ADHD Mums

Jane McFadden
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Being a mum is hard enough. Being a mum with ADHD — or raising neurodivergent kids is a whole different level. ADHD Mums is the unfiltered, science-meets-reality podcast hosted by Jane McFadden, educational neuroscientist, advocate, and mother of three. This isn’t another polished parenting show with 'ten easy tips.' It’s real stories, confessions we’re not supposed to say out loud, and the research that explains why so many of us are running on empty. Every week you’ll hear: 🎙️ Confessions — raw, anonymous truths from mums navigating rage, burnout, and survival. 🧠 Expert insights — from neuroscientists, clinicians, and policy leaders on ADHD, autism, and mental health. 💬 Advocacy in action — exposing ADHD medication shortages, NDIS red tape, and the hidden costs mothers carry. With over 1 million downloads already tuning in from across the world, the podcast has already influenced ADHD reforms in Australia, been featured in national media, and pushed politicians to answer the questions mothers are asking. If you’ve ever screamed in the car, forgotten every form until the night before, or wondered if you’re the only one falling apart — this podcast is your proof that you’re not broken, you’re just telling the truth.

  1. 91. ‘When Someone Says “We Didn’t Have ADHD Back Then” — And You Start Defending Your Parenting’

    4 DAYS AGO

    91. ‘When Someone Says “We Didn’t Have ADHD Back Then” — And You Start Defending Your Parenting’

    There is a moment at a family barbecue where your child isn’t sitting at the table. They’re walking. Talking. Eating on the move. And someone says it. 'We didn’t have this ADHD thing when we had kids.' And just like that, it stops being about lunch and starts feeling like it’s about you. Because what sounds casual lands like doubt. WHAT WE COVER– Why 'we didn’t have ADHD back then' still shows up in families – What people see vs the invisible regulation work parents are doing – Familiarity bias and why ADHD gets dismissed as 'normal' – The concept of 'load blindness' in parenting – Why ADHD is more visible now (not more common) – How modern expectations make differences harder to hide – Why not forcing the battle is sometimes the most regulated choice THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF– You’ve felt judged in everyday moments like meals or outings – Someone has questioned your child’s ADHD – You’re doing constant behind-the-scenes regulation work – You’ve second-guessed yourself after family comments – You’re trying to support your child without turning everything into a battle EPISODES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODECamouflaging ADHD & Autistic Traits in Girls (with Millie Carr) https://adhdmums.com.au/podcast_episode/replay-s1-episode-41-camouflaging-adhd-autistic-traits-in-girls-with-millie-carr-re-release/ CONFESSIONS: Things I Can’t Say at the Playground https://adhdmums.com.au/podcast_episode/episode-55-confessions-things-i-cant-say-at-the-playground/ WHAT THE RESEARCH TELLS USADHD hasn’t suddenly appeared. One of the most cited global studies (175 studies analysed) shows prevalence has remained relatively stable — we’re just better at recognising it now. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/135/4/e994/33967/Prevalence-of-Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Australian data tells a similar story. Children are entering school with a wider range of developmental profiles — particularly in communication and regulation. https://www.aedc.gov.au/resources/detail/2021-aedc-national-report This isn’t about kids being 'worse'. It’s about environments, expectations and visibility.HELPFUL LINKSFree ADHD Resources https://adhdmums.com.au/resources/ Advocacy Hub https://adhdmums.com.au/advocacy/

    17 min
  2. 90. ‘When Someone Says “We Didn’t Have ADHD Back Then” — And You Start Questioning Yourself’

    6 DAYS AGO

    90. ‘When Someone Says “We Didn’t Have ADHD Back Then” — And You Start Questioning Yourself’

    Somewhere in almost every ADHD conversation, someone eventually says it. 'There weren't kids like this when I was at school.' Or the slightly more polite version: 'Why are there suddenly so many ADHD kids now?' And if you're a parent of a neurodivergent child, you've probably heard this one too: 'Maybe it's just screens.' This episode pulls that myth apart. Because the truth is far more complex — and far more interesting. ADHD didn't suddenly appear in the last 20 years. What has changed is how classrooms work, what children are expected to do inside them, and how visible neurodivergence becomes when the environment shifts. In this episode, we unpack one of the biggest myths about ADHD and neurodivergence: Are there actually more neurodivergent children now? Or are we finally recognising what was always there? WHAT WE COVER– The myth that 'there were no ADHD kids in the past' – Why increased diagnosis does not mean ADHD is suddenly more common – How modern classrooms have changed dramatically over the last 30 years – Why language demands in early schooling are much higher than they used to be – What happens when school expectations exceed a child's nervous system capacity – The difference between developmental opportunity and underlying neurodevelopmental differences – Why early learning environments play a crucial role in supporting neurodivergent kids – The societal changes affecting children's development, play and independence – How pandemic stress and modern family pressure has reshaped childhood environments – Why blaming screens oversimplifies a much bigger developmental conversation WHAT THE RESEARCH ACTUALLY SAYSOne of the most cited global studies on ADHD prevalence analysed 175 international studies and found that ADHD rates have remained relatively stable over time. What has changed is recognition and diagnosis, not the existence of neurodivergent children. Global prevalence research: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/135/4/e994/33967/Prevalence-of-Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity This systematic review, published in Pediatrics, remains one of the most widely referenced papers estimating ADHD prevalence worldwide. WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN AUSTRALIAIn Australia, population-level data also tells an important story. The Australian Early Development Census tracks developmental vulnerability across the country and consistently shows that many children are entering school with developmental differences in communication, emotional regulation and social skills. AEDC National Report: https://www.aedc.gov.au/resources/detail/2021-aedc-national-report Importantly, developmental vulnerability does not mean something is 'wrong' with a child. It tells us that children's environments, expectations and support systems all interact with how development unfolds. And when school expectations increase, differences often become more visible. THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF– You have heard someone say 'there weren't kids like this when we were growing up' – You're navigating an ADHD diagnosis and feeling overwhelmed by misinformation – You're trying to explain neurodivergence to family members who don't understand – Your child struggles in modern classrooms but thrives in other environments – You've wondered whether society has changed more than children have – You want research-backed information about ADHD prevalence MORE ABOUT SALLY GALLOWAY & KAT MARRINGTON Kat Marrington (Speech Pathologist) at www.Talkiplay.com Sally Galloway (Occupational Therapist) at www.sallygalloway.com.au FREE ADHD RESOURCES If you're exploring ADHD for yourself or your child, these free tools can help. ADHD Self-TestA quick screening tool to help adults identify whether ADHD traits might be worth exploring further. https://adhdmums.com.au/adhd-self-test/ Free ADHD ResourcesGuides, articles and practical support for ADHD families. https://adhdmums.com.au/resources/

