ADHD Families Podcast

Sharon Collon
  • 5.0 (24)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

ADHD Families Podcast helps parents raising children with ADHD create a calmer, more functional family life — without burnout or chaos. Hosted by Sharon, a PCC credentialed ADHD Coach, Parenting Expert, and mum of three boys with ADHD, this podcast delivers practical strategies for parenting kids with ADHD, supporting executive function development, reducing overwhelm, and building systems that work with the ADHD brain. If you’re a parent navigating: - ADHD meltdowns and emotional regulation challenges - Homes that feel busy, loud, or hard to stabilise - Routines and systems that never seem to stick - Behavioural challenges at home or school - The ongoing mental load of supporting your family …you’re in the right place. Each episode offers real-life ADHD parenting support, practical systems, and clear guidance to help families move from constant reactivity to confidence, connection, and ease. This is ADHD parenting support for the whole family — not just the child. Less chaos. More function. A home designed for the ADHD brain.

  1. Episode 79: Managing Sibling Conflict & ADHD with Jacquie Ward

    29 APR

    Episode 79: Managing Sibling Conflict & ADHD with Jacquie Ward

    It's Sunday afternoon. Your kids can't walk past each other without it turning into something. Every interaction is a battle. And somewhere in the middle of it, you're thinking — when they grow up, are they ever going to be friends? If that's your house, stay with us. Sharon is joined by Jacquie Ward — Registered Psychologist and mum of three, including a child with ADHD — to talk about one of the most common and most misunderstood challenges in ADHD family life. Why sibling conflict is more intense in your home, and what to actually do about it.  👀 In This Episode: Why sibling conflict is more intense in ADHD families — and why you are not imagining it The six ADHD factors that create the perfect storm for sibling conflict Executive function age vs chronological age — and why it changes your expectations The family nervous system: why the whole house feels it when one child dysregulates Sharon's Blue Mountains story — and the moment that changed everything Why prevention beats reaction every time The Three Cs Framework: Cool Down, Communicate, Collaborate Why jumping in as referee is making things worse The one action to take this week that will change your next sibling fight  Quote to Carry With You  "You are not stuffing this up. Your family is not beyond support. This is a very predictable friction point in ADHD families — and it is not beyond help."  — Sharon Collon  ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – The Sunday afternoon scene — sibling conflict in ADHD homes 01:13 – Introducing Jacquie Ward 02:31 – The six ADHD factors that create the perfect storm 05:01 – Executive function age vs chronological age 06:43 – The family nervous system and emotional contagion 08:14 – Why conflict in public hits differently 11:06 – Sharon's Blue Mountains story 15:44 – The Three Cs Framework: Cool Down, Communicate, Collaborate 16:30 – Why prevention beats reaction 19:15 – Cool Down — the most important first step 21:06 – Communicate — giving kids the language 24:01 – Collaborate — building skills for long-term change 26:28 – The one action to take this week 28:45 – Workshop details — May 11–13   🥊 Want to Go Deeper? Stop the Fighting. Start Feeling Like a Family Again.  Sharon and Jacquie are running a 3-part live workshop series — the full playbook with scripts, in-the-moment strategies, and prevention tools specifically for ADHD families. Live sessions: May 11, 12 and 13 at 7:30–8:30pm AEST Replay available for 6 months Payment plans via Afterpay and Klarna JOIN US HERE  🔔 Next Steps & Resources Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Join the waitlist for the ADHD Family Quest Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon is a PCC credentialed ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family. She works with parents of children with ADHD who are exhausted by the daily battles — the mornings, the meltdowns, the school emails, the emotional dysregulation — and helps them build a family life that actually works. Sharon's approach is practical, ADHD-informed, and built around real family systems — not generic parenting advice that wasn't designed for your child's brain. With Sharon's support, families: Understand what's really driving their child's behaviour — and respond strategically instead of reactively Build the executive function skills their child needs, in a way that actually sticks Replace daily conflict and overwhelm with calm, connection, and confidence Create routines and systems that hold — even on the hard days Move from survival mode to a family life that feels genuinely functional and joyful Whether you're brand new to the ADHD diagnosis or years in and still feeling stuck — there is a way through. You don't have to keep pushing through alone. 👉 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com

