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Raising an out-of-the-box kid can feel isolating. You wonder, Am I crazy? What am I doing wrong? The doubt, guilt, and exhaustion are overwhelming—and finding another mom who truly gets it feels impossible. That’s why the On The Hard Days podcast exists. Host Megan Champion knows the struggle firsthand and is on a mission to bring connection and support to moms raising neurodivergent kids. Each week, a brave mom shares her raw, honest story so you can feel seen, heard, and validated. Whether your child has a diagnosis or not, if you feel alone in your motherhood, this podcast is for you. Subscribe now and follow Megan on Instagram @on.the.hard.days for daily encouragement & info about her community resource, Mothers Together —DMs are always open!
210 Episodes
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"What if we all told everyone what we were feeling? Especially when it's a good thing - so maybe not everything. But what if every time we thought something kind, we just said it out loud? It sounds simple enough, but yet, we don't."
"I was providing for my family, and I was dead inside." Today's episode is with Sarah, whose motherhood journey will sound VERY relatable to many of you! Don't miss this one! In this episode, we talk about: What it's like being the "breadwinner" AND the co-regulator.When your kids have overlapping, opposite needs.Raising ND kids who go to 3 different types of schoolsHer kids' various challenges - anxiety, giftedness, PDA, etc.The family dynamics of a stay-at-home Dad!Coming to the realization...
Today's episode is with Dalynn, who shared some really vulnerable, tough stuff in this conversation. It's a powerful episode not to be missed. **Trigger Warning: Talk of hitting/physical abuse at the 21:00 mark** In this episode, we talk about: What it's like raising 5 teens/young adultsWhen you're raising an ND kid with grandparentsRaising a kid with severe sleep challengesHow her prior cancer journey helped her handle the challenges in parentingHow lack of sleep and severe anxiety led to he...
"I've had a whole parenting life of doing it all by myself." Today's episode is with my good friend Stephanie, who has been with me in Mothers Together since (almost) Day 1! Don't miss it! **Trigger Warning: Talk of suicidal ideations at the 45:00 mark** In this episode, we talk about: When giftedness shows itself in preschoolWhy it's frustrating when educators can't share if they feel a diagnosis is presentWhen your partner doesn't think there's anything wrongWhat the motherhood load l...
"PDA kids don't bend...they break. And I'm not breaking my kid again." Today's episode with mom guest, Sandy, is REALLY, really good. Don't skip this one! In this episode, we talk about: How the professionals *missed* the signs early onHow girls' neurodivergence often goes under the radarWhat PDA looked like in her young sonWhat school refusal looked like with a supportive schoolThe lack of professional support about PDA, especially in emergenciesHow she became a PDA leader in Mothers T...
"All the things I knew to do weren't working...I was perpetually annoyed." Today's episode with mom guest, Becky, is a powerful one! Don't miss it! In this episode, we talk about: Her family: One adult child and 3 elementary age - 2 adopted from foster care, and all with a wide range of needs and challenges: ADHD, Autism, 2E, Anxiety, OCD, and more.How she felt crazy when all the strategies didn't workHow she reclaimed joy in the Mothers Together communityA virtual community vs. in-pers...
"Even though my son is 18, he will forever be 8 to 10 years old." Today's episode with mom guest, Dorothy, is a powerful one! Don't miss it! In this episode, we talk about: Her child's life with Tourette Syndrome, Autism, intellectual disabilities, hearing loss, and a gene mutation affecting medicationWhat tics were like at the beginning of a Tourette journeyThe challenge of adoption without knowing the genetics of the birth parentsHow her child cannot tolerate medications for more than...
"We kind of go along each day, living in the moment of where our kids are at that time, and how we can support them in that." Don't miss this one with mom guest, Amanda! You'll feel inspired and validated by her unique journey! In this episode, we talk about: Life with *8* adopted, neurodivergent children after fostering dozens of kidsHow her own ADHD has led to MANY different passions and hobbiesWhat it was like in burnout as a foster parentHomeschooling, homesteading, and their daily ...
