ADHD Families Podcast

***Join the ADHD Family Quest*** How many tabs about ADHD do you have open right now? On your phone, on your laptop. The one about dopamine. The one about demand avoidance. The routine chart someone swore by at 11pm. You are not short on information about ADHD. You could probably explain executive function better than your GP can. And your Tuesday morning at 7:40am still falls apart. That gap between everything you know and what actually happens in your house is not a knowledge problem. In this episode, Sharon Collon breaks down the two traps almost every ADHD family gets stuck in: knowledge farming, where you collect information you cannot implement, and system farming, where you buy the visual schedule, the magnetic chore chart and the beautiful Etsy printable, and it dies within a fortnight anyway. She tells the story of two families who photographed the washing chart in her laundry, and why she already knew standing there that it would not work in their houses. Then she gives you the one shift that changes how you build anything at home from here: build the system for your worst day, not your best one. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: Why you can know everything about ADHD and still not be able to run a Tuesday morning Knowledge farming, and why information gives you the what but almost never the how System farming, and why the chart you set up on Sunday is dead by the second week What parents wrongly conclude about themselves when a routine falls over Why a bought or copied system arrives with no household attached to it The hidden 95% of decisions underneath any system that actually works Why every household has its own physics, and why that breaks borrowed routines The one shift: designing for a low capacity day instead of your most optimistic one Why getting started, stopping something enjoyable and holding a three step instruction are all skills How missing skills get mistaken for defiance, laziness and a child who does not care Kate’s story: how a Sunday that ran like a military operation became three steps done before lunch Why “get ready for the week” is a category, not a job, and why that causes paralysis Why one bad Sunday no longer takes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday down with it Why it is called The Functional Family, and what Sharon is actually building towards 🧭 The Three Questions to Run This Week Pick one thing you have been trying to make stick. Not all of them. One. Does this work if I am not in the room? If it never will, what you have is not a system. It is a performance that needs you as the lead actor, and your child has not learned anything, because the thing doing the work is you. Does this still work on a bad day? If it needs everyone calm, regulated and cooperative to function, it is not a system. It is a good mood. What skill is actually missing for my child here? Name the missing skill and two things change. You stop taking it personally, and you stop building systems that punish a child for something they cannot do yet. The biggest takeaway? The system is not there to make a child comply. It is there to do the job your child’s brain cannot do yet, so they can practise the rest without failing every single day while they learn. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 — How many ADHD tabs do you have open right now 01:15 — The gap between what you know and what happens at 7:40am 02:10 — Trap one: knowledge farming 04:00 — Trap two: system farming, and what you conclude when the chart fails 05:45 — The question Sharon wants you to answer for yourself 06:30 — The washing chart story: two families, two phones 08:45 — Why every household has its own physics 11:00 — The shift: build for your worst day, not your best one 12:45 — Question one: does it work when you are not in the room? 14:00 — Question two: does it work on a bad day? 15:00 — Question three: what skill is actually missing? 16:45 — Why getting started and stopping are skills, not attitude 18:15 — Kate’s story: getting Sunday back 21:00 — Why it is called The Functional Family 22:45 — The bridge between knowledge you cannot use and systems that will not hold 24:15 — “I think I need one to one coaching”, answered honestly 25:45 — What to do this week 🚀 Ready to Map the Friction in Your Family? As you have heard in this episode, the problem was never that you did not know enough. It is that information cannot tell you which friction point to fix first in your particular house. That is exactly what we will do in my FREE ADHD Family System online workshop. In sixty minutes you will build your own one page Family Friction Map and see exactly where your house is losing time and energy. 100% free. No cost, no catch. 📅 1 September — 7pm AEST 📅 4 September — 1pm AEST 📅 8 September — 7pm AEST 🔗 Save Your Free Spot 💫 Ready to Go Further? If you are ready to turn what you have uncovered into practical change, The ADHD Family Quest is my four-week, coaching-led experience designed to help you build systems that work with your ADHD family, not against it. It is the unglamorous middle bit nobody sells you. The bridge between knowledge you cannot implement and systems that will not hold. Inside the Quest you get a private 30 minute one to one onboarding call with me so you start on the right friction point, five checkpoint playbooks with the templates already built, videos under five minutes with one action step each, three monthly group coaching sessions with me for the days it wobbles, and three months of access to the app and every resource. September Spotlight bonus: enrol by 10pm AEST on Monday 8 September and you also get the live Friction Map group coaching session with me on Thursday 10 September, where we map your household’s friction points together and decide what to do about them. The Quest is open all year. This bonus is not. Because you were never supposed to be the system holding everything together. 🔗 Secure Your Spot 🔔 Next Steps & ADHD Resources Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Explore practical ADHD family support and resources from The Functional Family Share this episode with a parent who has read everything and is still stuck Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon is a PCC-credentialed ADHD coach and parenting expert, podcaster, author and mum to three boys with ADHD. Through The Functional Family, Sharon has supported more than 40,000 families with practical strategies designed to work with the ADHD brain, not against it. Her work helps families move away from daily chaos, overwhelm and survival mode and towards more connection, function and fun. Build it for your worst day, not your best one. You are too important to stay in survival mode.