    36 min
  2. Episode 78: Why Friendship Feels Hard When You Have ADHD

    20 APR

    Episode 78: Why Friendship Feels Hard When You Have ADHD

    Every week in my support group, parents share the same quiet ache — they wish they had people in their lives who actually got them. They feel lonely. And they're often so busy supporting their child's social struggles that their own go unspoken. This episode is for you. The parent. The adult. I am joined by Caroline Maguire (M.Ed, ACCG, PCC)— ADHD coach, social emotional learning expert, and author of Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults — for one of the most honest and relieving conversations the ADHD Families Podcast has had. ✨ About the Guest: Caroline Maguire (M.Ed, ACCG, PCC) is an ADHD coach, social emotional learning expert, author, and speaker who has spent over a decade researching how neurodivergent adults experience friendship and belonging. Her book Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults is the first written by a neurodivergent person, for a neurodivergent audience — practical, research-backed, and deeply human. She is also the host of the new podcast Your ADHD Social Playbook and has a TEDx Talk available on YouTube. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: Why adult friendship is genuinely harder — and why that is not your fault The worldwide loneliness epidemic and why ADHD adults feel it more acutely Why proximity is the single biggest factor in making friends — and how ADHD gets in the way The radical reframe: friendship is a learnable skill, not a personality trait The hidden cost of masking — and what it is doing to your energy and mental health The Flavours of Friendship — a framework for understanding different levels of connection Why ADHD adults mistake acquaintances for close friends — and the hurt that follows Info dumping, oversharing, going quiet: separating shame from skill building How to move someone from acquaintance to actual friend The repair: how to come back after you've gone quiet or disappeared ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Why ADHD parents feel lonely — and why we don't talk about it 02:17 – Friendship is a learnable skill: the reframe that changes everything 04:43 – How parenting a child with ADHD affects your own friendships 07:06 – Proximity — the single biggest factor in making friends 09:15 – The myth that everyone else has it figured out 11:38 – Confidence and friendship: the missing piece 14:02 – Finding your people — why environment matters more than effort 16:20 – The hidden cost of masking in friendships 18:36 – Why socialising drains you even when it goes well 20:55 – Managing your social energy and the power of the pause 23:20 – The Flavours of Friendship framework 30:21 – Rejection sensitivity and what it does to friendships 35:09 – Pinging: a practical strategy for finding shared connection 37:33 – Info dumping, oversharing, going quiet — shame vs skill building 39:55 – How to repair a friendship after you've gone quiet 42:21 – It's never too late — the path forward 📕 Caroline's NEW Book — Out Now!  Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults iis the first book of its kind — written by a neurodivergent person, for a neurodivergent audience. If this episode resonated, this book is your next step. Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Hachette, Audible, and wherever you love to buy books. Also available in audiobook. Website: https://carolinemaguireauthor.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolineM  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorcarolinecm/  NEW Podcast: Your ADHD Social Playbook NEW TEDx Talk — Becoming a Social Spy: Observational Learning 👦🏼 Also Worth Reading — From Xavier  This episode talks about the adult experience of friendship and ADHD. But what about our kids? My son Xavier — who has ADHD — wrote a blog that has stopped parents in their tracks since the day it was published. It is called A Note from a Kid with ADHD: How to Be My Friend. In Xavier's own words, he shares what he needs from friends — the patience, the inclusion, the kindness, and the grace. It is the resource I wished she could hand to other families when Xavier was young. Share it with another parent, a teacher, or a child who could use the reminder. Read it here → https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/blog/anotefromanadhdkidhowtobemyfriend   🥊 Are Your Kids Constantly Fighting? (Enjoy Discounted Rate HERE) A 3-part live workshop series for parents of children with ADHD — co-facilitated by me (ADHD Coach) and Jacquie Ward (Psychologist). If sibling conflict in your home feels more intense and harder to recover from than it should — you are not imagining it. ADHD changes the equation. This series gives you the why and the what now. In just 3 nights, you'll learn how to: Understand why your kids are constantly clashing — and what ADHD has to do with it Step in without escalating or taking sides Calm conflict in the moment, even when emotions are running high Teach the skills your kids are missing so the same fights stop repeating The Details:  Live sessions: May 11, 12 and 13 at 7:30–8:30pm AEST Replay available for 6 months Payment plans via Afterpay and Klarna Early bird: $197 AUD (save $100) — use code EARLY at checkout JOIN US HERE →  https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/offers/LCALkojv/checkout?coupon_code=EARLY  🔔 Next Steps & Resources Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Carolin Mcguirre — Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults (available in audiobook, including in Australia) Join the waitlist for the ADHD Family Quest 💻 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon is a PCC credentialed ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family. She works with parents of children with ADHD who are exhausted by the daily battles — the mornings, the meltdowns, the school emails, the emotional dysregulation — and helps them build a family life that actually works. Sharon's approach is practical, ADHD-informed, and built around real family systems — not generic parenting advice that wasn't designed for your child's brain. With Sharon's support, families: Understand what's really driving their child's behaviour — and respond strategically instead of reactively Build the executive function skills their child needs, in a way that actually sticks Replace daily conflict and overwhelm with calm, connection, and confidence Create routines and systems that hold — even on the hard days Move from survival mode to a family life that feels genuinely functional and joyful Whether you're brand new to the ADHD diagnosis or years in and still feeling stuck — there is a way through. You don't have to keep pushing through alone. 👉 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com

