Let's Be Real - Mama Journeys - Episode 147 W/Samantha Foote

Samantha Foote is a mom of three, all with neurodivergent conditions and is near Boise, Idaho. All three of her kiddos have autism and ADHD combined. She was 28 when she started having kiddos and they are 10. 8 and 5.  Her SEVERE Postpartum Depression (PPD) was her biggest challenge.  No one listened to her or took her seriously and she struggled a lot. It took way too long for her to get help. The “baby blues” was all doctors kept telling them. She was diagnosed with OCD after having her first baby. She listened to a podcast that literally described her whole life and it made her realize how she had been misunderstood her whole life. The intrusive thoughts were every hour and not just occasional. She was so ashamed about having intrusive thoughts that she didn’t talk to anyone about it. After talking to someone about these thoughts, that person told her that “everyone” has those thoughts (when in fact that person also had OCD) she figured she was “normal” for going through all of these things. Her biggest challenge as a mom has been managing the appointments of three neurodivergent people with their appointments. Not just the management of all of it but also the fear of hearing something else is wrong with her babies. She also struggled with the realization that her kids weren’t interested in the same things she was as a kid. Her husband is her biggest supporter, especially when she had babies and had PPD.  As a music therapist she struggled that her son hated music but when he turned 4, he turned a corner and enjoyed music and she could share it with him and that was one of her best mama moments. Her worst mama moment was when her son was 3 and she put him in time out (even though she didn’t believe in time out!).  She forgot him in time out! She wishes she didn’t take things so seriously! Everything will work out and the judgements of others don’t matter. You can find her at https://www.boisemusictherapycompany.com and https://www.boisemusictherapycompany.com/podcast.