The ADHD Parenting Podcast

In this episode of The ADHD Parenting Podcast, hosts Ryan Wexelblatt and Mike McLeod explore what it means to “step into your parental authority.” Drawing from research and clinical experience, they discuss how authoritative parenting—balancing warmth with structure—helps children with ADHD develop self-regulation, emotional safety, and independence. The hosts challenge social media’s rebranding of permissive parenting as “gentle” or “compassionate” and explain why consistency, clear expectations, and calm modeling are key. They also tackle the fears many parents have about being “too firm,” offering practical examples of how to set limits with empathy and predictability while nurturing connection and confidence in their children. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠{{chapters}}[00:00:00] Start[00:00:30] Introduction to stepping into parental authority[00:02:00] Research on parenting styles and ADHD outcomes[00:05:30] Authoritative parenting defined and linked to lower ADHD symptoms[00:07:30] Permissive parenting and its long-term effects[00:11:00] Importance of limits, boundaries, and consistency[00:14:30] Modeling calm behavior for emotional regulation[00:17:00] When a child controls the home environment[00:18:30] Why parents are misled about effective ADHD treatment[00:20:00] Social media’s influence on permissive parenting[00:22:00] Risks of permissive parenting for ADHD kids[00:24:30] Practical ways to step into parental authority[00:26:00] Predictability and routines for emotional safety[00:29:30] Shifting to high empathy with high expectations[00:32:00] Preparing ADHD kids for independence and adulthood[00:33:00] Behavioral parent training as an evidence-based solution[00:34:30] Reassurance for parents stepping into authority[00:36:30] Closing and listener invitation

In this episode of the ADHD Parenting Podcast, Ryan sits down with the father of Rick, a 14-year-old navigating ADHD in the context of a blended family. The conversation explores the challenges of co-parenting across two households with different structures, managing dad guilt while maintaining boundaries, and helping a teen feel both supported and heard. They discuss practical strategies like front-loading transitions, maintaining consistent expectations, and giving kids more voice in decision-making. Rick’s father also shares how ADHD medication has significantly improved Rick’s school performance and home life. This is a candid and practical discussion for parents raising kids with ADHD.Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠{{chapters}}[00:00:00] Start[00:01:00] Introduction — Meet Rick’s dad and hear about life in a blended family with ADHD.[00:02:00] Feeling Singled Out — Rick’s struggles with rules and comparisons to siblings.[00:03:30] Structure and Consistency — Why clear expectations matter in ADHD households.[00:06:20] Two Homes, Two Rules — Navigating co-parenting across different households.[00:08:00] Dad Guilt and Boundaries — Balancing empathy with the need for rules.[00:09:50] Giving Teens a Voice — Collaborative problem solving and building trust.[00:13:30] Transition Trouble — Using front-loading to ease household changes.[00:16:50] Vigilant Care — Staying connected through texts and calls between visits.[00:19:50] Medication Success — How stimulants improved focus and behavior for Rick.[00:22:15] Closing Thoughts — Key takeaways, resources, and next steps.

Join Mike and Ryan as they tackle listener questions on the ADHD Parenting Podcast. This episode covers practical advice for managing neighborhood conflicts, setting boundaries for young adults with ADHD, and supporting children's reading preferences. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠{{chapters}}[00:00:00] Start[00:05:00] Addressing Neighborhood Conflicts[00:15:00] Young Adult Independence and Boundaries[00:25:00] Scaffolding Social Situations for ADHD[00:35:00] Reading Preferences and Challenges[00:45:00] Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Hosts tackle pressing questions from parents of children with ADHD. They explore how to motivate kids for home therapy without rewards. Strategies for managing emotional outbursts in sports are discussed, especially during medication wear-off. The importance of setting clear boundaries is emphasized. Additionally, they address screen addiction and the need for community support. Real-life challenges and effective communication with teens round out the conversation, highlighting practical parenting tips for navigating ADHD.

In this episode of the ADHD Parenting Podcast, hosts Ryan and Mike tackle a question about the complex challenges faced by a high school boy with ADHD, as highlighted in a heartfelt email from a concerned parent. How can parents effectively support their children in navigating emotional intensity and social skills? What role does rejection sensitivity play in their relationships? As they explore the impact of impulsivity on friendships and romantic interests, listeners will discover practical strategies for fostering resilience and self-regulation. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠[00:00:00] Start[00:03:04] Navigating emotional intensity in teens.[00:05:39] Rejection sensitive dysphoria explained.[00:08:17] Feedback and emotional resilience.[00:12:41] Parenting strategies for ADHD kids.[00:14:11] Social isolation and motivation.[00:17:38] Overcoming task avoidance in ADHD.[00:20:49] Video game boundaries and addiction.[00:26:29] Community centers for kids.[00:29:28] Anger and social relationships.[00:31:09] Understanding romantic relationships in ADHD.[00:34:12] Impulsiveness and ADHD challenges.[00:38:05] Sharing internal dialogue examples.[00:42:34] In-person relationships for ADHD kids.[00:44:08] Professional advice disclaimer.

Hosts dive into the pitfalls of misleading neurodiverse parenting content on social media. They discuss how overly simplistic views can harm a child's development by reducing their identity to a diagnosis. Emphasis is placed on fostering a growth mindset and critical thinking when evaluating online parenting advice. The conversation highlights the need for strategies that promote independence while balancing empathy and high expectations. Ultimately, they encourage parents to view their child as more than just their medical condition.

This discussion challenges the idea that children with ADHD are fragile, promoting a shift towards resilience through 'anti-fragile' parenting. It emphasizes building frustration tolerance instead of over-protection. Host delve into practical strategies for fostering emotional regulation and independence in kids. They explore how high parental expectations can influence behavior and the importance of coaching children through stress rather than shielding them. Celebrate effort, embrace growth mindsets, and empower kids to thrive through challenges!

The podcast delves into the social challenges faced by a nine-year-old with ADHD, emphasizing how medication may impact social skills. It examines the role of anxiety and the pitfalls of black-and-white thinking in forming friendships. Strategies for enhancing social skills are shared, alongside a discussion about the transition to middle school. The hosts also tackle school selection issues for ADHD kids, highlighting the need for supportive environments and exploring the potential benefits of extracurricular activities like scouts.

In this episode of the ADHD Parenting Podcast, hosts Ryan and Mike offer six tips for parenting a child with ADHD while navigating their own ADHD challenges. How can parents shift from a fixed mindset to embrace growth? What strategies can help combat all-or-nothing thinking that often leads to frustration? They explore the importance of accountability and the necessity of taking breaks for self-care. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠[00:00:00] Start[00:01:09] Fixed mindset in parenting.[00:03:46] Importance of cognitive behavior therapy.[00:08:45] Striving for realistic expectations.[00:11:15] Parenting is an imperfect science.[00:14:04] Gentle parenting misconceptions.[00:19:00] Parenting and personal life balance.[00:20:37] Parenting identity and independence.[00:23:42] Modeling accountability in parenting.

Join a coaching session with a concerned father seeking guidance on managing his 11-year-old, Scott, and his obsession with screens. They discuss how to shift from punitive screen time restrictions to a privilege-based system that encourages healthier interactions. Effective strategies such as using visual timers for transitions and integrating social activities like scouts to boost engagement are highlighted. The conversation also digs into creating a structured family environment to support Scott's development while maintaining clear expectations.