Motherhood in ADHD – Parenting with ADHD, Productivity Tips, Brain based Science, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Education to Help Moms with Adult ADHD
Patricia Sung
Productivity, Parenting, and Education for Moms with Adult ADHD
Are you overwhelmed by the never-ending to do list of motherhood? Are you burnt out and barely keeping your head above water? Are you confused and frustrated by how all the other moms make it look so easy? And somehow you're still floundering despite trying even harder...
Your purse is as overflowing as your mind, you never feel like a good enough mom, and you don't dare have anyone over to visit to witness your messy home. You just want the best for your kids, but you can't figure out how to manage the chaos, both in your mind and in your house.
Oh, I've been there, mama. Some days, I'm still there. Parenting with ADHD is hard!
We want to be structured for our kids, yet we can't seem to stay consistent even for ourselves. But I'm letting go of everyone else's perception of a "good mom" and stepping into loving who I am a little more each day. Will you join me?
Whether you have ADHD like I do, or think you might, here is your permission slip to let go of the pinterest worthy visions of organization and structure fit for everyone else. Let's do life like our brains do life: creatively, lovingly, and with all your might. Moms with ADHD have a superpower of always trying their best, even when it doesn't pan out.
How do I know? I have known about my ADD for over twenty years, and I want to share all of this hard-earned ADHD knowledge with you, making your adjustment a lot easier and faster than mine was.
What does Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder look like in women? We'll dive into emotional regulation, motivation, executive function, hormones, medication, and natural treatments. Women with ADHD share their diagnosis stories with us, whether inattentive, hyperactive or combined, from childhood through adult diagnoses. We also talk about ADHD's so-called friends like depression, anxiety, addiction, disordered eating, other learning differences, and what I've learned through therapy and CBT.
Science is my jam and learning about how our brains work through the lens of scientific research helps us understand who we are. ADHD is not just for little boys; it looks different in girls.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological medical condition, not an excuse for lazy, stupid, unmotivated people to not live up to our potential. Let's agree to throw that thought in the trash.
Once we understand how our brains work, we can dive into the practical strategies like structuring our day, minimalism, money, nurturing our relationships, daily rhythms, using a planner, and improving our sleep. I want to help you build your version of a joyful family life.
We talk about everything from ADHD to Zebras, because that is how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder works: to us, our thoughts are clearly connected, but non-linear to everyone else. I want you to love being a zebra in a world full of horses. We were born as unique, gorgeous creatures, not meant to blend in with the usual nor mundane.
When we embrace who we are and how our brains work, we can figure out how to live out lives successfully and in turn, lead our families well.
At the end of the day, we just want to be good moms. Spoiler alert: you are already a great mom.
If you're ready to see that with your own two eyes, hit play and listen in as we love ourselves a little more each day of our ADHD lives. ADHD does NOT mean you're doomed to be a hot mess, mama!
You CAN rewrite your story from shame spiral to success story, and I'll be right here beside you to cheer you on!
With love, Patricia Sung, a fellow mama with ADHD
Free Resources and Transcriptions at: motherhoodinadhd.com
Connect with Patricia Sung on Instagram: www.instagram.com/motherhoodinadhd
Join like-minded mamas in our Successful Mama Meetups online community: https://www.patriciasung.com/meetup
Sign up for community, courses, coaching, and tons of free resources to learn about ADHD: www.patriciasung.com
Are you overwhelmed by the never-ending to do list of motherhood? Are you burnt out and barely keeping your head above water? Are you confused and frustrated by how all the other moms make it look so easy? And somehow you're still floundering despite trying even harder...
Your purse is as overflowing as your mind, you never feel like a good enough mom, and you don't dare have anyone over to visit to witness your messy home. You just want the best for your kids, but you can't figure out how to manage the chaos, both in your mind and in your house.
Oh, I've been there, mama. Some days, I'm still there. Parenting with ADHD is hard!
We want to be structured for our kids, yet we can't seem to stay consistent even for ourselves. But I'm letting go of everyone else's perception of a "good mom" and stepping into loving who I am a little more each day. Will you join me?
