ADHD Mums

27. CONFESSIONS: 10 Things That Scare Me as an ADHD Mum


Listen Later

This episode isn’t polished. It’s not another “mum guilt” talk with a tidy little bow. It’s a confession — 10 brutally honest fears that live under the surface of parenting with ADHD. The kind you lie awake thinking about. The kind you’re scared to say out loud.

From burnout to school calls, masking to medical forms — this Quick Reset is for the mums who are terrified of missing something important. Who love their kids fiercely, but carry a quiet dread that they’re not doing enough. Jane gets real about what it feels like to parent while managing executive dysfunction, health issues, shame spirals, and a system that was never built for us.

This isn’t weakness. It’s truth. And you’re not the only one thinking it.

🧠 What’s Inside:
• The panic of forgetting library day… again
• School calls that make your stomach drop
• The invisible mental load of paperwork, NDIS, permission slips, admin
• Fears you’ll burn out — and not bounce back this time
• Wondering if teachers think you’re the problem
• The heartbreak of feeling like chaos will outshine your love
• Masking with friends and fearing rejection if you're fully yourself
• Medical neglect, chronic fatigue, and fearing you're running out of time

💬 This isn’t just a list. It’s a reckoning.
Each fear is unpacked through the lens of ADHD neurology, emotional time travel, rejection sensitivity, and the legacy of being told to ‘just try harder’. Jane also tackles four common myths ADHD mums are told — and gives you the actual research to push back.

💥 This episode is for you if:
– You live with a constant, low-level fear of forgetting something vital
– You feel like your brain is fighting a system built against you
– You want to know that someone else gets it — fully, honestly, no fluff

📥 Share your own:
This episode is part of the CONFESSIONS series. If you’d like to add your own anonymous confession (or be featured in a future episode), submit it here:
👉 https://form.jotform.com/251238072679867

📚 Mentioned in this episode:
• ADHD Planner & Personal Values Workbook — a practical, non-performative way to anchor your week when everything feels like a blur. https://adhdmums.com.au/product/adhd-planner-and-values/

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 YouTube

LEAVE 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].

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
ADHD mums, parenting fear, school anxiety, rejection sensitivity, executive dysfunction, school trauma, mental load, invisible labour, masking, burnout, internalised shame, school admin stress, permission slip guilt, hypervigilance, chronic fatigue, parenting overwhelm, ADHD parenting truths, self-worth, vulnerability, real motherhood, emotional honesty.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

ADHD MumsBy Jane McFadden

  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2

4.2

6 ratings


More shows like ADHD Mums

View all
Parenting Out Loud by Mamamia Podcasts

Parenting Out Loud

48 Listeners

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families by Dr Justin Coulson

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

151 Listeners

No Filter by Mamamia Podcasts

No Filter

592 Listeners

Mamamia Out Loud by Mamamia Podcasts

Mamamia Out Loud

626 Listeners

Ladies, We Need To Talk by ABC listen

Ladies, We Need To Talk

335 Listeners

Parental As Anything by ABC listen

Parental As Anything

44 Listeners

The Imperfects by Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg

The Imperfects

404 Listeners

Beyond the Bump by Sophie Pearce & Jayde Couldwell

Beyond the Bump

93 Listeners

Lise and Sarah by Those Two Girls

Lise and Sarah

53 Listeners

Something To Talk About by Stellar

Something To Talk About

107 Listeners

The Neurodivergent Woman by Michelle Livock and Monique Mitchelson

The Neurodivergent Woman

138 Listeners

But Are You Happy? by Mamamia Podcasts

But Are You Happy?

47 Listeners

ADHD Chatter by Alex Partridge

ADHD Chatter

259 Listeners

Pop Culture Parenting by Dr Billy Garvey, Nick McCormack

Pop Culture Parenting

40 Listeners

MID by Mamamia Podcasts

MID

85 Listeners