Today's episode is a re-release of episode 23. I wanted to bring this episode back because it gets to the core of what Mike and I are always trying to teach: helping kids with ADHD move from dependence to independence. This conversation started with a powerful listener comment about how “doing everything out of love” can actually leave kids feeling helpless and incapable. That story stuck with me—it perfectly illustrates what happens when empathy turns into over-accommodation.

In this episode, Mike and I talk about why confidence comes from experience, not protection, and how kids only build real executive functioning skills when they’re trusted to try, fail, and try again. We also dig into why too much therapy, too much prompting, and too much hovering can actually hold kids back.

We decided to re-release it now because this message matters more than ever. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance empathy with accountability—or how to stop “lovingly disabling” your child—this is the episode to revisit.

The ADHD Parenting Podcast returns with another episode to address real-life questions from parents about managing ADHD. Topics include handling therapeutic classroom recommendations, navigating the challenges of a political climate for a curious preteen, managing prompt dependency in routines such as eating and showering, and dealing with lying and exaggeration. They provide practical advice on executive function growth and the importance of appropriate medication regimens. Key takeaways are aimed at equipping parents with effective strategies rather than offering superficial advice.

Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠

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[00:00:00] Start

[00:00:49] Introduction and Question Guidelines

[00:01:32] Question 1: Therapeutic Classroom Recommendation

[00:07:30] Question 2: Politics and Preteen Critical Thinking

[00:14:07] Question 3: Prompt Dependence at Meals and Showers

[00:21:28] Question 4: School Focus and Memory Issues

[00:25:00] Question 5: Teen Lying and Embellishment

[00:34:20] Contact Information and Closing

In this episode of The ADHD Parenting Podcast, hosts Ryan Wexelblatt and Mike McLeod explore what it means to “step into your parental authority.” Drawing from research and clinical experience, they discuss how authoritative parenting—balancing warmth with structure—helps children with ADHD develop self-regulation, emotional safety, and independence. The hosts challenge social media’s rebranding of permissive parenting as “gentle” or “compassionate” and explain why consistency, clear expectations, and calm modeling are key. They also tackle the fears many parents have about being “too firm,” offering practical examples of how to set limits with empathy and predictability while nurturing connection and confidence in their children.

Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠

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[00:00:00] Start
[00:00:30] Introduction to stepping into parental authority
[00:02:00] Research on parenting styles and ADHD outcomes
[00:05:30] Authoritative parenting defined and linked to lower ADHD symptoms
[00:07:30] Permissive parenting and its long-term effects
[00:11:00] Importance of limits, boundaries, and consistency
[00:14:30] Modeling calm behavior for emotional regulation
[00:17:00] When a child controls the home environment
[00:18:30] Why parents are misled about effective ADHD treatment
[00:20:00] Social media’s influence on permissive parenting

[00:22:00] Risks of permissive parenting for ADHD kids
[00:24:30] Practical ways to step into parental authority
[00:26:00] Predictability and routines for emotional safety
[00:29:30] Shifting to high empathy with high expectations
[00:32:00] Preparing ADHD kids for independence and adulthood
[00:33:00] Behavioral parent training as an evidence-based solution
[00:34:30] Reassurance for parents stepping into authority
[00:36:30] Closing and listener invitation