Week one, the reward chart is magic. Your child is racing to the fridge for their gold star. The school bag is actually being put away. Nobody is nagging. Nobody is arguing. And you think, finally, THIS is the thing that is going to change our family. Then week two arrives. The magnets are missing. The stickers are on the floor. Nobody cares about the chart anymore and another beautifully laminated parenting system gets shoved into the kitchen drawer where hope goes to die. So, why do reward charts seem to work brilliantly for children with ADHD, until suddenly they don’t? In this episode, Sharon explains why reward charts often clash with the way the ADHD brain experiences motivation, novelty and time, and why the answer isn't becoming more consistent, finding a bigger reward or buying an even fancier chart. You'll also learn what works instead: designing simple systems and environments that make the behaviour you want the easiest, most obvious next step. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: Why reward charts work brilliantly at first, then suddenly stop How novelty drives motivation for the ADHD brain Why delayed rewards often lose their motivational pull Sharon's rule: "The ADHD brain pays in cash, not credit" Why this isn't about laziness, willpower or parental consistency The gap between knowing what to do and being able to do it Why changing the environment can work better than adding another reward How to make the behaviour you want easier and more obvious Where rewards can still be useful for children with ADHD How to start with one small friction point in your family ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 Why reward charts work, until they don't 02:30 Sharon's reward chart graveyard 03:45 Why novelty motivates the ADHD brain 05:30 The problem with delayed rewards 06:30 The ADHD brain pays in cash, not credit 09:15 Why this isn't a willpower problem 11:00 Look at what already works in your family 12:30 Why systems work better than reward charts 14:15 Remove barriers and make the behaviour easier 17:00 Where rewards still fit and what to try this week 🚀 Ready to Stop Managing Behaviour and Start Building Systems? If your house is full of abandoned charts, half used planners and systems that worked beautifully, until they didn't, this is exactly the work we're doing inside my FREE ADHD Family System online workshop . We'll map the friction points in your family and start looking at how to change the environment around them, so daily life isn't dependent on everybody remembering, staying motivated and having a good day at exactly the same time. Because you don't need another prettier chart. You need a system that can hold your family on the hard days too. 100% free. No cost, no catch. 📅 1 September, 7pm 📅 4 September, 1pm 📅 8 September, 7pm 🔗 Save Your Free Spot 💫 Ready to Go Further? If you’re ready to turn what you’ve uncovered into practical change, The ADHD Family Quest is my four-week, coaching-led experience designed to help you build systems that work with your ADHD family, not against it. Because you were never supposed to be the system holding everything together. Places are limited. 🔗 Secure Your Spot 🔔 Next Steps & ADHD Resources Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Explore practical ADHD family support and resources from The Functional Family Share this episode with another parent who wonders why their child saves their biggest emotions for home Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more ADHD families find the podcast 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon is a PCC credentialed ADHD coach and parenting expert, podcaster, author and mum to three boys with ADHD. Through The Functional Family, Sharon has supported more than 40,000 families with practical strategies designed to work with the ADHD brain, not against it. Her work helps families move away from daily chaos, overwhelm and survival mode and towards more connection, function and fun. You do not need to spend more money on a better chart. You need an environment that supports the action.

They held it together all day. The teacher says they were fine. Maybe they even had a great day. Then they walk through the front door and within 10 minutes, everything falls apart. The bag gets thrown. There are tears over the wrong snack. A sibling looks at them the wrong way. Something tiny turns into a full meltdown that wipes out the entire evening. So why does your child with ADHD manage all day at school — then completely unravel at home? In this episode, Sharon explains after-school restraint collapse and why home is often the place where children finally release everything they’ve been holding together all day. You’ll also learn why the first 30 minutes after school need their own system , what to do when your child is already dysregulated, and why planning for siblings, snacks, sensory input and your own capacity can completely change the afternoon. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: Why ADHD children can hold it together at school and fall apart at home What after-school restraint collapse actually is The signs that “bad behaviour” may actually be dysregulation Why the ADHD brain can arrive home completely out of fuel How medication rebound may affect the after-school window Why reasoning, consequences and explanations don’t work mid-meltdown What to do instead when your child is emotionally flooded Why the first 30 minutes after school matter so much How to create an automatic decompression space Why the first 20 minutes should be a low-demand window How your first greeting can either lower or increase demand Why siblings need their own after-school plan How to design the 3–5pm window for the whole family , not just the child with ADHD When worsening after-school meltdowns may be a sign that something else has shifted The biggest takeaway? After-school collapse isn’t random. It’s predictable. And predictable problems can be planned for. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 — Why your child falls apart the moment they get home 01:20 — Why ADHD kids hold it together at school and release at home 02:30 — What after-school restraint collapse actually is 03:35 — When “bad behaviour” is actually dysregulation 04:20 — Why afternoons need a completely different system 05:15 — Medication rebound and the after-school window 06:00 — What to do when your child is already melting down 07:10 — Building the crucial first 30 minutes after school 08:15 — Decompression, no demands and the after-school handover 09:25 — Why siblings need an after-school plan too 10:15 — Designing the 3–5pm window for the whole family 11:20 — When worsening meltdowns are telling you something has shifted 12:05 — Put the 3pm crash on your family’s Friction Map 🚀 Ready to Map the Friction in Your Family? As you’ve heard in this episode, after-school meltdowns aren’t random, they’re predictable . And when we can see the patterns creating friction, we can start building systems that actually support the whole family. That’s exactly what we’ll do in my FREE ADHD Family System online workshop . You’ll start creating your own Family Friction Map and identify where small changes could make family life feel a whole lot easier. 100% free. No cost, no catch. 📅 1 September — 7pm 📅 4 September — 1pm 📅 8 September — 7pm 🔗 Save Your Free Spot 💫 Ready to Go Further? If you’re ready to turn what you’ve uncovered into practical change, The ADHD Family Quest is my four-week, coaching-led experience designed to help you build systems that work with your ADHD family, not against it. Because you were never supposed to be the system holding everything together. Places are limited. 🔗 Secure Your Spot 🔔 Next Steps & ADHD Resources Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Explore practical ADHD family support and resources from The Functional Family Share this episode with another parent who wonders why their child saves their biggest emotions for home Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more ADHD families find the podcast 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon is a PCC-credentialed ADHD coach and parenting expert, podcaster, author and mum to three boys with ADHD. Through The Functional Family, Sharon has supported more than 40,000 families with practical strategies designed to work with the ADHD brain, not against it . Her work helps families move away from daily chaos, overwhelm and survival mode and towards more connection, function and fun. Predictable means mappable. And mappable means you can get ahead of it. You are too important to stay in survival mode.