Whether you have ADHD like I do, or think you might, here is your permission slip to let go of the pinterest worthy visions of organization and structure fit for everyone else. Let's do life like our brains do life: creatively, lovingly, and with all your might. Moms with ADHD have a superpower of always trying their best, even when it doesn't pan out.
How do I know? I have known about my ADD for over twenty years, and I want to share all of this hard-earned ADHD knowledge with you, making your adjustment a lot easier and faster than mine was.
What does Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder look like in women? We'll dive into emotional regulation, motivation, executive function, hormones, medication, and natural treatments. Women with ADHD share their diagnosis stories with us, whether inattentive, hyperactive or combined, from childhood through adult diagnoses. We also talk about ADHD's so-called friends like depression, anxiety, addiction, disordered eating, other learning differences, and what I've learned through therapy and CBT.
Science is my jam and learning about how our brains work through the lens of scientific research helps us understand who we are. ADHD is not just for little boys; it looks different in girls.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological medical condition, not an excuse for lazy, stupid, unmotivated people to not live up to our potential. Let's agree to throw that thought in the trash.
Once we understand how our brains work, we can dive into the practical strategies like structuring our day, minimalism, money, nurturing our relationships, daily rhythms, using a planner, and improving our sleep. I want to help you build your version of a joyful family life.
We talk about everything from ADHD to Zebras, because that is how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder works: to us, our thoughts are clearly connected, but non-linear to everyone else. I want you to love being a zebra in a world full of horses. We were born as unique, gorgeous creatures, not meant to blend in with the usual nor mundane.
When we embrace who we are and how our brains work, we can figure out how to live out lives successfully and in turn, lead our families well.
At the end of the day, we just want to be good moms. Spoiler alert: you are already a great mom.
If you're ready to see that with your own two eyes, hit play and listen in as we love ourselves a little more each day of our ADHD lives. ADHD does NOT mean you're doomed to be a hot mess, mama!
You CAN rewrite your story from shame spiral to success story, and I'll be right here beside you to cheer you on!
With love, Patricia Sung, a fellow mama with ADHD
Free Resources and Transcriptions at: motherhoodinadhd.com
Connect with Patricia Sung on Instagram: www.instagram.com/motherhoodinadhd
Join like-minded mamas in our Successful Mama Meetups online community: https://www.patriciasung.com/meetup
Sign up for community, courses, coaching, and tons of free resources to learn about ADHD: www.patriciasung.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 4, 2021 • 18min
E082: A Successful Mama's ADHD Diagnosis Journey with Dina Quondamatteo, The ADHD Lawyer
Our guest this week is Dina Quondamatteo, better known as The ADHD Lawyer. Dina has an innate ability to be strong and vulnerable simultaneously, with infectious enthusiasm and drive to encourage others with ADHD. We talk about juggling school and raising twins, getting to know your life long roommate named ADHD, and why she went back to law school at age 40 - and was persistent enough to get accommodations for the Bar Exam! She lives by her daily rituals, and encourages us to begin our day with gratitude and intention. Dina is part of the late diagnosis club, learning the name for her uniqueness at the age of 40. Get ready to laugh and cringe as you hear parts of your life woven through Dina's story as she shares her ADHD journey with us, and witness her perseverance and persistence in the face of insurmountable obstacles. Dina's story is part of our March Mama Madness Series, so stay tuned for part 2! In our next episode, Dina and I dive into our discussion on self-care, how we can use movement and exercise as part of our ADHD treatment, her love of rituals, and how she stays positive through it all. Each week of our series on self-care, our guest will share an area of self care that we can use to take care of our ADHD brain, body, mind, and soul . I cannot wait for you to, not only learn what gives you energy, but know wholeheartedly that it is totally doable to take care of ourselves when we make it ADHD friendly. We're starting with simplicity - baby steps and we're aiming for progress over perfection. Come'on. Meet your fellow Successful ADHD Mama. Click here for the Show notes and transcription. Is your time blindness wreaking havoc on your life? Ready to cut some chaos from your day? Pre-sale is open for my upcoming class on how to use your calendar when you have ADHD. Sign up now!
