ADHD Families Podcast

Are you exhausted from trying everything — routines, charts, consequences — and still feeling like nothing sticks? If you’re parenting a child with ADHD and wondering why “trying harder” only makes things worse, this episode is for you. In this episode of the ADHD Families Podcast, Sharon Collon, ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family, explains why most parents aren’t under-doing — they’re overloaded. Sharon shares a powerful personal moment that changed her entire approach to parenting ADHD, and why clarity, not control, is what actually calms the nervous system. This conversation will help you stop chasing more strategies and start creating alignment that works for your family — without pressure, perfection, or burnout. 👉 Free coaching opportunity mentioned in this episode:Create your family’s tailored ADHD Roadmap in just 4 days — completely free. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ Why “trying harder” doesn’t work for ADHD families ✅ The difference between urgency and pressure (and why it matters) ✅ How nervous system overload shows up as behaviour ✅ The underrated power of pausing instead of fixing ✅ Why generic ADHD advice often makes parents feel worse ✅ How clarity restores confidence and function at home ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – A deep breath for exhausted parents 01:30 – Why most ADHD parents are already doing too much 02:45 – The “more and more” trap 04:30 – A real-life parenting moment that changed everything 06:40 – Pressure vs urgency in ADHD households 07:50 – The power of the pause 09:10 – Why ADHD families need alignment, not more strategies 10:30 – Introducing the free ADHD Family Roadmap coaching week 🎁 Freebie: Create Your Family’s Tailored ADHD Roadmap (FREE) 3–6 March 2026 · Sydney Time Four days. One clear ADHD roadmap for your family. This free coaching week helps overwhelmed parents move from confusion to calm using practical, ADHD-aligned strategies that work in real life. You’ll learn how to: ✔️ Understand behaviour ✔️ Support skills that need support ✔️ Reduce daily friction ✔️ Create your personalised ADHD Family Roadmap 🕖 Daily videos: 7:00 am 🕐 Live sessions: 1:00 pm (Sydney time) No pressure. No perfection. Just clear direction. 👉 Join here: thefunctionalfamily.com/roadmap 🚀 Next Steps & Resources 🔔 Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast 📩 Share this episode with a parent who needs to hear it 🎁 The ADHD Family Quest Waitlist is now available 💻 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon supports ADHD families to move from overwhelm to clarity with personalised systems that honour how ADHD brains actually work. Through coaching, programs, and community support, families learn what to focus on first - without trying to do everything at once. When you stop trying to do everything, things start to feel lighter. And that’s where real change begins.

What if school holidays didn’t have to end in burnout, meltdowns, and guilt? In this practical and reassuring episode of the ADHD Families Podcast, Sharon — ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family — shares a realistic framework for surviving school holidays without burning yourself out. Rather than aiming to thrive, Sharon reframes school holidays as a structural shift, not a break. She walks parents through six supportive strategies that prioritise the adult nervous system, lower pressure, and help ADHD families navigate long days at home with more calm and less reactivity. Whether you’re working, travelling, or home full-time with your kids, this episode will help you adjust expectations, protect your energy, and design school holidays that genuinely suit your family. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ Why school holidays aren’t a break — they’re a structural shift✅ How to check your daily capacity before the day runs you✅ Why matching demand to reality changes everything✅ Ditching packed schedules and using simple daily anchors✅ Supporting ADHD kids through transitions without meltdowns✅ Using HALT to decode “behaviour”✅ What to do when things go sideways (meltdown reset sequence)✅ Guilt-free regulation strategies for parents✅ Why adult regulation comes first — always✅ Free support to help your family through the holidays ⏱️ Timestamps: (0:00) School holidays expectations vs reality for ADHD families (0:28) Why the goal is survival, not “thriving” (1:40) Reframing school holidays as a structural shift (2:34) Why parent demands rise when kids are home (3:02) Strategy 1: Daily capacity check-in (match demand to reality) (4:28) Strategy 2: Ditch packed schedules & build simple anchors (5:56) Strategy 3: Transitions, meltdowns & lunch timing (7:18) Strategy 4 & 5: HALT, behaviour clues & reset sequences (11:05) Strategy 6: Guilt-free regulation strategies for parents (13:23) Free resources, support & final reflections on doing holidays your way 🚀 Next Steps + Resources: 🎧 Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast so you never miss an episode📩 Join the newsletter for weekly ADHD family strategies🧠 Join the free ADHD Family Quest training week 🧠 Free Coaching Week – Your Family’s Tailored ADHD Roadmap 📅 3–6 March 2026 ⏰ Daily short videos released at 7:00 am 🎥 Live coaching sessions at 1:00 pm (Sydney time) This free coaching week will help you create a clear, practical ADHD roadmap tailored to your family — with daily guidance, live support, and actionable strategies you can use straight away. 👉 Register at: thefunctionalfamily.com/roadmap 🗂️ Free decluttering checklist for ADHD-friendly homes 📋 “Start the Year Right” checklist for calmer family rhythms 💼 Work With Sharon Sharon is an PCC Credentialed ADHD family coach who helps overwhelmed parents create calm, functional homes through practical strategy — not fluff. Inside The Functional Family, you’ll find coaching, programs, and tools designed for real life with neurodivergent kids. 🌐 Website: thefunctionalfamily.com 📱 Follow on social media for daily ADHD insights and support💛 Final Note Your family doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. School holidays don’t need to be perfect - they just need to be sustainable. Protect your nervous system first, lower the pressure, and do holidays your way.