The toast was cut the wrong way. That’s all it took. Suddenly there are tears, slammed doors and an emotional reaction so huge you’re standing there wondering, how is THIS the hill we’re dying on today? If your child with ADHD can go from zero to completely overwhelmed over something that seems tiny, this episode will help you understand why. Sharon breaks down what’s really happening underneath ADHD emotional dysregulation, meltdowns and big emotional reactions and why the size of the reaction often has very little to do with the size of the trigger. You’ll also learn why reasoning with your child in the middle of an emotional storm rarely works, what Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) can look like in everyday family life, and what to do instead. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: Why small triggers can create enormous ADHD emotional reactions How executive function affects emotional regulation Why the “wrong toast” is rarely actually about the toast What RSD is and why ordinary corrections can feel enormous Why your child may hold it together all day and fall apart with you Why explaining, reasoning and consequences don’t work mid-meltdown How co-regulation helps your child come back online Five practical things Sharon does during big emotions Why the real teaching happens after the storm The biggest takeaway? Your calm is the tool. Everything else gets built on top of it. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 — When the smallest thing triggers a huge emotional reaction 01:20 — The kitchen sponge story: when the reaction doesn’t match the trigger 02:15 — Why ADHD emotions can feel so big, so fast 03:30 — Executive function, emotional regulation and the missing “pause” 05:00 — Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) and why correction can hurt 06:35 — How to correct with warmth without walking on eggshells 07:20 — Why your child holds it together for everyone else — then falls apart with you 08:45 — Co-regulation: why your nervous system matters 09:35 — Five things to do during an ADHD emotional meltdown 11:45 — What NOT to do when your child is emotionally flooded 12:45 — Spotting your family’s predictable emotional flashpoints 13:20 — The ADHD Family System and building your Friction Map 🚀 The ADHD Family System — FREE Online Workshop If your family keeps getting caught in the same meltdowns, transitions and daily battles , there’s probably a pattern underneath them. In this free workshop, Sharon will help you identify your family’s biggest flashpoints and start building your Friction Map — so you can plan for difficult moments instead of constantly bracing for them. 100% free. No cost, no catch. 📅 1 September — 7pm 📅 4 September — 1pm 📅 8 September — 7pm 🔗 Save your free spot 💫 The ADHD Family Quest — Secure Your Spot Ready to go further? The ADHD Family Quest is a four-week, coaching-led experience designed to help families create practical, lasting change at home. Less collecting ADHD parenting tips. More changing the patterns and systems creating friction in your actual family. Because it was never meant to sit entirely on Mum’s shoulders. Places are limited. 🔗 Secure your spot 🔔 Next Steps & ADHD Resources Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Work with Sharon Sharon featured in The ADHD Weasel Watch Sharon on The Morning Show 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon is a PCC-credentialed ADHD coach and parenting expert who helps families move from survival mode to calmer, more connected and functional family life . Her approach helps families understand ADHD, support emotional regulation, map predictable friction points and build ADHD-friendly systems that work on the hard days — not just the good ones. Predictable means mappable. And mappable means you can get ahead of it. You are too important to stay in survival mode.

