Jun 22
The role of motherhood constantly shifts as our children grow up and move through different stages of life, and then when they leave the nest that shift becomes more like a giant leap. My guest this episode, the wonderful Patricia Sung, has two young children who are still very much “in the nest.” Patricia reached out to me with an interesting question that I knew had to become the topic for our conversation: “When you’re looking back and your kids are out of the house, what really mattered?”
Patricia is a podcaster herself and her work is aimed at helping other ADHD mothers get their “crap” together (as she puts it). She has built a supportive community of women, something she says has been integral to her own motherhood journey. Join us as we chat about our different perspectives on parenthood and Patricia shares her thoughts on how to let go of perfectionism and start seeing ourselves as the amazing mothers we already are.
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"I think it’s hard with ADHD because we live so much in the now and we don’t have a good time perception that the season you’re in right now feels like the season forever, it doesn’t feel like a season, per se, it just feels like right now and when you can’t figure out how to fix it or make it better, it feels like you’re going to be in this spot always."
- Patricia Sung
"I think a lot of women with ADHD identify with that swan mentality: we look great on the outside, and then underneath it’s like we cannot paddle fast enough to keep up and we’re so tired."
- Patricia Sung
"It’s easy--once you figure out the coping mechanisms that work for you--it’s easy to just keep trekking down that path and not addressing the root issue."
- Patricia Sung
- Patricia shares her experience with ADHD, from being a high school "model student" to struggling in college.
- Patricia shares her personal journey with ADHD, from being undiagnosed and struggling in college to finding support and starting a podcast for moms with ADHD.
- Patricia shares her experience with ADHD, including struggling with shame and lack of support after diagnosis.
[23:46 - 40:41] Parenting, ADHD, and personal growth
- Patricia reflects on parenting struggles, prioritizing relationships with her kids.
- Patricia shares her parenting philosophy, emphasizing the importance of listening and problem-solving with her children, rather than imposing her own desires on them.
- Patricia shares her struggles with ADHD and motherhood, feeling overwhelmed by the constant demands of parenting while trying to manage her own ADHD symptoms.
- Patricia suggests creating a toolkit of coping strategies for her son with ADHD, allowing him to choose what works best for him.
- Patricia identifies ADHD trait of persistence as key to success.
- Patricia emphasizes the importance of understanding and accepting one's ADHD, rather than beating oneself up over it, and encourages moms to find creative ways to manage their ADHD and enjoy motherhood.
Instagram: @motherhoodinadhd
Website (with free resources): motherhoodinadhd.com
Courses: ADHD Courses for Moms
