Ep. 93 — Parenting ADHD, Pressure, and the Power of Reframing : "You're a Real Girl Michelle"

Shedding the "shoulds" is easier said than done. Especially when you're ADHD and live in a world that loves to measure you by impossible standards. In this episode of The Spicy Brain Podcast, sisters Michelle and Megan dive deep into the expectations we place on ourselves and others, especially as neurodivergent folks and parents of complex kids.

They explore what it means to parent your inner child with compassion, and how even well-meaning thoughts like “he should be able to take care of himself by now” can become emotional quicksand. 

You’ll hear Megan talk about her own masking moments, her husband's recent ADHD diagnosis, and how saying “you’re a real girl, Michelle” turned into a hilarious, and touching, highlight of the episode.

Whether you're parenting a complex kid, reparenting yourself, or just trying to stop "shoulding" on yourself, this episode offers real talk, gentle reframes, and a big reminder that you’re not broken...you’re just spicy.

favorite line from the episode: “You’re a real girl, Michelle.”

00:00 welcome, new and returning listeners
03:00 reframing parenting as adulting your inner child
10:40 when masking becomes muscle memory
17:00 Josh's “I’m just gonna keep disappointing you” moment
23:30 redefining what it means to be dependable
32:10 Megan’s cartoonish phrases and inner child healing
40:00 reframing real struggles like spelling and time blindness
50:00 what to do when the shoulds spiral
57:00 does adulting require a butler or just radical acceptance?

adhd, adhd parenting, neurodivergent families, masking, inner child healing, emotional regulation, reframing, shedding the shoulds, neurospicy podcast, sister podcast

If this episode helped you shed a few shoulds, share it with someone who needs a little spicy brain love. And don’t forget to follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Reviews and star ratings help other neurospicy humans find their way to our community.