Why does your child melt down at exactly 7:15am, 3:15pm and 8:45pm, like clockwork? On the ADHD Families Podcas t , Sharon Collon, PCC credentialed ADHD coach and founder of The Functional Family , explains why ADHD meltdowns aren't random. They run to a very tight timetable, and that timetable is the most useful information you've got. Sharon unpacks the three windows where most ADHD families break (morning launch, after school landing and the bedtime encore), answers the question every parent asks her, and walks you through four practical moves to plan for the pattern instead of reacting to it. If you've been hunting for the trigger, this episode will change where you look. 🎁 Join the free ADHD Family System session and map your family's flashpoints: https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/system 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ Why a meltdown is a capacity problem, not a decision ✅ The three daily windows where ADHD families break ✅ Why the trigger is never actually the cause ✅ "Is my child doing this on purpose?" and why the answer is no ✅ Why it lands on you, the safest person in the room ✅ Move #1: Map your flashpoints for one week ✅ Move #2: Lower demand at the spike, not all day ✅ Move #3: Build a rhythm into the hard window ✅ Move #4: Move the demand off the person and onto the system ✅ The school gate example, start to finish ⚠️ If you've ever stood at the school gate bracing for impact, this episode is for you. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – The meltdown you could set your clock by 01:00 – Sharon's own flashpoint: the school uniform collar 02:40 – Why it's not random: demand outruns capacity 04:10 – Window 1: The morning launch, 7 to 8am 05:10 – Window 2: The after school landing, 3 to 4pm 06:10 – Window 3: The bedtime encore, 8 to 9pm 07:10 – "Is my child doing this on purpose?" 08:50 – The question that changes how parents see afternoons 10:20 – The four moves to plan for the pattern 14:10 – The school gate example and your free next step 🚀 The ADHD Family System, FREE Online Workshop 100% free. No cost, no catch. In this free workshop, we map your family's flashpoints together and build the beginnings of your friction map, so you can plan for your week instead of bracing against it. It isn't a webinar full of generic parenting advice. It isn't more reading. And it's definitely not another thing to add to your plate. Three free sessions, pick whichever suits you: 📅 1 September, 7pm 📅 4 September, 1pm 📅 8 September, 7pm 🔗 Save your free spot here 💫 The ADHD Family Quest, Secure Your Spot Now Ready for more than a workshop? The ADHD Family Quest is a 4-week, coaching-led experience for families who want lasting change, not another round of tips. 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. Spots are limited. 🔗 Secure your spot here 🔔 Next Steps & Resources Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Ready for real support? See how to Work with Sharon Sharon featured in The ADHD Weasel Watch Sharon on The Morning Show 💛 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. Working with Sharon, families: Map the predictable friction points in their day Lower demand where it counts, without walking on eggshells Build rhythms that give energy back instead of draining it Design systems that hold on low capacity days, not just good ones Stop being surprised by a pattern they can see coming Predictable means mappable. And mappable means you can get ahead of it. You are too important to stay in survival mode.

You've found the support. You've done the research. You know your teenager could benefit from ADHD coaching... But every time you bring it up, you're met with, "I'm fine." or "I don't need it." If you're wondering how to help a reluctant teen without pushing them further away , this episode is for you. In this episode of the ADHD Families Podcast , Sharon Collon is joined by ADHD Teen Coach Kimberley , who shares why so many teenagers resist support, what ADHD coaching actually looks like, and how parents can introduce help in a way that builds trust instead of resistance. Together, they unpack why resistance isn't defiance—it's often protection—and why the right support, at the right time, can help teens build confidence, executive functioning skills and emotional resilience that lasts well beyond school. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon and Kimberley Covers ✔️ Why resistance to support is often a sign of protection—not defiance ✔️ How executive functioning challenges can be mistaken for laziness or lack of motivation ✔️ Why ADHD coaching is different from therapy ✔️ How to introduce coaching without pressure or conflict ✔️ What teenagers actually work on during ADHD coaching sessions ✔️ Why connection comes before strategy ✔️ How confidentiality works between coaches, teens and parents ✔️ What progress really looks like in ADHD coaching ✔️ Why confidence and self-awareness come before behaviour change ✔️ How coaching helps teenagers understand and work with their ADHD brain ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Why teens often refuse ADHD support 03:12 – Meet Kimberley: ADHD coach, educator and mum 05:34 – The executive functioning skills teens are missing 08:02 – Why your teen keeps saying "No" 11:03 – How to introduce ADHD coaching without creating resistance 12:54 – What ADHD coaching actually helps teenagers with 15:53 – Building trust, confidence and connection before strategies 20:44 – The biggest mistakes parents make when seeking support 27:49 – What success looks like when coaching starts to work 30:56 – Special offer for ADHD Teen Coaching ⭐️ Teen ADHD Coaching with Kimberley Looking for practical, strengths-based support for your teenager? Kimberley is an ADDCA-trained ADHD Coach , former secondary teacher and mum of three children with ADHD. She specialises in helping teenagers build executive functioning skills, confidence, emotional regulation and practical strategies in a supportive, judgement-free environment. 👉 span[aria-hidden='true']]:hidden" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://calendly.com/kimberley-king/discovery-call">Book your Free 20-min Discovery Call with Kimberley 🎁 Free ADHD Family Systems Workshop Feeling like you're constantly reminding, nagging or putting out fires? Join Sharon's FREE ADHD Family Systems Workshop to learn the simple systems that reduce daily overwhelm, lower family conflict and help your home run with less stress—and more connection. We start first week of September. We would love to have you! 👉 span[aria-hidden='true']]:hidden" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/system">Reserve your FREE SEAT here 🔔 Next Steps & Resources Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Secure your spot to the ADHD Family Quest Check here on how to Work WIth Sharon Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com Work With Sharon Sharon Collon helps ADHD families create calmer homes, stronger relationships, and practical systems that reduce overwhelm. Through her programs, resources, and podcast, Sharon shares compassionate, evidence-informed support for parents navigating the realities of ADHD family life. Whether you’re struggling with emotional regulation, executive functioning, school stress, or family routines, Sharon’s work is designed to help parents feel supported — not judged. 🌐 The Functional Family