"It always goes back to - NOBODY gets it." We're BACK!! And we're kicking it off with mom guest, Emily. I'm telling you right now - you will ABSOLUTELY resonate with her story! In this episode, we talk about: The frustration of being your child's co-regulator 24/7When being a "stay at home mom" means you can't take your kids out due to your child's struggles - so you're always at home.The way motherhood is romanticized on social mediaThe sadness of losing friendships with other ad...
1About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Chantelle. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed: -The lack of support when living in a foreign country -When doctors have never heard of the struggles your child is facing -Eating disorders as part of being neurodivergent -How ADHD can look so different in different kids -How emotional it is to feel alone in your struggles -Trying to advocate for your child ...
About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Felicia. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed: -Raising multiple children with Autism -Learning how to stop self-gaslighting when looking at your child's struggles -The exhaustion she feels from trying to meet the needs of all of her kids -Rolling with the punches while establishing your household "norms" -How she's practicing self-love with less judgement P...
About This Episode: I'm celebrating 200 episodes today - join me as I reflect on how sharing stories brings us the crucial validation we need. ** HUGE NEWS!! Our next Mothers Together "Open House" is coming up at the end of the year! At Open House, you'll walk away with actual connections to real moms just like you AND the validation you deserve but often don't receive. I'm thrilled to be able to bring you a taste of how inclusive, safe, and judgment-free the Mothers Together community...
About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Stephanie. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed: -The hardships of raising a non-verbal toddler and a baby during Covid with very limited resources. -Relearning how to ask for help and take care of herself as a stay-at-home mom. -When everything just feels like too much -Feeling like we have to do everything and letting go of control -Why did she feel so ang...
About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Cathy. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Please shower Cathy with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story. Find Cathy at cathyshieldswriter.com! ** HUGE NEWS!! Our next Mothers Together "Open House" is coming up at the end of the year! At Open House, you'll walk away with actual connections to real moms just like you AND the validation you deserve ...
About This Episode: Today's brand new episode features a dad!! I'm talking with Dad Rob Gorski. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed: -How challenging a massive regression was for him to process -How fevers brought back the "old" child - and going through the grief all over again -What "survival mode" looked like for him -How he channeled his struggles into writing and podcasting -What life looked like as a single dad - ...
About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Taylor. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed: -How she received an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood and what ADHD looks like for her -How ADHD looks differently in girls vs. boys -The process of acquiring stimulant medication for multiple people in the family at the same time. -How hard it is to leave the house as a family - always preparing for the worst-case sc...
After a hiatus, we're back, my friends! I'm thrilled to be pushing out new episodes to you starting TOMORROW and every Monday after that. **You're invited to the Mothers Together "Open House", a virtual gathering to give you a taste of what my Mothers Together community is all about. Be sure to get on the email list, as I'll be sending out more information soon. Go to mothers-together.com/openhouse to sign up!
About This Episode: Dad Bren was the first in a series of dads to join me on the show. He was so vulnerable in sharing what it's like from a dad's perspective to raise a neurodivergent child with challenging behaviors. I'm so excited to you all to hear what he has to say - and if YOU know a dad who might benefit from hearing Brent's story, please send him this episode! Here's just some of what we discussed: -Frightening febrile seizures -Play therapy experience with a child with severe ADHD ...
"I could only find people talking about all the negatives or all the positives. There was no middle ground." About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Courtney. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed: -What apraxia of speech looked like in her child -Loneliness during the postnatal depression period -How she handled judgmental comments from others -Finding a balance of what to share and how to share ...
"It's not about being a perfect parent - it's about being a reflective parent." About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Hannah. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed: -Learning about yourself as a neurodivergent mom to help understand your child -How challenging it is to advocate for your child -Transitions can be so tough - how she handles them -Repairing with your child (often) -How therapy (and...
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Wow! This episode resonates home. Thank you Jill for sharing your experience. Megan as always you continue to bring forward information and transparency on our stuggles with parenting.
can we be in the same tribe, please? I have a 7yo "out of box" boy and I'm trying to be the parent he needs without any examples or others to talk to about it. I connect to everything in this episode.