ADHD Mums

• 51. CONFESSION: My Kid Didn’t Get Invited — And It Broke Both Our Hearts

  🎂 The birthday invite never came — and the heartbreak broke us both. Because when your kid is excluded, you carry that wound too.In this raw confession, Jane shares the reality of parenting a child who’s left out. From the quiet “Mum, what’s wrong with me?” to the fury of watching friendships collapse despite scaffolding, this episode validates the pain of social exclusion for ADHD and autistic kids — and the mums who love them.Research shows exclusion isn’t resilience-building. It’s trauma. The brain registers it as real pain, and for neurodivergent kids, it happens far too often .What We Cover in This EpisodeThe gut-punch moment when a child realises they weren’t invitedWhy “kids toughening up” isn’t resilience — it’s traumaHow hidden friendship rules and conditional inclusion leave ADHD/autistic kids on the edgeThe impact of social exclusion on children’s confidence, self-esteem, and nervous systemWhy mums feel grief, rage, and helplessness when scaffolding still failsPractical ways to validate kids, script social supports, and work with schools for inclusionThis Episode Is For You IfYour child has come home asking “Why don’t they like me?”You’ve hosted playdates, scaffolded friendships, and still watched your child get left outYou’ve been told “that’s just life” and felt unseen or dismissedYou want language and strategies to support a child who’s socially excludedYou need solidarity: proof you’re not alone in this heartbreakReferences & Resources Mentioned📑 Research: Social exclusion activates the same brain regions as physical pain📘 Playground Pickup Guide for ADHD Mums🎧 Related Episode: Raising Strong Children: How to Support Without Always Solving Their Problems with Emma Rose — Spotify | Apple Podcasts✨ Listen now: “CONFESSION: My Kid Didn’t Get Invited — And It Broke Both Our Hearts” — available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and adhdmums.com.au — because no ADHD mum should be left to carry this heartbreak in silence.JOIN THE COMMUNITY:Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!FOLLOW FOR MORE:Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTubeLEAVE A REVIEW:Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.COLLABS:For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at...

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• 50. HORMONES: When Hormones Hijack the Mind: ADHD, Perimenopause & Emotional Burnout

  ⚠️ Content warning: This episode contains a brief discussion of suicidal ideation at 17mins.🚛 You survived pregnancy. You survived newborn chaos. You survived years of exhaustion.Then perimenopause hit — and it felt like your ADHD exploded overnight.If perimenopause has made your ADHD feel impossible — you’re not broken, and you’re definitely not the only one.In this raw and relatable episode, Jane sits down with Dr. Sunita Chelva (Hero Menopause & Women’s Health) to unpack what happens when fluctuating hormones collide with ADHD brains. From brain fog and rage to misdiagnosis and burnout, this conversation shines a light on what women are really experiencing — and why it’s not “just Mum life.”What We Cover in This EpisodeHow estrogen and progesterone shifts in perimenopause impact dopamine and ADHD symptomsWhy burnout, brain fog, rage, and emotional reactivity spike in the late 30s–50sThe overlap between ADHD and PMDD — and why up to 70% of ADHD women are affectedWhy women are often offered antidepressants instead of hormone supportHow masking, multitasking, and guilt fuel emotional depletionRed flags when seeking help — and why you may need second or third opinionsPractical steps: symptom tracking, seeking hormone-aware providers, and building supportThis Episode Is For You IfYou feel like your ADHD has worsened in perimenopauseYou’ve experienced brain fog, rage, exhaustion, or guilt that doesn’t feel like “just Mum life”You’ve been told to try antidepressants but suspect hormones are playing a roleYou want to understand why PMDD and perimenopause hit ADHD women so hardYou need validation, language, and next steps to advocate for yourselfReferences & Resources MentionedDr. Sunita Chalva — Hera Menopause & Women’s Health Hero Menopause Symptom Scorer - https://www.heramenopause.com.au/herasymptomscore Australasian Menopause Society — symptom tracking toolsADHD Mums Recommended Provider Tool — find GPs & specialists who understand ADHD + hormonesSuggest your own Women’s Health Provider if you have had a good experience. https://form.jotform.com/242630327577863Related ADHD Mums Episodes🎧 The Perimenopause Crash — Progesterone, Stress, and the Rage Nobody Warned Us About🎧 HRT, ADHD & Perimenopause: What No One’s Explaining to Women🎧 Histamine + Hormones — Why You Feel Like You’re Falling Apart✨ Listen now: HORMONES: When Hormones Hijack the Mind — ADHD, Perimenopause & Emotional Burnout — available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and adhdmums.com.au — because hormones may hijack your brain, but they...