School camp can feel like a huge milestone… but for parents of children with ADHD, it often comes with a whole lot of worry. Will they sleep? Will they remember their medication? Will they make friends? Will they cope without me? If you've ever found yourself staring at the camp permission slip while mentally preparing for every possible scenario, you're not alone. In this episode of the ADHD Families Podcast , Sharon Collon shares practical, ADHD-friendly strategies to help your child prepare for school camp, manage the challenges while they're away, and recover well once they return home. Drawing on her experience as a PCC Credentialed ADHD Coach, parenting expert, and mum of three children with ADHD, Sharon explains why camp can feel so overwhelming for the ADHD brain and how a little preparation can transform the experience for the whole family. Rather than expecting your child to simply "cope," you'll learn how to build the right scaffolding so they can thrive with confidence. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Why school camp feels so overwhelming for ADHD families 02:43 – Why camp is uniquely challenging for the ADHD brain 03:52 – Before camp: setting your child up for success 05:41 – Preparing teachers, medication and sleep 07:10 – Packing strategies that reduce overwhelm 10:03 – During camp: building regulation and support 12:22 – Managing social exhaustion and trusting the process 13:20 – The post-camp restraint collapse explained 15:21 – Your biggest takeaway as an ADHD parent 16:37 – Free ADHD Family Systems Workshop & final thoughts In This Episode You'll Learn ✔️ Why school camp places extra demands on the ADHD brain ✔️ How to decide if your child is ready for an overnight camp ✔️ The conversations to have with teachers before camp begins ✔️ Medication and sleep strategies that reduce unnecessary stress ✔️ Practical packing systems that support executive functioning ✔️ Why one trusted adult at camp can make all the difference ✔️ How to create a simple emotional regulation plan before they leave ✔️ Why social exhaustion is often mistaken for behavioural problems ✔️ What restraint collapse looks like after camp—and how to respond ✔️ How to help your child recover emotionally and physically after camp 🎁 Free ADHD Family Systems Workshop If you're tired of solving the same family challenges over and over again, join Sharon's FREE ADHD Family Systems Workshop. You'll learn how to identify your family's biggest friction points and build ADHD-friendly systems that actually work—so life feels calmer, easier and more connected. 👉 PICK YOUR FREE SESSION NOW ☀️ As seen on The Morning Show Sharon recently shared her simple CRC Method for reducing overwhelm in ADHD families— Get Curious, Get Regulated, Get Clear. Because the behaviour is the smoke, not the fire. When we stop trying to fix every behaviour and start understanding what's driving it, family life can become calmer, more connected and a whole lot easier. 👉 Watch my ADHD parenting segment on The Morning Show 🔔 Next Steps & Resources Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Secure your spot now for the ADHD Family Q uest (Watch out for September BONUS!!) Check here on how to Work WIth Sharon Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com Work With Sharon Sharon Collon helps ADHD families create calmer homes, stronger relationships, and practical systems that reduce overwhelm. Through her programs, resources, and podcast, Sharon shares compassionate, evidence-informed support for parents navigating the realities of ADHD family life. Whether you’re struggling with emotional regulation, executive functioning, school stress, or family routines, Sharon’s work is designed to help parents feel supported — not judged. 🌐 The Functional Family

