How to talk to kids about ADHD (it doesn't have to be scary)

We had ADHD systems... then we had a baby

Just when you think you’ve figured out how to manage your ADHD... life throws you a baby, and suddenly none of it works anymore. The routines? Gone. The sleep? Ha. The coping strategies? LOL.  In this episode, Ron shares what happened when parenthood bulldozed the systems he and his partner had spent years building—and how they’re starting to put things back together. In this episode, Liz asks what’s changed, what’s fallen apart, and how Ron and his partner Gwen (who also has ADHD) are trying to put things back together. They talk about memory blackouts, motivation crashes, relationship friction, and why every baby task seems to come with its own moral panic and spreadsheet. They also break down what happens when both people in a relationship are running on empty, and how they’re slowly finding their way back with messy routines, flexible expectations, and the return of the "team meeting." For ADHD listeners: * What do you do when all your usual supports (like sleep, exercise, structure) disappear overnight? * How do you stop arguments that are actually just two people with different values and no bandwidth? * Why is motivation so much harder when something feels illogical or pointless—and what can you try instead? * What kind of low-effort “reset” routines can help you feel more human again, even in the chaos? Like what you're hearing? Hooray! ~ Follow Ron on all the things , @adhd_ron [https://www.instagram.com/adhd_ron/], adhdcoachron [https://www.adhdcoachron.com/] ~ ~ Follow Liz on all the things @lizwelshman_adhd [https://www.instagram.com/lizwelshman_adhd/], lizwelshman.com [http://www.lizwelshman.com] ~ ~ Keep up to date with our podcast @iforgotpod [https://www.instagram.com/iforgotpod/], iforgottotellyou [https://iforgottotellyou.com/]~

We forgot to tell you that Ron's a rad dad

We're back after a little hiatus after a not so little event: Ron became a Dad! We're talking today about how Ron's adjusting to his new life, new family, new role, new everything!  Those early newborn days are a whirlwind for any new parent. But add ADHD in the mix and the experience can be truly disorienting. Sleepless nights, upside down routines, and a fresh array of intense emotions leave ADHD mums and dads wondering: "Who am I? And tf just happened to me?!" In today's episode, Ron (our new rad dad) and Liz talk: * Ron's new role as a father and the impact it has on his ADHD symptoms * the struggle of finding time for self-care * coping with the uncertainty and anxiety that comes with parenting (hint: it doesn't go away!) * the overwhelming nature of parenting, the fear of making mistakes, and the pressure to do everything right * the need to develop new ADHD coping strategies to adapt to a new life as a parent. * how to create open communication and support between partners - crucial to navigating the difficulties of parenting Congratulations Ron and Gwen! And to all ADHD parents, new and not so new, we thing you're bloody awesome. Like what you're hearing? Hooray! ~ Follow Ron on all the things , @adhd_ron [https://www.instagram.com/adhd_ron/], adhdcoachron [https://www.adhdcoachron.com/] ~ ~ Follow Liz on all the things @lizwelshman_adhd [https://www.instagram.com/lizwelshman_adhd/], lizwelshman.com [http://www.lizwelshman.com] ~ ~ Keep up to date with our podcast @iforgotpod [https://www.instagram.com/iforgotpod/], iforgottotellyou [https://iforgottotellyou.com/]~

Don’t tell Ron ADHD is a superpower

Ron’s fired up, people. In this episode of "I Forgot to Tell You Something," we’re hashing out the seemingly innocuous trend of framing ADHD as a "superpower."  What are the complexities and potential consequences of this perspective? And why would ADHD -  a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder - ever be called a superpower in the first place? We cover: * How the superpower narrative can affect people with ADHD * The difference between toxic positivity and genuine optimism * The importance of validating real struggles faced by individuals with ADHD * The role of privilege and access resources in the superpower narrative * The need for nuance and balanced reframing when discussing ADHD We want to strike a balance between empowering individuals with ADHD and acknowledging the very real challenges they face.  How can we sit with uncomfortable emotions and acknowledge the genuine impairments of ADHD, while also creating a spirit of optimism and hope for the amazing life that’s possible when you understand and work with ADHD? Like what you're hearing? Hooray! ~ Follow Ron on all the things , @adhd_ron [https://www.instagram.com/adhd_ron/], adhdcoachron [https://www.adhdcoachron.com/] ~ ~ Follow Liz on all the things @lizwelshman_adhd [https://www.instagram.com/lizwelshman_adhd/], lizwelshman.com [http://www.lizwelshman.com] ~ ~ Keep up to date with our podcast @iforgotpod [https://www.instagram.com/iforgotpod/], iforgottotellyou [https://iforgottotellyou.com/]~