    45 min
  3. Episode 77: Should I Medicate My Child? What ADHD Parents Need to Know Before Deciding

    9 APR

    Episode 77: Should I Medicate My Child? What ADHD Parents Need to Know Before Deciding

    Are you stuck in the impossible loop of should I or shouldn't I — and feeling judged no matter which way you lean? If you're a parent of a child with ADHD, the medication question is one of the most emotionally loaded decisions you'll face. And it doesn't get easier when everyone around you seems to have a very strong opinion — whether they know anything about ADHD or not. In this episode of the ADHD Families Podcast, Sharon Collon, ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family, shares her own family's messy, exhausting, emotionally charged journey through this exact decision. Sharon unpacks what ADHD medication actually does in the brain, what the research really says (including what often gets left out), the truth about side effects, and five practical questions to ask before you decide. This episode won't tell you what to do — it will give you the clarity to figure out what's right for your child.Freebie: 🎁 Download your free guide: 5 Ways to Navigate Big Emotions Without Power Struggles 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ Why the medication decision feels so chaotic — and why that's completely normal ✅ The fears every ADHD parent holds: "What if I'm numbing my child? What if I'm taking the easy way out?" ✅ Sharon's own family story — the diets, the therapies, the pressure, and the turning point ✅ What ADHD medication actually does in the brain (hint: it's not a sedative) ✅ The MTA Study — the most comprehensive ADHD treatment research ever done, and what gets left out of the headline ✅ Why medication alone isn't enough — and what the research actually shows works best ✅ What a 2025 longitudinal MRI study found about timing and brain development ✅ Long-term outcomes: what the research says about medication, substance use, and quality of life ✅ Side effects — the honest, evidence-based answer every parent deserves ✅ Five questions to ask before deciding whether medication is right for your child ✅ Why the medication decision isn't a knowledge problem — it's a systems problem ✅ The most important reframe: choosing medication isn't taking the easy road ⚠️ If you've been going back and forth on this decision while the pressure from school, family, and your own head keeps building — this episode will help you think more clearly. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – The fear and chaos that comes with the medication question01:00 – Sharon's disclaimer: not medical advice, but real family experience 01:37 – Sharon's family story: diagnosis, pressure, and trying everything first 03:08 – The exhaustion of pursuing every alternative 04:12 – Getting ADHD advice from the barista (and other unhelpful moments) 06:21 – The turning point: what Sharon's husband disclosed that changed everything 07:48 – The second realisation: medication alone isn't enough 08:24 – What ADHD medication actually does in the brain 09:06 – What the research says: the MTA Study and what gets left out 11:06 – Effectiveness rates, the 2025 MRI findings, and long-term outcomes 12:06 – Side effects — the real, evidence-based answer 14:54 – Five questions to ask before deciding on medication 20:39 – Closing: you are not a bad parent either way 🎁 5 Ways to Navigate Big Emotions Without Power Struggles — FREE DOWNLOAD You're already doing the hard work of understanding your child's ADHD. But in the heat of the moment — when emotions explode and everything escalates — it can feel impossible to know what to actually do. This free guide gives you five simple, ADHD-informed strategies to help you respond to big emotions with calm and confidence, without it turning into a power struggle every single time. Because when you know what to do in the moment, everything feels a little more manageable. 👉 Download your free guide HERE. 🗺️ The ADHD Family Quest — Join the Waitlist If you're trying to make clear decisions — like the medication question — while your family life still feels like organised chaos, that's not a knowledge problem. That's a systems problem. The ADHD Family Quest is a structured, practical pathway for families navigating ADHD. It gives you the roadmap, the routines, and the clarity to move from reactive to responsive — not with a list of tips, but with real systems built around how your family actually works. When your home has a foundation, every decision — including this one — becomes clearer. 📋 JOIN THE WAITLIST HERE 🔔 Next Steps & Resources Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Share this episode with a parent who is navigating the medication decision right now Download the free guide: 5 Ways to Navigate Big Emotions Without Power Struggles Join the waitlist for the ADHD Family Quest 💻 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon is a PCC credentialed ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family. She works with parents of children with ADHD who are exhausted by the daily battles — the mornings, the meltdowns, the school emails, the emotional dysregulation — and helps them build a family life that actually works. Sharon's approach is practical, ADHD-informed, and built around real family systems — not generic parenting advice that wasn't designed for your child's brain. With Sharon's support, families: Understand what's really driving their child's behaviour — and respond strategically instead of reactively Build the executive function skills their child needs, in a way that actually sticks Replace daily conflict and overwhelm with calm, connection, and confidence Create routines and systems that hold — even on the hard days Move from survival mode to a family life that feels genuinely functional and joyful Whether you're brand new to the ADHD diagnosis or years in and still feeling stuck — there is a way through. You don't have to keep pushing through alone. 👉 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com