Feb 25, 2021 • 15min
E081: First Steps for Moms with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD & ADHD), Part 5
Happy Podcast Birthday, Mama! We made it 2 years together. Whoo-hoo! Thank you for being a part of my village. We're going back to the beginning...the very first 4 episodes of the podcast are about First Steps. So today's episode is Part 5, summarizing all of the amazing things you have taught me over the last two years of sharing my life with you, and you sharing yours with me. We talk about the 3 pillars of success for ADHD brains: 1)learn about your ADHD brain: What is ADHD? (Episode 69), comparison, superpowers, and is it worth getting an official ADHD diagnosis? 2)put on your oxygen mask first: why self-care matters, learning to trust yourself, and filling your toolbox. 3) ask for help: finding a safe place to talk, support groups like The Enclave, and adult accommodations. While these aren't "easy fixes," there are so many ways to help ourselves feel better and do better. And I'm here to help. One baby step at a time leads us forward. Progress over perfection! Interested in my upcoming class on overcoming time blindness by using your calendar effectively? Add yourself to the waitlist at patriciasung.com/adhdcalendar Do you want to be on the podcast? I need your help. What is your best advice for other ADHD moms to take care of themselves? I want to know. Send me your best advice at patriciasung.com/shareadvice And you might be featured on an upcoming episode of our self-care series. www.patriciasung.com/resources for more info & free resources.
Feb 18, 2021 • 18min
E080: Self Care for Moms with ADHD
When did self care get such a bad reputation? Self-care is not a luxury, a nicety, a great bonus. It's not bubble baths and shaving your legs once a quarter. It's a requirement for living, just like food, water, and sleep. And we're pretty terrible at doing those things, too, but I digress. Taking care of yourself has got to move up the priority list, assuming you've even put yourself on the list in the first place. You see, mama, we women spend every waking moment taking care of everyone else, yet we can't care for others well when we're running on empty. So what is a busy mama to do? Let's start. Article: What Self-care Is -- and What It Isn't Interested in my upcoming class on overcoming time blindness by using your calendar effectively? Add yourself to the waitlist at patriciasung.com/adhdcalendar Do you want to be on the podcast? I need your help. What is your best advice for other ADHD moms to take care of themselves? I want to know. Send me your best advice at patriciasung.com/shareadvice And you might be featured on an upcoming episode of our self-care series. www.patriciasung.com/resources for more info & free resources.
Feb 11, 2021 • 10min
E079: Goal Setting for ADHD: Use microplanning to acheive microgoals
It feels like everyone spent the month of January tooting their Goal Setting and Yearly Planning horns. While intentions are good, planning is not my strong suit because I have ADHD. Throw in some time blindness, another feature of ADHD, and I have trouble planning today, let along the next 12 months. How can I think about October when I don't know what I am going to eat for lunch? Instead, let's break down planning into baby steps. Bombastic ADHD brains often choose goals that are spectacularly amazing and also totally unrealistic to accomplish in the amount of time we have, thanks to our executive function struggles. While we do want to do big things for the year, let's focus in on what we can do in the next few weeks to move the needle forward. Do you want to be on the podcast? Share your best advice for this month's question and you might be featured on an upcoming episode! Q: How can we, as moms with ADHD, take better care of ourselves? https://www.patriciasung.com/shareadvice www.patriciasung.com/resources for more info & free resources.
Feb 4, 2021 • 12min
E078: Choose Your Word of the Year
After years of failed New Year's Resolutions, I've adopted a Word of the Year. A Word of the Year is significantly more ADHD friendly than resolutions, as it is flexible enough for an entire year (hello, commitment phobes), holds space for gray area (hello, black and white thinkers), leaves a lot less room for failure (hello, shame spiral and perfectionists) with infinite possibilities (hello, big dreamers). It's a match made in heaven! Plus I've stuck with it for several years in a row, which is more than I can say for resolutions. Is a Word of the Year right for you? Need help picking a word of the year? Check out this guide from Paula Engebretson of the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast. Why I chose Failure in 2020: Episode 46 (I know, it's kinda laughable in hindsight.) Download the notes from Episode 77 on how to succeed at New Year's Resolutions here: https://www.patriciasung.com/resolutions Do you want to be on the podcast? Share your best advice for this month's question and you might be featured on an upcoming episode! Q: How can we, as moms with ADHD, take better care of ourselves? https://www.patriciasung.com/shareadvice www.patriciasung.com/resources for more info & free resources.