Has your child ever dropped the F-bomb at exactly the worst possible moment? Maybe it was at a family dinner, in the school pickup line, or right in front of Grandma. If so, you're definitely not alone. In this episode of the ADHD Families Podcast, Sharon Collon , PCC Credentialed ADHD Family Coach, unpacks one of the most common challenges parents bring to coaching sessions: swearing. Sharon explains why swearing is often linked to ADHD impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, novelty-seeking behaviour, and dopamine-driven reactions , rather than disrespect or poor character. You'll learn why traditional punishment approaches often fail, how to reduce the emotional charge around swear words, and practical strategies that help children develop better self-regulation and communication skills. Sharon shares real-life examples from her own family, along with simple tools parents can start using immediately to reduce conflict and create calmer family dynamics. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers ✅ Why swearing is often a symptom of ADHD, not a behaviour problem ✅ How impulsivity affects a child's ability to filter language ✅ The link between emotional dysregulation and swearing ✅ Why novelty and strong reactions make swear words "sticky" ✅ How attention and dopamine can unintentionally reinforce swearing ✅ Why punishment rarely solves ADHD-related swearing ✅ How to stay calm and avoid making swear words the main event ✅ The power of replacement words and modelling language ✅ Working "upstream" to reduce triggers and dysregulation ✅ Teaching contextual awareness about where certain language is appropriate ✅ Practical scripts parents can use immediately ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 Introduction: Why ADHD and swearing is such a common family challenge 01:45 Why swearing is usually a symptom, not disrespect 04:00 ADHD impulsivity and the missing filter 07:00 Emotional dysregulation and why big feelings trigger big language 10:00 Novelty, reactions, and why swear words become sticky 12:30 Attention, dopamine, and reinforcement 14:30 Why punishment doesn't work for ADHD-related swearing 16:30 Strategy #1: Don't make the swear word the main event 18:30 Strategy #2: Teach and model replacement words 21:00 Strategy #3: Work upstream and reduce dysregulation 23:30 Strategy #4: Build contextual awareness 25:00 Final recap and encouragement 💰 Special Offer: The Money Hunt 2026 If you're raising a family with ADHD, you already know how easy it is for money to quietly leak out through forgotten subscriptions, unused services, unclaimed rebates, and everyday ADHD overwhelm. The Money Hunt 2026 is a five-day live implementation event designed specifically for mums in ADHD families who want practical money wins without budgeting spreadsheets, spending diaries, restriction, or guilt. Over five focused sessions, you'll uncover hidden savings, cancel forgotten subscriptions, claim rebates, negotiate bills, and build simple systems that keep money flowing back into your household long after the event ends. 🎯 Exclusive listener discount: Save $300 AUD and join for just $97 AUD . 👉 span[aria-hidden='true']]:hidden" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thefunctionalfamily.com/offers/UdK7KXDD?coupon_code=MONEYHUNT_DISCOUNT">Join The Money Hunt 2026 Here 🔔 Next Steps & Resources Subscribe to the ADHD Families Podcast Join the waitlist for the ADHD Family Quest Check here on how to Work WIth Sharon Learn more at thefunctionalfamily.com Work With Sharon Sharon Collon helps ADHD families create calmer homes, stronger relationships, and practical systems that reduce overwhelm. Through her programs, resources, and podcast, Sharon shares compassionate, evidence-informed support for parents navigating the realities of ADHD family life. Whether you’re struggling with emotional regulation, executive functioning, school stress, or family routines, Sharon’s work is designed to help parents feel supported — not judged. 🌐 The Functional Family

What if your ADHD habits were quietly costing your family thousands every single year — and you could start getting that money back this week? 💸 In this episode of the ADHD Families Podcast , host Sharon Collon shares practical, ADHD-friendly ways families can stop money leaks without restrictive budgeting, shame, or complicated spreadsheets. Sharon unpacks the real-life systems behind The Money Hunt , including subscription audits, bill renegotiation scripts, Medicare rebate redirects, and hidden cash sweeps that help families reclaim lost money fast. After helping one client uncover $1,400 in savings during a quick school pickup line conversation, Sharon realised just how much “invisible money” families are losing to the ADHD tax. If you’re ready for simple systems that actually work for neurodivergent brains, this episode is packed with practical wins you can implement immediately. 👉 Join The Money Hunt and start finding hidden money in your household: The Money Hunt 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ The hidden “ADHD tax” quietly draining family finances ✅ How one quick audit uncovered $1,400 in savings ✅ Why traditional budgeting often fails ADHD families ✅ The Medicare rebate savings trick that creates emergency buffers ✅ How to do a fast subscription audit without overwhelm ✅ Scripts to renegotiate bills and lower expenses ✅ Reviewing private health extras before EOFY ✅ The “hidden cash sweep” method for gift cards, rewards points, and returns ✅ Why barriers and automation work better than willpower for ADHD brains ⏱️ Timestamps 02:10 – The school pickup line money breakthrough 03:30 – Understanding the ADHD tax 05:10 – Medicare rebate redirect savings strategy 08:45 – Why barriers help ADHD brains save money 10:20 – Subscription audits made simple 12:15 – The accidental multiple subscription problem 13:40 – How to renegotiate bills successfully 15:00 – Reviewing private health extras before EOFY 16:20 – The hidden cash sweep strategy 18:10 – Gift cards, rewards points & unclaimed money 20:05 – Why implementation is the hardest part 21:15 – Inside The Money Hunt 22:30 – Final encouragement to reclaim your money 💸 Join The Money Hunt (Enjoy the $300 discount!) How much money is currently slipping through the cracks in your household without you even realising it? The truth is, most ADHD families aren’t bad with money, they’re overwhelmed by systems that were never designed for neurodivergent brains. Forgotten subscriptions, unused gift cards, auto-renewals, rewards points, medical rebates, late fees, duplicated purchases… it all adds up. Fast. That’s exactly why Sharon created The Money Hunt — a practical, ADHD-friendly experience designed to help you uncover hidden money, reduce financial stress, and build systems that actually stick. Inside The Money Hunt, you’ll get: ✅ Step-by-step guided action sessions ✅ ADHD-friendly money systems with zero shame ✅ Scripts to renegotiate bills and lower expenses ✅ Subscription and hidden cash audits ✅ Accountability and community support ✅ A fun bingo-style challenge to keep momentum going ✅ Real strategies to help you reclaim money quickly And the best part? Most families uncover far more than the cost of joining. 🎯 If you’re tired of the ADHD tax stealing your money, this is your chance to finally hunt it down and keep more cash in your family’s pocket. 👉 Join The Money Hunt 💛 Work With Sharon Sharon Collon helps ADHD families create calmer homes, stronger systems, and more sustainable family life through practical neurodivergent-friendly strategies. Through coaching, resources, and programs like The Money Hunt, Sharon supports families to reduce overwhelm and build systems that actually work for ADHD brains. 🌐 The Functional Family