    21 min
  3. 87.When You Stay Calm at School — And Leave Feeling Like You Didn’t Do Enough

    4 MAR

    87.When You Stay Calm at School — And Leave Feeling Like You Didn’t Do Enough

    You’ve sent the emails. You’ve attended the meetings. You’ve tried to be calm, collaborative, reasonable. And nothing changes. Then suddenly something serious happens — a suspension, an incident, a formal complaint — and overnight the school moves quickly. So what just happened? This episode unpacks the moment many ADHD mums eventually hit: the point where being reasonable stops working — and why that happens inside the school system. Because for many families, the problem isn’t communication. It’s understanding what schools actually respond to, what they quietly ignore, and how the system itself shapes those responses. WHAT WE COVERWhy being calm, collaborative and ‘reasonable’ often doesn’t move schoolsWhat schools actually respond to — and what gets quietly ignoredWhy emotional emails and long explanations often backfireThe reality behind ‘reasonable adjustments’ under Australian education lawWhy some adjustments are refused even when they appear simpleThe funding model most parents have never heard of: NCCDWhy teachers may genuinely say they can’t do something — even when it seems obviousThe difference between fairness and inclusion in schoolsWhen escalating a complaint becomes necessary (and how to do it properly)Why documentation, meeting notes and evidence matter far more than emotion THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF…You feel like you’ve been polite, patient and collaborative… and nothing has changedYour child’s school says they ‘can’t’ implement adjustments that seem reasonableYou’ve asked for incident reports or documentation and never received themMeetings feel confusing or adversarialYou’re not sure when to keep negotiating and when to escalateYou’re trying to advocate for your child without becoming ‘that parent’ ABOUT TODAY’S GUESTSara Hocking Educational disability advocate supporting families navigating school discrimination, failed adjustments and escalation processes. Sarah works directly with families across Australia dealing with school-based disability support issues and understands both the legal framework and the practical realities of how schools respond. LEGISLATION REFERENCEDDisability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) Disability Standards for Education 2005 (Cth) These laws outline the obligation for Australian schools to provide reasonable adjustments for students with disability, provided those adjustments do not create an unjustifiable hardship for the school. FUNDING MODEL MENTIONEDNationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) The NCCD is the Australian Government framework used to determine funding and support levels for students with disability in schools. Many parents assume funding follows their child directly to the school. In reality, the system is far more complex — and often much less transparent. FIND SARA HERESara Hocking – Educational Disability Advocate www.seebeyondau.org RELATED ADHD MUMS EPISODES🎧 When School Decides Your Child Is the Problem https://adhdmums.com.au/adhd-podcast-episodes/when-school-decides-your-child-is-the-problem/ 🎧 Raising Strong Children: How to Support Without Always Solving Their Problems https://adhdmums.com.au/raising-strong-children/ FREE PARENT RESOURCES📘 The School Choice Kit https://adhdmums.com.au/product/the-school-choice-kit/ SHARE YOUR SCHOOL EXPERIENCEIf you’ve experienced school pushback, refused adjustments, or confusing processes around disability support, you can share your experience here: https://form.jotform.com/251238118486864 Your experiences help shape future episodes and resources for other ADHD mums navigating the same systems.

    35 min
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About

Being a mum is hard enough. Being a mum with ADHD — or raising neurodivergent kids is a whole different level. ADHD Mums is the unfiltered, science-meets-reality podcast hosted by Jane McFadden, educational neuroscientist, advocate, and mother of three. This isn’t another polished parenting show with 'ten easy tips.' It’s real stories, confessions we’re not supposed to say out loud, and the research that explains why so many of us are running on empty. Every week you’ll hear: 🎙️ Confessions — raw, anonymous truths from mums navigating rage, burnout, and survival. 🧠 Expert insights — from neuroscientists, clinicians, and policy leaders on ADHD, autism, and mental health. 💬 Advocacy in action — exposing ADHD medication shortages, NDIS red tape, and the hidden costs mothers carry. With over 1 million downloads already tuning in from across the world, the podcast has already influenced ADHD reforms in Australia, been featured in national media, and pushed politicians to answer the questions mothers are asking. If you’ve ever screamed in the car, forgotten every form until the night before, or wondered if you’re the only one falling apart — this podcast is your proof that you’re not broken, you’re just telling the truth.

Information

  • Creator
    Jane McFadden
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    256
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Jane McFadden
  • Show Website
    ADHD Mums

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