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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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....

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...

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...

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...

“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)...

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...