Parents of the Year
We were never given a manual on how to parent. It is easy to get overwhelmed to know the right thing to do. There is so much contradictory information out there and everyone has their own advice. Parenting is a rewarding but messy, confusing, infuriating, guilt-inducing, and overwhelming journey. While it's easy to get lost, Andrew Stewart, a real dad, and Dr. Caroline Buzanko, a real mom, child psychologist, and parenting expert (who also happens to be married to Andrew) will help you get back on track. In each episode, Andrew and Caroline have open and honest chats about everything parenting. Join them in honesty, laughter, and tears (Caroline is a bit of a cry baby) as they help you navigate this journey of parenting. And, every so often, you may get some gems of expert advice. Our goal is to make your parenting journey less stressful, more forgiving, and more awesome. Please join us every Wednesday for new episodes of Parenting of the Year.
Parents of the Year
What's it like to parent an ADHD child (with an ADHD spouse)?
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Dr. Caroline and her husband pull back the curtain on the chaos, comedy, frustration, and heart behind parenting in an ADHD household.
From forgotten conversations and missed instructions to emotional overwhelm, impulsive comments, and the endless “Did you take your meds today?” jokes, this episode hits the realities many families live every day but rarely talk about out loud.
They share honest stories about:
The emotional shift after diagnosis
Why medication changed their daughter’s confidence
What “checking out” actually looks like in ADHD brains
How open-ended questions work better than constant reminders
The hidden exhaustion ADHD kids carry from years of correction and criticism
Marriage dynamics when one partner’s brain works very differently
There’s humor throughout, with vacuum cleaners abandoned in car trunks, disappearing attention spans, and entire family conversations happening in three different timelines, but underneath it is a real conversation about patience, support, and learning how to parent the child in front of you instead of the one you expected.
This episode is for parents raising ADHD children, couples navigating neurodiverse relationships, teachers, caregivers, and anyone trying to better understand how ADHD affects family life.
Homework Activities for Parents & Caregivers
1. Replace Commands With Open-Ended Questions
Instead of:
- “Go clean your room.”
Try:
- “What’s your plan for cleaning your room today?”
Why it helps:
It forces the child to mentally rehearse the task instead of letting the instruction disappear.
Resource:
- Sticky note checklist
- Whiteboard task planner
- Visual timer
2. Watch for “Mental Checkout”
Practice recognizing the moment attention disappears instead of repeating yourself louder.
Signs:
- blank stare
- delayed response
- random unrelated comments
- frozen body language
Homework:
Pause. Reconnect. Ask one short question instead of repeating the entire instruction.
3. Reduce Negative Corrections
Track how many times you redirect or criticize in one day.
Goal:
Add more positive observations than corrections.
Examples:
- “I noticed you remembered that.”
- “Thanks for coming back and fixing it.”
- “Good catch.”
Resource:
- Daily praise tracker
- Family reward chart
4. Create “External Memory Systems”
ADHD brains struggle holding multiple steps internally.
Homework:
Build external systems:
- phone reminders
- bathroom checklists
- visual schedules
- alarms
- baskets for daily essentials
5. Debrief Social Moments Without Shame
When impulsive comments happen:
- pause later
- replay the moment calmly
- ask what they noticed
- brainstorm a different response together
Goal:
Build awareness without embarrassment.
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