Moms with ADHD: The Beginner’s Guide

ADHD moms are like superheroes who defeat several villains at the same time. Even Superman can’t stand a chance. We’re built with differently wired brains and unique, extraordinary strengths that liven up this world.

Moms with ADHD, which stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, face very different and unique obstacles in motherhood. I encourage you to do more generalized research on ADHD to gain more insight; it’s known for its inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity, which can be tricky to maneuver if our superpowers aren’t uniquely activated and given some extra love.

This guide is packed with insights to empower you and encourage empathy for a more inclusive society to support all the fantastic ADHD moms and highlight our unique day-to-day experiences.

Why is the topic of ADHD in Mothers Important?

I became a first-time mom at 20 years old. The overwhelming and seemingly impossible tasks made motherhood a lot more complicated. I was conforming to the internal thought that I was lazy, weak, stupid and sometimes…just a bad mom. I was always anxious, disorganized and super sensitive, and all of these emotions often exacerbated ADHD symptoms.

This article will give you further insights and strategies to help you cope and transition in more challenging transitions like the postpartum stage.

Drawbacks of an undiagnosed ADHD

My undiagnosed ADHD felt like a broken leg held together by a bandaid. I would patch up my inner feelings and challenges and keep moving. I hired many coaches, paid for countless courses, and attended awkward seminars to help fulfill me and get that “dopamine.”

That hit of excitement and motivation that I thought would boost my energy and “influence” me. Little did I know that I was forcing my neurodivergent brain to move and feel like a neurotypical brain.

Being a mom with ADHD can have many influences on family life and relationships—potential strains in marital relationships, co-parenting responsibilities, and even the dynamic between our children. It is highly needed to extend ADHD awareness to our loved ones and community.

Neurodivergent and neurotypicals

Neurotypical people and those who are neurodivergent function differently in perception, communication, and behaviour.

Neurotypicals have a different kind of energy. They can power through tasks and set boundaries for themselves that align with what is considered typical norms.

Those with ADHD (neurodivergent) have unique ways and abilities of processing information that differ from the majority (neurotypicals) and can encompass a range of other conditions like autism or dyslexia.

Challenges of Moms with ADHD

ADHD moms may come across many challenges in their everyday lives of motherhood. Some of these challenges include:

• organizing and planning routines
• managing priorities, time, deadlines, and household tasks
• focusing on parenting duties
• engaging with their children effectively and maintaining attention
• missing appointments
• constant burnout and brain fog
• poor nutrition and self-care
• dealing with feelings of guilt and self-doubt
• maintaining consistency

Let’s Visualize…

These challenges can affect our ability to prioritize, stay focused, and complete tasks efficiently.

So, if you gave me a list of two things I must do in the house, like laundry and taking out the trash, I would dissect those two pretty SIMPLE tasks into 30. You would find me an hour later, lying down from exhaustion because I got distracted by a missing sock that I was trying to find under the couch for the laundry, and from there, I found my kids broken toy that I put in the trash and while I had to take out the trash anyway, went to my daughter’s room to see if she had any trash that she didn’t put in the trash…

Ultimately, it’s safe to say we can blame our busy brains or “monkey brains” for that.

Tips for success for ADHD moms

ADHD is not a reflection of intelligence or parenting abilities. It is about how creative and individualized you can be in working around that remarkable quality about you. Some more tips can be:

• balancing work and home life
• explaining ADHD to your children
• seeking professional help
• medication options

Strategies for ADHD moms

There are many tools to assist ADHD moms in managing their daily lives.

• organizing routines
• setting realistic goals
• breaking down tasks into smaller chunks
• utilizing external reminders
• seeing professional support
• maintaining self-care practices that work for you

These strategies can help make an impact in your day-to-day life. Support groups, online forums, and local resources can provide safe spaces to share lived experiences and connect with others with similar ADHD symptoms.

My Journey

My life improved once I created an individual pathway specifically for my brain and away from the neurotypical. I became unapologetic in advocating for my differences and stopped feeling ashamed of how I functioned in a non-neurotypical way.

I joined support groups that hosted other ADHD women and hired an ADHD coach to empower me to feel seen and validated by sharing similar lived experiences and created that sense of belonging.

As I got more confident, I knew I deserved advocacy for myself by asking for and receiving individual support at work, outsourcing tasks around the house and in this blog, and communicating effectively in my relationships. I’ve learned to better my coping skills by openly discussing my challenges, showing myself grace, and setting better boundaries. This all helped me alleviate internal doubts and anxiety and even strengthened my role in my motherhood journey.

Gone are the days of feeling unworthy or lost once you’ve learned more about how to rewire that beautiful brain of yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Key Takeaways on ADHD Moms

To create a supportive and empowering environment for mothers with ADHD, we must approach the topic with empathy and understanding. Therefore, this beginner’s guide serves as the first step towards building a more inclusive society that acknowledges and addresses the challenges faced by these mothers.

Being an ADHD mom does not mean you can’t be a fantastic parent. You must understand your unique condition, seek help, and implement effective strategies. You will slowly learn how to thrive instead of only surviving.

Remember that you are not alone and that there is a whole community of ADHD moms ready to cheer you on. Embrace your uniqueness and embark on this incredible journey with confidence and grace!