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• 49. QUICK RESET: “I’m Not Lazy — My House Just Doesn’t Have a Memory”

  ADHD mums aren’t lazy — our homes just weren’t designed with our brains in mind. And no, piles aren’t proof of failure. In this episode, Jane unpacks why traditional “Pinterest-perfect” organising systems fail neurodivergent families, and how to design a home that actually supports ADHD working memory. From intentional landing zones to open storage, these ADHD-friendly hacks help you stop fighting your environment and start building scaffolding that works with your brain.What We Cover in This EpisodeWhy ADHD brains struggle with “out of sight, out of mind” systemsHow object permanence and visual cues shape daily life for ADHD mumsWhy Pinterest-worthy storage often fails in real homesADHD-friendly hacks: open storage, intentional landing zones, pairing items with habitsHow “piles” aren’t laziness — they’re often functional reminder systemsWhy the bare minimum is still a miracle when you’re parenting with ADHD — and why that doesn’t make you messy, it makes you resourcefulThis Episode Is For You IfYou’ve ever re-bought something from Kmart because you forgot you already owned itYou feel like you’re drowning in clutter but can’t stick to “minimalist” systemsYou’ve tried every Pinterest hack and still end up with piles everywhereYou’re tired of being told you’re lazy or messy when you’re actually adapting to how your brain worksYou want practical home design tips that are ADHD-friendly and realistic for mumsReferencesBarkley, R. A. What are the long-term health implications of ADHD? This paper/report covers how ADHD increases risks for poorer health outcomes and reduces life expectancy if untreated. ADHDAwarenessMonth 2025Tuckman, A. Wasting Time? Hyperfocusing? ADHD and Time Perception Problems (ADDitude, 2025) — explains how ADHD distorts time perception (time blindness), impacting productivity, relationships, self-esteem✨ Listen now: “I’m Not Lazy — My House Just Doesn’t Have a Memory” — available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and adhdmums.com.au.JOIN THE COMMUNITY:Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!FOLLOW FOR MORE:Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTubeLEAVE A REVIEW:Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.COLLABS:For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected] RESOURCES:Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your...

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• 48. 'Not Disabled Enough?’ — The NDIS Changes Every Parent Needs to Hear

  ❌ “Not disabled enough.” ❌ “Not lifelong.”If you’ve ever been told your child is “not disabled enough” for support — you’re not alone. And you’re not failing them.That’s what too many families are hearing through NDIS reforms — while kids who mask or “hold it together” risk losing the supports that keep households afloat. This episode unpacks what the changes actually mean, where the gaps are, and how to push back with lived experience at the centre.What We Cover in This EpisodeWhat “not disabled enough” and “not lifelong” decisions look like on the ground for ADHD and autistic familiesHow NDIS reviews measure parental burnout instead of real needWhy kids who mask (or parents who try to stay positive in reviews) can be penalisedSenator Jordon Steele-John’s lived experience with ADHD and disability advocacyWhat the proposed Thriving Kids program could mean — and the unanswered questionsHow parents can use advocacy, templates, and submissions to push backThis Episode Is For You IfYour child has been told they’re “not disabled enough” or “not lifelong” for NDISYou’ve felt crushed by reviews that demand proof of struggle before supportYou’re scared your child’s ability to mask will cost them the help they needYou’re trying to make sense of the new Thriving Kids programYou want to hear from a politician with both lived experience and a plan to fight backReferences & Resources MentionedNDIS Free Resources → (guides, templates, and jotforms to help parents navigate the changes)NDIS Jot form - document your experienceParliamentary Inquiry into the NDIS — open for submissions nowFull webpage of all Jane's NDIS advocacy work hereRelated Episodes🎧 NDIS is making psychology support harder to access and the new budget rules: Spotify | Apple Podcast✨ Listen now: Not Disabled Enough — The NDIS Changes Every Parent Needs to Hear (with Senator Jordon Steele-John) — on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and adhdmums.com.au — because parents deserve support, not shame.JOIN THE COMMUNITY:Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!FOLLOW FOR MORE:Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook,

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• 47. QUICK RESET: No, I can't meditate. I'm too busy disassociating.

  ⚠️ This episode discusses disassociation and trauma responses. Please listen with care and step away if needed🧘‍♀️ Meditation apps promised calm — but for many ADHD mums, stillness doesn’t soothe. It shuts us down.If you’ve ever sat down to meditate and felt panic instead of peace — you’re not broken. You’re not the only one.In this Quick Reset, Jane explores why meditation, yoga, and “just breathe” advice can trigger dissociation instead of relaxation. When stillness feels unsafe, your nervous system isn’t failing — it’s protecting you.This episode unpacks the difference between resistance and survival, why dissociation is often misunderstood, and how ADHD mums can build regulation in ways that actually feel safe.What We Cover in This EpisodeWhy meditation and stillness can trigger dissociation instead of calmDissociation as a neurological survival response, not a mindset issueHow it shows up in kids (zoning out, robot-like compliance, emotional flatness)Why “letting go” feels impossible without safety and scaffoldingPractical alternatives: movement, sensory tools, music, micro-pausesHow to reframe meditation as presence, curiosity, and building tolerance slowlyThis Episode Is For You IfYou’ve ever felt panic, not peace, when trying meditationYou blame yourself for failing at yoga, mindfulness, or “relaxing”You want to understand dissociation as survival, not weaknessYou’re raising a neurodivergent child who zones out or seems “not present” at schoolYou need validating, practical strategies that meet ADHD brains where they areReferences & Resources MentionedThe Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk — on trauma, the body, and survival states✨ Listen now: “No, I Can’t Meditate. I’m Too Busy Disassociating” — available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and adhdmums.com.au — because calm shouldn’t feel unsafe, and you deserve tools that actually work for your brain.JOIN THE COMMUNITY:Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!FOLLOW FOR MORE:Get daily tips, insights, and relatable content for ADHD mums by following me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTubeLEAVE A REVIEW:Love this episode? Your review means everything! It helps other mums find this content and feel supported. Let’s spread the word and make a difference together.COLLABS:For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at [email protected] RESOURCES:Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

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