    21 min
  4. Episode 76: How Do I Support Big Emotions in My Child With ADHD Without Losing It?

    28 MAR

    Episode 76: How Do I Support Big Emotions in My Child With ADHD Without Losing It?

    Does your child go from 0 to 100 in seconds and you're left wondering what just happened? If you're parenting a child with ADHD, you already know that big emotions don't just happen, they explode. And no matter how calm you try to stay, it pulls you in every single time. In this episode of the  ADHD Families Podcast, Sharon Collon, ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family, unpacks why emotional meltdowns in children with ADHD aren't behaviour problems — they're nervous system responses. Sharon explains why emotional regulation is an executive function skill that develops later in ADHD brains, what's really sitting underneath those explosive reactions, and why discipline and reasoning make dysregulation worse. If you've ever felt like you're walking on eggshells around your child's emotions, Sharon shares a simple 3-step strategy — Name, Validate, Regulate — that you can use in the moment, even when you're exhausted. 🎁 Download your free guide:5 Ways to Navigate Big Emotions Without Power Struggles 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ Why big emotions in ADHD children build beneath the surface — often all day✅ Why one small question can trigger a massive explosion✅ The truth: "Big emotions are small worries that didn't have the words to come out earlier"✅ Why children with ADHD feel everything more intensely — joy, rejection, shame✅ Why emotional regulation is an executive function skill — not a behaviour choice✅ Why discipline, logic and reasoning don't work during ADHD meltdowns✅ The "closed gate" brain — why your child's thinking brain goes offline when dysregulated✅ The 3-step strategy: Name, Validate, Regulate✅ Why validation is the most skipped step — and the most powerful✅ How connection calms an ADHD child's nervous system faster than correction✅ Practical, in-the-moment regulation tools that work even when you're depleted✅ Why go-to scripts are a game changer for parents of kids with ADHD ⚠️ If your child can go from completely fine to explosive in seconds — and leave you wondering what just happened — this episode will completely reframe those moments. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – When ADHD meltdowns seem to come out of nowhere02:24 – Why emotional regulation is an executive function skill04:41 – Introducing the strategy: Name, Validate, Regulate05:00 – Step 1: Name — helping your child put words to the feeling07:00 – Step 2: Validate — the step most parents skip08:00 – Step 3: Regulate — helping the nervous system come back online09:23 – Mindset shift: having a hard time vs giving a hard time10:00 – Conclusion + free guide: 5 Ways to Navigate Big Emotions Without Power Struggles  🎁 5 Ways to Navigate Big Emotions Without Power Struggles - FREE DOWNLOAD A simple guide for parents of children with ADHD. Big emotions are part of life with ADHD. But when those emotions turn into meltdowns, it can feel overwhelming for the whole family. Many parents tell me the same thing: "I want to help my child… but I don't know what to do in the moment." This guide will give you five simple strategies you can use to support your child through big emotions — without turning the moment into a power struggle. 👉 Download your free guide HERE.  🧹 Also This April —Something A Little Different Your home is supposed to be your soft place to land. But for a lot of ADHD families — it's just another source of overwhelm. If that's you, I have something coming that I think you're going to love. Declutter Along With Me — 5 days. 45 minutes a day. Side by side, together. No pressure. No perfect plan. Just focused, supported action that finally sticks. 📅  6–10 April 2026👉 [GRAB YOUR SPOT HERE] 🔔 Next Steps & Resources 🔔 Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Share this episode with a parent who needs to hear it Download the free guide: 5 Ways to Navigate Big Emotions Without Power Struggles Join us on 6-10 April 2026 for 5-Day ADHD Friendly - Declutter Along With Me  💻 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon supports ADHD families to move from reactive, overwhelming days to calm, connected and functional family life — using ADHD-friendly strategies that actually work for sensitive nervous systems. Through her coaching and resources, families: Support emotional regulation without power struggles Build executive function skills step by step Reduce daily conflict and overwhelm Create systems that support the whole family Strengthen connection — even in the hardest moments Parenting ADHD does get easier. But not by pushing through. It gets easier when you understand what's really happening — and respond strategically. You are too important to stay in survival mode.

