum guilt. We also celebrate the wins—big or small—with honesty and laughter.
We're both AFAB and biological mums, but this space is for all parents, ADHDers, curious minds, and —even your pets. Everyone’s welcome.
We do swear though, so you probably need headphones if there's kids around!
46 Episodes
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What happens when every morning feels like a battleground? When getting dressed, brushing teeth, or simply walking out the door triggers anxiety so intense it manifests as defiance? In this deeply insightful exploration, we unpack the crucial differences between Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) – two profiles that look remarkably similar on the surface but require fundamentally different parenting approaches. Drawing from our personal experiences as...
This week we go from chaotic bedrooms and moving house anxieties to surprising revelations during alternative healing sessions. • Gen struggles with returning household chaos despite previous organization success • She's been creating detailed plans for an upcoming house move while battling task paralysis • Gen loved attending a women's financial well-being workshop, which provided structure and community support • Claire's skepticism turns to amazement during an unexpected Reiki healing ses...
Have you ever noticed how your child's meltdown seems to trigger your own internal alarm system? There's a biological reason for that—and understanding it might just transform your approach to parenting. In this deep dive into co-regulation, we explore the fascinating science behind how neurodivergent parents and children affect each other's nervous systems. Using Stephen Porges' polyvagal theory as our guide, we explain how our bodies move between states of safety, fight-or-flight, and shut...
We share our weekly highs and lows, exploring perfectionism, dating app adventures, and the challenges of parenting through burnout. • Claire discusses her struggle with perfectionism through a mirror restoration project that caused family tension and revealed further possible autism traits alongside her ADHD • She celebrates a successful counseling session with her son, with the therapist validating concerns about school support for neurodiversity • Gen finds humour in dating app experience...
Ever felt that sinking feeling when you realize money's vanishing from your account every month for services you don't even use? You're not alone. In this eye-opening conversation, Claire has reluctantly been tasked by Gen to investigate her subscriptions NOW, not tomorrow. This ends up in a financial awakening that reveals she's spending well over £125 monthly on completely unused subscriptions. From educational apps that proved too basic (but kept charging anyway) to streaming services sig...
We discuss the fascinating connection between neurodivergent children and their attraction to horror, spooky stories, and darker themes. We explore why these interests shouldn't necessarily concern parents but might actually represent healthy processing and identity formation. • Neurodivergent children often relate more to villains and outsider characters than traditional heroes • Many ADHD and autistic children have an innate attraction to horror and spooky content from a young age • Childr...
We share our weekly highs and lows, focusing on how we're learning to manage the "feast and famine" energy cycles that come with ADHD. We discuss practical strategies for avoiding over-commitment and finding balance in chaotic lives. • Gen's low involves recognizing she was taking on too many new opportunities and creating an unsustainable schedule • Using a color-coded timetable helped her visualize her commitments and prioritize "sacred time" with her children • Gen made practical adjustme...
We return to discuss the highs and lows of navigating life with ADHD while managing health challenges, medication adjustments, and back-to-school transitions. • Claire shares her realization that stopping ADHD medication during illness significantly impacted her cognitive function • We discuss the challenges of body awareness and pacing for neurodivergent people when unwell • Claire's health updates including upcoming surgery and attending a family gig despite physical limitations • Gen cele...
We're back again, with our Highs and Lows... • Claire's low: Being stuck at home while sick, dealing with hospitals and the mental health impact of isolation • The disconnect between feeling young inside while aging physically • Gym memberships and exercise intentions that never materialize – a classic ADHD pattern. • Claire's high: Support from loved ones, especially her son cooking meals and spending quality time • Gen's ongoing challenges of solo parenting and summer holiday managem...
We return after a sudden absence to explain our disappearance, sharing candid stories about our recent medical emergencies and hospital stays. • Claire spent over ten days in multiple hospitals dealing with a severe infection in her fallopian tubes • A hospital procedure gone wrong left Claire with a drain tube caught on her sciatic nerve, causing excruciating pain • After being discharged, Claire has spent weeks trying to coordinate care between two hospitals that won't take responsibility ...