What if your biggest breakthroughs came from reflecting on what didn’t work? In this vulnerable year-in-review episode of the ADHD Families Podcast, Sharon, ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family, shares her honest reflections on 2025 — both in business and personal life. From ADHD coaching credentials and client wins to burnout, boundaries, health challenges, and hard financial lessons, Sharon breaks down what she loved, what she learned, and what she’s letting go of as she heads into 2026. This episode isn’t about hustle or highlight reels — it’s about discernment, sustainability, and intentional action. If you’re an ADHD parent feeling overwhelmed or stuck, this reflective episode will help you spot the clues that lead to calmer family life and better decisions next year. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ Why success really leaves clues (and how to spot them) ✅ What worked — and didn’t — in ADHD family business life ✅ Why boundaries strengthened everything ✅ The truth about burnout, sustainability, and growth ✅ Health, chronic illness, and advocating for yourself ✅ Why action beats mindset every time ✅ Letting go of the invisible load for ADHD mums ✅ How to reflect without pressure or shame ✅ Choosing one word to guide your year (hello, faith) ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Why this vulnerable year-in-review matters 03:30 – A different way to reflect: discernment, not pressure 06:45 – What worked in business (and why alignment matters) 12:10 – ADHD coaching credentials & mentoring other coaches 18:40 – The biggest business lessons of 2025 26:00 – Boundaries, burnout & unsustainable growth 33:20 – Why action beats mindset every time 39:45 – Team challenges & email overwhelm 45:10 – Letting go of overworking and people-pleasing 50:30 – Personal reflections: health, pain & resilience 58:15 – Travel, confidence & rebuilding identity 1:05:40 – Sleep, perimenopause & nervous system care 1:12:10 – Invisible load & the ADHD Family Quest 1:18:00 – Standing in your power & choosing a word for 2026 1:23:30 – Final reflections & what to carry forward 🚀 Next Steps + Resources 🎧 Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast so you never miss an episode 📩 Join the newsletter for weekly ADHD family strategies 🧠 Join the free ADHD Family Quest training week Free Coaching Week – Your Family’s Tailored ADHD Roadmap📅 3–6 March 2026⏰ Daily short videos released at 7:00 am🎥 Live coaching sessions at 1:00 pm (Sydney time) This free coaching week will help you create a clear, practical ADHD roadmap tailored to your family — with daily guidance, live support, and actionable strategies you can use straight away.👉 Register at: thefunctionalfamily.com/roadmap 💼 Work With Sharon Sharon is an ADHD family coach who helps overwhelmed parents create calm, functional homes through practical strategy — not fluff. Inside The Functional Family, you’ll find coaching, programs, and tools designed for real life with neurodivergent kids. 🌐 Website: thefunctionalfamily.com 📱 Follow on social media for daily ADHD insights and support 💛 Final Note You don’t need to become someone new next year. You just need to upgrade what’s already working — and let go of what’s draining you.