    12 min
  5. Episode 75: I’m Overwhelmed Parenting a Child With ADHD — Where Do I Start?

    4 MAR

    Episode 75: I’m Overwhelmed Parenting a Child With ADHD — Where Do I Start?

    Why does parenting a child with ADHD feel relentlessly overwhelming — even when you’re doing everything “right”? ADHD Families Podcast, Sharon Collon, ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family, unpacks why ADHD parenting overwhelm isn’t a time problem,  it’s an energy and nervous system problem. Sharon explains why traditional parenting advice fails ADHD families, how the invisible mental load builds quietly in the background, and why your body may still be in hypervigilance years after the baby stage. If you’re stuck in survival mode, Sharon shares three practical tools to reduce overwhelm immediately — without adding more to your plate. 🎁 Join The ADHD Family Quest and create your family’s tailored plan:https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/quest 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ Why ADHD nervous systems create chronic overwhelm ✅ The hidden hypervigilance mums carry (and why it’s exhausting) ✅ Why traditional parenting advice doesn’t work for ADHD ✅ The invisible load of school notes, meltdowns and mental juggling ✅ Why overwhelm is an energy problem — not a time problem ✅ The Rainbow Wall tool to rebalance negativity bias ✅ Why rest is critical (and not something you “earn”) ✅ How tracking sleep and your cycle builds strategic self-compassion ⚠️ If you’ve ever stood in the kitchen thinking “I can’t keep doing this”, this episode is for you. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Remembering “busy” before kids 02:20 – Why ADHD parenting feels heavier 04:30 – Hypervigilance starts in the baby years 07:00 – The nervous system toll of constant dysregulation 08:45 – Why traditional parenting advice fails ADHD families 09:20 – The invisible load mums carry 12:30 – The “slab of the house” foundation: sleep, cycle, energy 13:50 – It’s not a time problem — it’s an energy problem 18:30 – Tool #1: Protecting your energy 19:45 – Tool #2: The Rainbow Wall 23:15 – Tool #3: Rest is not a reward 25:30 – Tracking sleep, cycle and capacity 27:45 – Recap: 3 practical tools 29:00 – Why ADHD support must be strategic 30:00 – ADHD Family Quest invitation 🎁 Join The ADHD Family Quest Coaching Experience If you’re standing in the kitchen thinking, “I can’t keep doing this”… this is for you. If your body is on high alert. If the school calls, the meltdowns and the mental load never seem to stop. If you’re exhausted from carrying the invisible backpack. You don’t need to try harder. You need more capacity.   🚀 The ADHD Family Quest – Now Open The ADHD Family Quest is a 12-month, coaching-led experience designed to help families move from overwhelm to calmer, more functional daily life. And you don’t get there alone. Your whole family moves forward together — because it was never meant to sit on mum’s shoulders. This isn’t therapy. It isn’t a course. And it’s definitely not a quick fix. It’s structured, supported, ADHD-specific coaching that creates real, lasting change. You don’t have to keep carrying this by yourself. You just have to say yes to support. 📅 Starts 11 March 🔗 https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/quest 🔔 Next Steps & Resources 🔔 Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast📩 Share this episode with a parent who needs to hear it🎁 The ADHD Family Quest is open till 11 March 2026💻 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon supports ADHD families to move from survival mode to functional, calm and connected — using ADHD-friendly systems that honour how sensitive nervous systems actually work. Inside The ADHD Family Quest, families: • Build environmental systems first (Base Camp) • Learn behavioural strategies that work for ADHD brains • Develop executive function skills for life • Strengthen the whole family as a team • Receive layered coaching support across 12 months Parenting ADHD does get easier. But not by accident. It gets easier when you’re strategic. You are too important to stay in survival mode.