We explore what their ideal ADHD-friendly homes would look like, from practical solutions to fantastical dreams, while repeatedly getting side-tracked, as per usual. • Low-maintenance outdoor spaces like yards with potted plants instead of gardens requiring constant upkeep • Automated home features like laundry chutes, robot vacuum cleaners, and smart home technology to reduce cognitive load • Meal prep strategies and the challenges of demand avoidance when it comes to pre-planned meals • Cr...
We explore how ADHD brains might be better suited to hunter-gatherer societies than our modern capitalist world, questioning if our current social structures are fundamentally misaligned with neurodivergent minds. • The hunter-gatherer theory of ADHD suggests our brains evolved for different tasks than modern 9-to-5 work demands • Claire discusses how leaving her job allowed her to reconnect with her authentic self after being depleted by constant masking and exhaustion • Universal basic inc...
We share our weekly highs and lows, exploring the challenges of neurodivergent travel and the joys of neighborhood connections. • Claire's low: the chaos of traveling as a neurodivergent couple, including last-minute passport expiration panic and disorganization with transort. • Claire's high: experiencing ancient Neanderthal cave art in Spain despite terrifying slippery stairs and language barriers. • Overcoming communication challenges in Spanish with Google translate and determination. • ...
We explore Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), an intense emotional reaction to perceived rejection or criticism commonly experienced by people with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions. We share personal stories about how understanding RSD has helped us recognize when we're experiencing it and develop healthier responses to perceived rejection. • RSD causes intense emotional pain in response to perceived criticism or rejection • Fear of rejection can lead to avoiding social interaction...
We dive deep into the rollercoaster of ADHD parenting, from school refusal crises to chaotic hospital visits, while also exploring how hormones and PMDD can devastate our mental health. • Gen shares her daughter's escalating school refusal that culminated in her unlocking school gates and running into traffic • Dealing with physical aggression and bites from children during meltdowns • The chaos of managing two children with different needs during a hospital emergency • Building a healthier ...
Claire and Gen discuss Chris Packham's BBC documentary "Inside Our ADHD Minds," sharing how it portrays the lived experience of ADHD through the stories of two individuals with the condition. • Documentary follows Henry (diagnosed as a child) and Jo (diagnosed late in life) as they create films to help their loved ones understand ADHD • Henry's film portrayed ADHD as a character bombarding him with distractions, using ball pit balls as metaphors for competing thoughts • Jo's late diagnosis l...
Another dose of our weekly highs and lows, diving into the physical and emotional toll of health struggles, bureaucratic nightmares, and finding unexpected parenting wins. • Claire discusses her weight loss journey and the exhaustion from medical treatments affecting her productivity and mental health • Physical health limitations create additional challenges when managing daily tasks and household responsibilities • Gen shares a series of bizarre administrative errors where she's "dis...
We introduce our new feature "Voice Notes from the Edge" where listeners can send us voice messages with questions, stories, or ADHD hacks that we'll respond to on the podcast. • Our first message comes from a listener who's had her ADHD referral lost in the healthcare system • She asks whether pursuing diagnosis is worth the uphill battle after experiencing system failures • We discuss how common it is for paperwork to get lost due to underfunded, overstretched healthcare systems • When you...
Claire's recent recurrent nightmares and a podcast reccomendation have made her want to finally share her deeply personal journey of escaping an abusive relationship decades ago. We talk around the unique vulnerabilities ADHD women face in toxic partnerships. • ADHD traits can make individuals more susceptible to manipulation and gaslighting • Early warning signs of abuse include controlling behavior, isolation from friends and family, and financial control • Abusive relationships ofte...
ADHD diagnosis brings initial relief until the harsh reality sets in – it helps you understand yourself better but doesn't make the struggles disappear. The journey continues with extreme highs and lows, requiring ongoing effort and coping strategies. • Gen shares that recognizing anxiety as an "unwelcome visitor" rather than part of her identity represents significant growth • When physical symptoms of anxiety include heightened awareness of your heart and lungs and racing thought patterns&...
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