Have you ever wondered where your money is actually going - even when you’re trying your best to stay on top of things? In this episode of the ADHD Families Podcast , ADHD parenting expert Sharon Collon unpacks the very real cost of the “ADHD tax” and how small forgotten admin tasks can quietly drain thousands from family finances. Sharon shares honest stories about impulsive spending, budgeting struggles, dyscalculia, and the emotional load many ADHD households carry during a cost-of-living crisis. You’ll learn why ADHD brains often avoid money management, how financial overwhelm builds silently, and the practical systems Sharon used to finally regain control. If you’ve been feeling stressed, avoidant, or ashamed about money, this episode will help you feel less alone - and give you practical next steps to start reducing the ADHD tax immediately. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ What the “ADHD tax” actually is and why so many families experience it ✅ How forgotten subscriptions, overdue admin, and delayed decisions quietly cost families thousands ✅ The emotional side of money avoidance and financial overwhelm ✅ Living through the collision of ADHD, rising living costs, fuel prices, and family stress ✅ Why dyscalculia and ADHD can make budgeting feel impossible ✅ The truth about impulsive spending in ADHD households ✅ Simple systems Sharon used to uncover hidden financial leaks ✅ How to reduce shame and start taking small practical action ✅ The 5-day “Money Hunt” implementation event designed to help families regain control of their finances ⚠️ If your household has been feeling stretched financially lately, this episode is an important reminder that small admin gaps can create major financial stress over time. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to the episode 01:12 – The collision of ADHD, cost-of-living pressures, and family finances 02:45 – The real story behind the “life-size pumpkin man” argumen 05:10 – Why ADHD brains avoid money and admin tasks 07:18 – Discovering thousands of dollars leaking from the household budget 09:40 – What the ADHD tax really looks like in everyday life 12:05 – Dyscalculia, overwhelm, and financial shame 15:10 – Small systems that helped regain control 18:42 – Why this is not about perfection or strict budgeting 21:08 – Introducing the 5-day Money Hunt implementation event 23:00 – Final thoughts and encouragement 💰 Ready to Stop Paying the ADHD Tax? The Money Hunt is Sharon’s practical implementation event designed specifically for ADHD families who feel overwhelmed by money, forgotten admin, subscriptions, late fees, and financial chaos. Over 5 focused days, Sharon will help you uncover hidden money leaks, simplify your systems, and create practical habits that actually work for ADHD brains. Inside The Money Hunt, you’ll learn how to: ✅ Find forgotten subscriptions and recurring charges ✅ Reduce financial overwhelm and avoidance ✅ Create ADHD-friendly money systems ✅ Recover money quietly leaking from your household ✅ Build momentum without shame or perfectionism 👉 Join The Money Hunt 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 helps ADHD families create calmer homes, stronger relationships, and practical systems that reduce overwhelm. Through her programs, resources, and podcast, Sharon shares compassionate, evidence-informed support for parents navigating the realities of ADHD family life. Whether you’re struggling with emotional regulation, executive functioning, school stress, or family routines, Sharon’s work is designed to help parents feel supported — not judged. 🌐 The Functional Family