    31 min
  6. Episode 74: The ADHD Pressure Cooker: Why Car Rides Explode (and 3 Steps to Fix It)

    22 FEB

    Episode 74: The ADHD Pressure Cooker: Why Car Rides Explode (and 3 Steps to Fix It)

    Why do car rides explode faster than anywhere else?In this episode of the ADHD Families Podcast, Sharon Collon, ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family, unpacks why car trips trigger meltdowns — even in families who’ve “figured out” everything else. Car rides combine confinement, sensory overload, transitions, and nervous system stress into one high-pressure environment. Sharon shares why logic fails when kids’ brains go offline, how parents get pulled into survival mode too, and the three simple steps that reduce car chaos without threats, yelling, or guilt. If your back seat feels like a battlefield — or even the 10-minute school run drains you — this episode will give you practical, regulation-first tools that actually work. 🎁 Join Sharon’s free ADHD Roadmap Coaching Week (2–6 March) and create your family’s tailored plan: thefunctionalfamily.com/roadmap  👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ Why cars act like a “pressure cooker” for ADHD nervous systems ✅ What really happens when your child’s brain goes offline ✅ Why logic and threats make car meltdowns worse ✅ The 3-step system to reduce car ride explosions ✅ The “crunch factor” and how jaw input supports regulation ✅ When screens are a safety tool (and why guilt isn’t helpful) ✅ The Parent Pivot: how to regulate yourself mid-chaos ✅ Why sometimes pulling over is the strategy ⚠️ If car trips are your predictable problem area, this episode will help you pre-plan instead of firefight. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – When car rides become a pressure cooker 02:00 – Why confinement triggers ADHD nervous systems 04:30 – Monkey brain: when logic leaves the building 06:30 – Predictable problems vs surprise meltdowns 08:00 – Step 1: Acknowledge the storm 10:00 – Step 2: Environmental shifts (crunch factor, devices, audio) 14:30 – Step 3: The Parent Pivot (regulate yourself first) 17:00 – When pulling over is the strategy 18:30 – If it’s not just the car (whole-family pressure) 19:15 – ADHD Roadmap Coaching Week invitation + next steps 🎁 Freebie: Create Your Family’s Tailored ADHD Roadmap (FREE) ADHD Roadmap FREE Coaching Week 📅 2–6 March ⏰ 4 Quick Trainings + Daily Live Coaching 💰 $1,000 in Cash Prizes Across the Week If car rides — or daily family life — feel like constant conflict, this free 4-day experience will help you move from chaos to functional. This isn’t theory. This is practical, doable change. And yes… we’re giving away cash prizes every single day to celebrate families who show up and take action. 💬 Daily Live Sessions + Cash Prizes Join Sharon at 1:00pm inside the Facebook group for connection, clarity and celebration. Comment during the Live to enter the daily cash prize draw: 💵 Day 1 → $100 💵 Day 2 → $200 💵 Day 3 → $300 💵 Day 4 → $400 Show up. Engage. Take action. You could walk away with a personalised plan and a cash bonus. 👉 Join here: https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/roadmap 🚀 Next Steps & Resources 🔔 Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast📩 Share this episode with a parent who needs to hear it🎁 The ADHD Family Quest Waitlist is now available💻 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon supports ADHD families to move from overwhelm to functional using personalised systems that honour how ADHD nervous systems actually work. Through coaching, structured programs, and community support, families reduce pressure, strengthen executive function skills, and build sustainable routines — without trying to fix everything at once. If your car feels like a battlefield, it’s not a parenting failure. It’s a predictable pressure point. And with the right roadmap, pressure turns into progress.

