Ep. 95 — ADHD Archetypes, Reframing, and Radical Acceptance: “I've Tried Everything and Nothing Works”

This episode is a deep dive into the ADHD parenting archetypes from The Essential Guide to Raising Complex Kids by Elaine Taylor-Klaus, but with a twist. Megan and Michelle explore how these roles not only show up in parenting, but also in how we parent ourselves as neurodivergent adults.

From Angry Anne’s explosive reactions to Lost Lois’s "meh" mode, they unpack how each archetype holds clues to our deeper needs, fears, and patterns. Megan admits she might be a little too familiar with Maxed-Out Maxine, while Michelle wonders if she’s ever not been Fix-It Fran. The episode is filled with stories, laughs, reframes, and one very important reminder: you’re not doing it wrong, you’re just learning what works for your brain.

favorite line from the episode: "I’ve tried everything and nothing works... well, maybe there’s a better way."

00:00 welcome back and scrapping the other episodes

03:15 ADHD parenting personality types overview

06:20 Angry Anne and shame spirals

10:45 Super Parent Sue and martyr mode

14:55 Lost Lois and emotional flatness

18:30 Maxed-Out Maxine meets sensory overload

22:40 Fix-It Fran and the frantic helper

28:05 Nagging Nan and the weaponized sigh

34:00 the power of language and “up until now”

38:15 gentle self-reframes and parenting yourself

ADHD, ADHD women, parenting archetypes, self-parenting, Elaine Taylor-Klaus, neurodivergent moms, emotional regulation, radical acceptance, sensory overload, ADHD burnout, reframing, shame spirals, self-talk, ADHD relationships

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who’s also navigating the ADHD chaos. And be sure to follow the show so you don’t miss Episode 96, where we pick up with Anxious Ava, Pushover Pat, Denying Dale (or Debra), and more. You are not alone — and you are not broken. Let’s keep shedding those shoulds together.