How to talk to kids about ADHD (it doesn't have to be scary)

It's the question that has well-intended ADHD parents shaking in their boots: what's the right way to tell my kid about their ADHD?  When our kids are newly diagnosed with ADHD and we're navigating our own feelings around what it means for them, it's no wonder having these conversations feel scary. In this episode of I Forgot, Ron and Liz dive into the often anxiety-inducing topic and offer some hope for reassurance for parents who are desperately just trying to do the right thing.  We're addressing head-on the common (and understandable!) fears we hear from parents: * I don't want to burden my kid with an unhelpful label! * How can I help them feel empowered and hopeful? * I don't want them to feel different or broken * How much information is too much information? * I don't want my kid to use their ADHD as an excuse!   An ADHD diagnosis might feel scary at first, but it doesn't have to be a big, bad monster. In fact, having open, supportive conversations can help your child feel empowered, understood and validated. You don't have to have all the answers right away, and there's a ton of resources and support to help you along the way. Remember, an ADHD diagnosis is just one part of your child's story – and with your love and support, it can be a pretty awesome one. Here are some resources for talking to your kids about ADHD at different stages: * Ned Hallowell's "ADHD Brain is a Ferrari" ADDitude article  [https://www.additudemag.com/how-to-explain-adhd-to-a-child-and-build-confidence/] * RaceCar Brain YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmEpGaEUOqE&t=1s] * Love Me Love My ADHD by Chrissie Davies [https://www.chaostocalmconsultancy.com/product/love-me-love-my-adhd](book aimed for kids 5-12) * Explaining Brains conversation template [https://explainingbrains.com/explaining-a-diagnosis/] If this episode struck a chord with you, why not share the love. It would mean a lot to us. *See more about this episode* [https://iforgottotellyou.com/episode-12-how-to-talk-to-kids-about-adhd-it-doesnt-have-to-be-scary/] Like what you're hearing? Hooray! ~ Follow Ron on all the things , @adhd_ron [https://www.instagram.com/adhd_ron/], adhdcoachron [https://www.adhdcoachron.com/] ~ ~ Follow Liz on all the things @lizwelshman_adhd [https://www.instagram.com/lizwelshman_adhd/], lizwelshman.com [http://www.lizwelshman.com] ~ ~ Keep up to date with our podcast @iforgotpod [https://www.instagram.com/iforgotpod/], iforgottotellyou [https://iforgottotellyou.com/]~

ADHD storytelling & making sense of the tragic

Full disclosure: today’s episode is a bit of a bummer. Or you could say that we have emotional range..? This episode was recorded days after a tragic attack on women in Liz’s home town, in a place where women normally feel very safe. And it put Liz right on her arse. We unpack Liz’s big emotional response to the event, and the very human drive to make sense of the senseless. The ADHD brain is wired to create narratives around our big emotional experiences.  There’s no pretty way to say this: the Bondi attack put Liz on her arse. You’ll hear in real time the unhelpful judgment she heaped on her already shitty emotional experience. Our hope is that by listening to Liz and Ron process the feeling fallout that you’ll be kinder to yourself when big emotions are at the wheel.  Sending lots of love to all of you, wherever you are in the world, as we all try to make sense of a world that can shake our sense of hope and fairness.  If this episode struck a chord with you, why not share the love. It would mean a lot to us. *See more about this episode* [https://iforgottotellyou.com/episode-11-adhd-storytelling-making-sense-of-the-tragic/] Like what you're hearing? Hooray! ~ Follow Ron on all the things , @adhd_ron [https://www.instagram.com/adhd_ron/], adhdcoachron [https://www.adhdcoachron.com/] ~ ~ Follow Liz on all the things @lizwelshman_adhd [https://www.instagram.com/lizwelshman_adhd/], lizwelshman.com [http://www.lizwelshman.com] ~ ~ Keep up to date with our podcast @iforgotpod [https://www.instagram.com/iforgotpod/], iforgottotellyou [https://iforgottotellyou.com/]~