    21 min
  7. Episode 73: How Do I Get My Child with ADHD Ready for School Without Meltdowns?

    6 FEB

    Episode 73: How Do I Get My Child with ADHD Ready for School Without Meltdowns?

    Do your mornings feel like you’ve already lived an entire day before 9am? If school mornings are full of rushing, resistance, yelling, or tears — and you’re left completely depleted before work even begins — this episode is for you.In this episode of the ADHD Families Podcast, Sharon Collon, ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family, breaks down why mornings are uniquely hard for children with ADHD — and what actually helps. Sharon explains how boring tasks, constant transitions, time pressure, and nervous system overload combine to create morning chaos — even when everyone is trying their best. Instead of behaviour charts or stricter routines, Sharon shares small, practical shifts that support regulation first, reduce pressure, and work with the ADHD brain — not against it. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ Why ADHD mornings fall apart before the day even begins ✅ How boring tasks and transitions overload the ADHD brain ✅ Why time pressure triggers stress, not cooperation ✅ The “movie of the mind” gap that trips kids up ✅ Why behaviour issues are often regulation injuries ✅ How micro-connection changes everything ✅ Practical strategies that reduce pressure without adding work ✅ How to soften mornings without yelling, threats, or burn ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Why mornings feel harder than the rest of the day 01:30 – The emotional toll of school drop-offs and burnout 03:20 – Why ADHD brains struggle with boring tasks 05:10 – Transitions, sequencing, and time blindness explained 07:00 – Why pressure backfires in ADHD mornings 08:30 – Behaviour vs regulation: what’s really happening 10:00 – Start with regulation, not demands 12:00 – Micro-connection that supports cooperation 13:40 – Protein, positioning yourself as a teammate 15:30 – Reducing decisions before 9am 17:30 – Using music as a regulator and timer 19:30 – Screens, dopamine, and when to delay them 21:00 – Choosing one friction point to start with 23:00 – Free ADHD Roadmap Coaching Week invitation 🎁 Freebie: Create Your Family’s Tailored ADHD Roadmap (FREE) ADHD Roadmap Coaching Week 📅 Dates: 3-6 March 2026 ⏰ Live + on-demand support designed for real families If mornings are draining your energy and confidence, this free coaching week will help you move from chaos to clarity — without adding more to your plate. You’ll learn how to: ✔️ Identify the real barriers behind morning struggles ✔️ Support regulation before expectations ✔️ Reduce daily friction without power struggles ✔️ Build a personalised ADHD Family Roadmap 👉 Join here: https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/roadmap 🚀 Next Steps & Resources 🔔 Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast📩 Share this episode with a parent who needs to hear it🎁 The ADHD Family Quest Waitlist is now available💻 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon supports ADHD families to move from overwhelm to clarity using personalised systems that honour how ADHD nervous systems actually work. Through coaching, programs, and community support, families learn how to reduce pressure, build executive function skills, and create sustainable routines — without trying to fix everything at once. When mornings soften, everything else gets lighter. And that’s where real change begins.

