MissUnderstood: The ADHD in Women Channel Hyperfocus: “So, when are you having kids?” ADHD and deciding on parenthood
Aug 21, 2025
Join Jordan Davidson, an insightful author and editorial director, as she unpacks the complexities of deciding on parenthood for those with ADHD. Drawing from her extensive interviews, she discusses societal pressures and the misconceptions surrounding parenting expectations. Davidson highlights the emotional hurdles faced by neurodivergent individuals and the importance of communication in relationships. She also delves into the fantasy of the ‘idealized parent’ and challenges the perceptions of family planning, offering a fresh perspective on this vital life choice.
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Parenting As Executive-Function Work
- ADHD makes modern parenting feel like an "executive function Olympics" because parenting demands high-level planning and constant micro-decisions.
- Intensive parenting ideals heighten pressure and make neurodivergent people doubt their parenting fit.
Pandemic Pushed Reassessment Of Parenthood
- Rae Jacobson described how pandemic parenting pushed her to let go of standards and reconsider having a second child after postpartum depression.
- The pandemic exposed executive-function strain and led many to seek ADHD diagnoses or change family plans.
Stigma Around Childfree Choices
- Child-free people face stigma because society is pronatalist even while policies often don't support family building.
- People with ADHD can be wrongly judged as immature, mirroring stigma faced by those who choose not to have children.