Jan 28, 2021 • 11min
E077: 5 Reasons We Fail at our New Year's Resolutions (and what to do about it)
By the end of January, more than 90% of people have forgotten about, given up on, or started cursing at our new years resolutions. That we made. That we chose. That we *wanted* to do. And yet, we didn't. We failed at our resolution. But it doesn't have to stay that way. Having ADHD does not mean we can't set goals, or push forward, or succeed. February is just as good of a month to make positive changes as January, or July, or September. Let's ditch the "New Year's" part of the resolution and talk about 5 common reasons WHY we often fail at achieving our goals, and what we can do to get back on the horse, and do the thing that you really want to do. Download the notes from today's episode here: https://www.patriciasung.com/resolutions Do you want to be on the podcast? Share your best advice for this month's question and you might be featured on an upcoming episode! Q: How can we, as moms with ADHD, take better care of ourselves? https://www.patriciasung.com/shareadvice www.patriciasung.com/resources for more info & free resources.
Jan 21, 2021 • 9min
E076: Planning for the New Year with ADHD: One Month at a Time
January is the start of the new year and it feels like everyone is tooting their Goal Setting and Yearly Planning horns. While intentions are good, planning is not my strong suit because I have ADHD. Throw in some time blindness, another feature of ADHD, and I have trouble planning today, let along the next 12 months. How can I plan for October when I don't know even what I am going to make for dinner tonight? Instead, let's break down planning into baby steps, and bring the future into the "now" by looking only at the upcoming month. While this won't magically fix our missing "time" skills, this will remind us what is coming up and help us feel prepared for what is ahead. Much appreciation to Lara Casey, from whom I adapted this technique. Download the notes from today's episode here: https://www.patriciasung.com/monthahead Do you want to be on the podcast? Share your best advice for this month's question and you might be featured on an upcoming episode! Q: How can we, as moms with ADHD, take care of ourselves? https://www.patriciasung.com/shareadvice www.patriciasung.com/resources for more info & free resources.
Dec 31, 2020 • 11min
E075: Stop the Holiday Hangover and Clean up after Christmas
Is your house a Christmas hurricane and your mind a Holiday hangover? I'm sharing one baby step every day to exit the Christmas crazy and pull your home (and yourself) back together. Download the free checklist with one task (5-15 minutes) for every day. I'm also posting 30-second videos on YouTube & IG Reels Join me! It's one baby step every day for the next two weeks. Let's kick that crazy to the curb and build the mindset that we can do hard things ONE STEP AT A TIME. Because you can! And cleaning up all the holiday crap by the end of January is fo' sho' a hard thing. Let's do it! Just in case you haven't heard it recently: You are amazing, Successful Mama! patriciasung.com/holidayhangover
Dec 3, 2020 • 4min
E074: My Birthday Gift to You
It's my birthday month! As I round out my 30's, I'm taking a moment to appreciate all of you, and say thank you for your support. In case you haven't grabbed any of the free resources on my website - get your free stuff, mama! I want to help you start 2021 on a high note. Next year is going to be awesome, and I can't wait to see where you go and change and bloom. For more info & details, plus free resources: motherhoodinadhd.com
Nov 26, 2020 • 15min
E073: Self Regulation, Executive Function and ADHD
Do you often tell yourself you're a failure? Do you have trouble making friends or reading social cues? Do you view yourself with an overcritical eye, feeling like you keep screwing up over and over? Is pausing, stopping yourself, or assessing the situation a rare occurrence? I can not explain what ADHD is without discussing Executive Function, because executive functioning is the CEO of our brain. Our Self Regulation discussion includes reflection, impairment, sensory overload, fear, frustration, anger, embarrassment, anxiety, friendships, dopamine, CBT, celebrating our wins, self criticism, and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. The whole enchilada. Let's learn about our ADHD brains. For more info & details, plus free resources: motherhoodinadhd.com