***Blakey's new film - In pieces together *** What happens when a world-record surfing challenge becomes a mission to save lives? In this inspiring episode of the ADHD Families Podcast, Sharon Collon sits down with world-record endurance surfer, surf coach, and mental health advocate Blakey Johnston to explore the powerful connection between mental health, ADHD, anxiety, movement, and purpose. Blakey shares the deeply personal story behind his 40-hour world-record surf attempt and how losing his father to suicide became the catalyst for helping men speak openly about mental health. Sharon and Blakey unpack the science behind surfing, cold water, community, movement, and emotional resilience — especially for people navigating ADHD, anxiety, and overwhelm. If you’re looking for practical mental health strategies, inspiring resilience stories, and powerful conversations around ADHD and emotional wellbeing, this episode delivers both heart and hope. 👀 In This Episode: ✅ Blake Johnston’s 40-hour world-record surfing challenge ✅ The mental health crisis impacting men and families ✅ How movement and surfing support ADHD and anxiety regulation ✅ The emotional impact of losing a parent to suicide ✅ Why community and connection are critical for mental wellbeing ✅ The science behind cold water, nature, and emotional regulation ✅ Burnout, stress, and high-performance mindset traps ✅ Parenting, vulnerability, and emotional resilience ✅ Practical mental health strategies for everyday life ✅ How purpose-driven challenges can create real impact ⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode discusses suicide, mental health struggles, anxiety, and emotional distress. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to the ADHD Families Podcast 01:30 – Meet Blake Johnston 03:10 – The story behind the 40-hour surf challenge 07:20 – Losing his father to suicide 12:45 – Anxiety, burnout, and emotional overwhelm 18:15 – Why surfing helps mental health 23:50 – ADHD, movement, and nervous system regulation 29:40 – The physical and mental realities of endurance surfing 36:10 – Community, connection, and vulnerability 42:20 – Parenting, resilience, and emotional awareness 48:00 – Practical mental health strategies anyone can use 53:45 – Blake’s message for struggling men 57:10 – Final thoughts and key takeaways Key Takeaways Mental health conversations save lives. Movement and nature can regulate stress and anxiety. Community connection is essential for emotional wellbeing. High performers are not immune to burnout. ADHD nervous systems often benefit from physical activity and structured challenges. Vulnerability is strength, not weakness. Purpose-driven action creates long-term impact. Quotes From The Episode “Real change requires more than conversation — it requires action.” “Connection and community are some of the most powerful tools we have for mental health.” “You don’t have to struggle alone.” What's Coming? 👀 👀 The Money Hunt — Five Days, Five Money Wins While screens leak your child's attention, subscriptions and forgotten auto-renewals are quietly leaking money from your household every month. The Money Hunt is a five-day live event for mums of ADHD families who want that money back. No budgeting. No spreadsheets. No willpower. Just one 45-minute session a day, one bingo square to tick off, and a running tally of every dollar you find. Most Hunters cover the cost of the event by Day 2. 5 days. 5 wins. Cash back in your pocket. Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July 2026, 1pm AEST daily Live on Zoom plus a private Facebook group Six months of replay access $97 AUD (Regular Price: $397) JOIN THE MONEY HUNT Already in The ADHD Family Quest? It's included in your membership 🔔 Next Steps & Resources Blakey Johnston Social Media Links Website Instagram SWELLBEING IN PIECES TOGETHER FILM 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

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

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 i is 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

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 question 01:00 – 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

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 nowhere 02:24 – Why emotional regulation is an executive function skill 04:41 – Introducing the strategy: Name, Validate, Regulate 05:00 – Step 1: Name — helping your child put words to the feeling 07:00 – Step 2: Validate — the step most parents skip 08:00 – Step 3: Regulate — helping the nervous system come back online 09:23 – Mindset shift: having a hard time vs giving a hard time 10:00 – 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Have you ever looked at your child’s behaviour and thought, “Is this ADHD… or are they just being rude, defiant, or pushing boundaries?” If that question leaves you stuck between guilt and frustration, 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 this question is so loaded - and why it keeps parents second-guessing themselves. Sharon explains how ADHD behaviour often looks like “won’t” on the outside, when underneath it’s actually a “can’t yet”. Through a powerful real-life parenting moment, Sharon shows how fear, exhaustion, and missing information sit beneath behaviour confusion and how understanding executive function changes the way we respond. This conversation will help you move from judgement to clarity, and from reacting in the moment to responding with confidence. 👀 In This Episode, Sharon Covers: ✅ Why ADHD behaviour is often mistaken for defiance ✅ The hidden fear behind parenting self-doubt ✅ How executive function challenges show up as rudeness or escalation ✅ Why discipline doesn’t work when skills are lagging ✅ How to tell the difference between boundary-testing and skill-based behaviour ✅ What parents actually need to move forward (hint: it’s not more opinions) ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – ADHD or bad behaviour? The question that creates so much confusion 02:00 – Why parents constantly second-guess themselves 04:00 – When “won’t” is actually “can’t yet” 06:30 – Where behaviour confusion really comes from 08:30 – A real-life parenting moment that changed everything 12:00 – Why punishment doesn’t fix lagging skills 15:00 – Responding with clarity instead of fear or guilt 18:00 – What parents actually need (and it’s not more opinions) 20:00 – Creating a clear ADHD roadmap for your family 22:00 – Free coaching week invitation + next steps 🎁 Get the Back to School Workshop & templates — Replay Available Missed the Back to School Workshop? You can still access the full replay. This practical workshop helps ADHD families set their child up for the year. In this practical session, Sharon guides you to create an ADHD specific learning support plan (your school will thank you!), an all about me form (so that your teacher understands your child from day 1), email templates to your child's school to set up positive communication and gives you a strategy bank to support you and your child's teacher when things get messy. 🎁 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: ✔️ Make sense of behaviour ✔️ Support skills that need development ✔️ Reduce daily friction at home ✔️ 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 🚀 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 behaviour starts to make sense, parenting gets lighter. And that’s where real change begins.