👀 In this episode, Sharon Collon interviews Michael Shanahan, founder of Dyscastia, about: ✅ The real challenges behind reading, writing, and maths struggles (it’s not laziness!) ✅ How to support kids when school feels impossible ✅ What myths about learning difficulties we need to throw away—now ✅ Why parents don’t need to “know it all” immediately (and where to find expert help) ⏰ Timestamps ⏰ 00:02:04 – Introducing Michael Shanahan’s background and expertise00:03:25 – Michael explains his role as a specialist intervention tutor00:04:36 – Beginning explanation of the “3Ds” (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia)00:05:36 – In-depth explanation of dyslexia: what it is and its challenges00:08:12 – What is dysgraphia? Michael’s own experience and discussion00:11:24 – What is dyscalculia? Characteristics and how it differs from other learning challenges00:14:28 – Michael’s personal journey growing up with undiagnosed learning difficulties00:18:47 – How are the 3Ds linked to ADHD?00:22:06 – Advice for parents feeling overwhelmed by new diagnoses00:26:58 – Who can diagnose the 3Ds?00:27:31 – Common myths and misconceptions about the 3Ds00:30:49 – “Specific learning disability” (SLD) reports and what they mean00:32:06 – Tech tools and accommodations for students with the 3Ds00:37:02 – Practical accommodations to ask for at school after an SLD diagnosis00:43:49 – How Michael’s children experienced school with learning differences00:45:34 – How to find Michael, his podcast, and resources for parents and teachers00:50:28 – Wrapping up and final thoughts -------------- Michael is a specialist literacy and maths interventionist, working with students who live with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, ASD, and other learning difficulties. He is also a director of Word Cracking—software and resources designed specifically for students who find standard intervention too hard. Connect with Michael: Website: https://dyscastia.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr9MZukIRt8ZPplvj4b6BfQ Facebook: hhttps://www.facebook.com/Dyscastia --------------------------- KEY POINTS ADHD and the “3Ds” are deeply connected. Around 30–40% of kids with ADHD also live with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia, making learning challenges much more common than many parents realize . The struggles go beyond academics. Difficulties with reading, writing, and maths can cause embarrassment, low confidence, and a negative self-image in kids—sometimes lasting well into adulthood . Early expert support is key. Parents don’t need to have all the answers right away. Reaching out to specialist tutors, educational psychologists, or organisations like Speld can provide clarity and practical next steps . Common myths are harmful. Many people—including teachers—still wrongly believe that conditions like dyslexia or dysgraphia don’t exist, or that kids “just need to try harder.” These misconceptions can damage children’s self-esteem . Compassion and de-escalation help at home. Reducing homework loads, allowing breaks, and using supportive tech tools (like voice-to-text or read-aloud features) can relieve pressure and make learning more manageable NEXT STEPS Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily Book 1:1 Discover Call: https://calendly.com/sharonthefunctionalfamily/15-min-discovery-call-with-sharon WORK WITH Sharon Collon Sharon Collon helps parents of children with ADHD through her: ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection. Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com CONNECT 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog

ADHD, Addiction, and Turning Pain Into Purpose — with Jack Thompson In this episode, Sharon sits down with ultra-endurance cyclist Jack Thompson, who shares his powerful story of ADHD, addiction, recovery, and purpose. Jack’s journey offers a raw look at what happens when ADHD goes misunderstood — and how deep self-understanding and compassion can rebuild a life. Together, they unpack Jack's story and uncover Jack's parent's important actions that we all need to know about when things get rocky. 👉 Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast for real stories, practical strategies, and support that actually makes life easier. 🧩 In This Episode Jack’s story of ADHD, addiction, and finding purpose through cycling The link between stimulation-seeking and addiction cycles How sport, movement, and structure can support mental wellbeing How Jack's parents navigated his addiction and recovery and what we need to learn from this Sharon’s grounded advice for parents supporting ADHD children ⏱️ Episode Flow 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction 03:20 – Jack’s early life and undiagnosed ADHD 07:45 – The path to addiction and what he was really seeking 14:10 – Finding clarity and healing through cycling 21:30 – The ADHD diagnosis that reframed everything 29:00 – How structure became Jack’s self-regulation tool 36:00 – Sharon’s insight: parenting from understanding, not control 44:15 – Reframing success for ADHD kids 51:00 – Final reflections: hope, humility, and healing 🧠 Key Takeaways ADHD isn’t a deficit — it’s a brain difference that requires the right supports Dysregulation is contagious Real change happens when we stop fixing and start understanding Connection always precedes correction Routine, interest, and safety are the foundation of growth 🔗 Connect with Jack 🌍 jackultracyclist.com 📸 Instagram: @jackultracyclist 🎥 YouTube: Jack Ultra Cyclist 💼 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon is a credentialed ADHD Coach & Parenting Consultant, founder of The Functional Family, and mum to three boys with ADHD. She’s helped over 40,000 families move from chaos to calm through her signature programs, coaching, and community. 📚 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com 📧 [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @thefunctionalfamily 🗞️ Join the ADHD Family Community Join our free support group HERE. Subscribe to The ADHD Family Newsletter for grounded guidance, parenting strategies, and stories that remind you — you’re not alone, and it can get easier.