    25 min
  8. Episode 72: What to Do First After your Child's ADHD Diagnosis (So You Don’t Burn Out)

    27 JAN

    Episode 72: What to Do First After your Child's ADHD Diagnosis (So You Don’t Burn Out)

    Have you just received an ADHD diagnosis for your child and found yourself thinking, “Okay… now what?” If your next instinct is to book all the appointments, consume all the information, and "fix" everything immediately, this episode is for you. In this episode of the ADHD Families Podcast, Sharon Collon, ADHD family coach and founder of The Functional Family - slows down the moment after diagnosis so parents don’t burn themselves (or their child) out before they’ve even had a chance to understand what their child truly needs. Sharon shares her own experience of receiving her son’s ADHD diagnosis, the overwhelm that followed, and why urgency is often mistaken for importance. She explains why ADHD is not an emergency, why doing more isn’t always better, and how burnout often begins with good intentions but no clear roadmap. This conversation will help you move from panic to clarity, from reactive decision-making to confident, intentional next steps - without pressure or perfection. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ Why the post-diagnosis phase is where burnout often begins ✅ The pressure parents feel to “do everything” straight away ✅ Why ADHD is not an emergency — and doesn’t need fixing ✅ The difference between urgency and importance ✅ Why parenting support should come before everything else ✅ How to identify your child’s real needs beyond the label ✅ The power of choosing one focus instead of carrying it all ✅ How to build a steady, sustainable ADHD roadmap for your family ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – You’ve received the ADHD diagnosis… now what? 01:10 – Relief, panic, and the pressure to fix everything 02:30 – Sharon’s own diagnosis story and the overwhelm that followed 04:10 – Why booking everything leads to burnout 05:40 – ADHD is not an emergency (and doesn’t need fixing) 07:10 – Urgency vs importance: where parents get stuck 08:40 – Why parenting support should come first 10:30 – Coming back to the child you already know 12:00 – Identifying your child’s real needs and strengths 13:40 – Choosing one focus instead of doing it all 15:00 – Free ADHD Roadmap coaching week + next steps 🎁 Freebie: Create Your Family’s Tailored ADHD Roadmap (FREE) 3–6 March 2026 · Sydney Time Four days. Four core shifts. One clear plan for your family. If you’re parenting a primary-school-aged child with ADHD and feeling overwhelmed, this free coaching week will help you move from confusion to calm — without pressure or perfection. You’ll learn how to: ✔️ Understand what really drives your child’s behaviour ✔️ Decide what to focus on first (and what can wait) ✔️ Reduce daily friction and emotional load ✔️ Create your personalised ADHD Family Roadmap 🕖 Daily videos: 7:00 am 🕐 Live sessions: 1:00 pm (Sydney time) 👉 Join here: https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/roadmap  🎯 Replay: Get the Back to School Workshop & templates (Discounted) A clear, practical session to help ADHD families set school up early — without stress or burnout. ✔️ ADHD Learning Support Plan ✔️ Clear teacher communication ✔️ Confident advocacy 🎥 Now $147 AUD (was $197) until 31 Jan Code BACKTOSCHOOL2026 👉 Access here : https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/offers/SZ2euSGj?coupon_code=BACKTOSCHOOL2026 🚀 Next Steps & Resources 🔔 Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast📩 Share this episode with a parent who needs to hear it🎁 The ADHD Family Quest Waitlist is now available💻 Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon supports ADHD families to move from overwhelm to clarity using personalised systems that honour how ADHD brains actually work. Through coaching, programs, and community support, families learn what to focus on first — without trying to do everything at once. When you stop carrying everything alone, parenting gets lighter. And that’s where real change begins.

    16 min
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5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

ADHD Families Podcast helps parents raising children with ADHD create a calmer, more functional family life — without burnout or chaos. Hosted by Sharon, a PCC credentialed ADHD Coach, Parenting Expert, and mum of three boys with ADHD, this podcast delivers practical strategies for parenting kids with ADHD, supporting executive function development, reducing overwhelm, and building systems that work with the ADHD brain. If you’re a parent navigating: - ADHD meltdowns and emotional regulation challenges - Homes that feel busy, loud, or hard to stabilise - Routines and systems that never seem to stick - Behavioural challenges at home or school - The ongoing mental load of supporting your family …you’re in the right place. Each episode offers real-life ADHD parenting support, practical systems, and clear guidance to help families move from constant reactivity to confidence, connection, and ease. This is ADHD parenting support for the whole family — not just the child. Less chaos. More function. A home designed for the ADHD brain.

Information

  • Creator
    Sharon Collon
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Functional Family
  • Show Website
    ADHD Families Podcast

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