On The Hard Days – Details, episodes & analysis

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Chantelle. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-The lack of support when living in a foreign country
-When doctors have never heard of the struggles your child is facing
-Eating disorders as part of being neurodivergent
-How ADHD can look so different in different kids
-How emotional it is to feel alone in your struggles
-Trying to advocate for your child in a different language than your native tongue
-How exciting it is to find a resource that helps
-Chantelle's children's books that she made up for her children - on sale on Amazon! Find them here: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Chantelle-Stieghan/

Please shower Chantelle with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story.

** HUGE NEWS!! Our next Mothers Together "Open House"  is coming up at the end of the year! At Open House, you'll walk away with actual connections to real moms just like you AND the validation you deserve but often don't receive. I'm thrilled to be able to bring you a taste of how inclusive, safe, and judgment-free the Mothers Together community is. If you are ready to meet other moms like you, please join us for Open House! Here's the link to sign up: mothers-together.com/openhouse. See you there!

I ALWAYS welcome YOUR thoughts! Feel free to DM me on IG (@on.the.hard.days) or email me: megan@mothers-together.com. This podcast is what it is because of YOU.

And speaking of the podcast, YOU all recently got my show to over 230K downloads. Thank you!

The best way to keep this podcast download streak is to:
1) Subscribe to the podcast - your device will automatically download new episodes!
2) Share the show with others - think therapists, pediatricians, and teachers!
3) Leave a rating/review for the show - the Apple algorithm will push the show out to more moms who need the support and validation!

THANK YOU, so very much, for your continued support!

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Felicia. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Raising multiple children with Autism
-Learning how to stop self-gaslighting when looking at your child's struggles
-The exhaustion she feels from trying to meet the needs of all of her kids
-Rolling with the punches while establishing your household "norms"
-How she's practicing self-love with less judgement

Please shower Felicia with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story.

** HUGE NEWS!! Our next Mothers Together "Open House"  is coming up at the end of the year! At Open House, you'll walk away with actual connections to real moms just like you AND the validation you deserve but often don't receive. I'm thrilled to be able to bring you a taste of how inclusive, safe, and judgment-free the Mothers Together community is. If you are ready to meet other moms like you, please join us for Open House! Here's the link to sign up: mothers-together.com/openhouse. See you there!

I ALWAYS welcome YOUR thoughts! Feel free to DM me on IG (@on.the.hard.days) or email me: megan@mothers-together.com. This podcast is what it is because of YOU.

And speaking of the podcast, YOU all recently got my show to over 230K downloads. Thank you!

The best way to keep this podcast download streak is to:
1) Subscribe to the podcast - your device will automatically download new episodes!
2) Share the show with others - think therapists, pediatricians, and teachers!
3) Leave a rating/review for the show - the Apple algorithm will push the show out to more moms who need the support and validation!

THANK YOU, so very much, for your continued support!

"It's not about being a perfect parent - it's about being a reflective parent."

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Hannah. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Learning about yourself as a neurodivergent mom to help understand your child
-How challenging it is to advocate for your child
-Transitions can be so tough - how she handles them
-Repairing with your child (often)
-How therapy (and EMDR) has helped her so much
-How important it is to get alone time, despite how hard it is to make happen
-Figuring out what works for you and applying it to your parenting

Please shower Hannah with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story.

** HUGE NEWS!! For the first time ever, I'm hosting a Mothers Together "Open House" - a free, 5 day challenge where you'll walk away with actual connections to real moms just like you AND the validation you deserve but often don't receive. I'm thrilled to be able to bring you a taste of how inclusive, safe, and judgment-free the Mothers Together community is. If you are ready to meet other moms like you, please join us for Open House! Here's the link to sign up: mothers-together.com/openhouse. See you there!

I ALWAYS welcome YOUR thoughts! Feel free to DM me on IG (@on.the.hard.days) or email me: megan@mothers-together.com. This podcast is what it is because of YOU.

And speaking of the podcast, YOU all recently got my show to over 180K downloads. Thank you!

The best way to keep this podcast download streak is to:
1) Subscribe to the podcast - your device will automatically download new episodes!
2) Share the show with others - think therapists, pediatricians, and teachers!
3) Leave a rating/review for the show - the Apple algorithm will push the show out to more moms who need the support and validation!

THANK YOU, so very much, for your continued support!

About This Episode: Krista is so brave, and I'm so thankful for her. She had no hesitation in diving into some really tough and vulnerable topics around raising neurodivergent kids, including aggression and violence, adoption, trauma, and CPS.  Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-How symptoms of trauma mirror ADHD
-What is the trauma that adopted children struggle with?
-How does ADHD look different in boys than girls?
-When specialty diets don't help (but they were supposed to be the cure-all!)
-ODD - "recreational arguer"
-When ADHD symptoms "fit" with the "typical boy" stereotype, but not with girls
-Severe behaviors and CPS

Please shower Krista with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story! You can find Krista on IG @krista.ehlers.

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 10/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About The Episode: Welcome to my new weekly series: Ask Megan! I receive wonderful questions every day from moms of neurodivergent kids, and I thought it would be helpful to compile a list of these questions and chip away at them, week after week, giving you my take on them based on my personal experiences.

Today's Question: "Should I bother seeking a diagnosis for my child? Would this help our whole family?"

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 9/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Is this real life?! I'm spending a few minutes taking a look back as we cross over the 100 episodes line. Then, I'm on to Part 2 with my friend, Kim Heilig. 

Kim Heilig is BACK! She's one of my all-time favorite people and I'm so excited to share with you what she has to say in this Part 1 of 2 episodes. First of all, if you never caught her first episode WAY back in June '21 (#28!), definitely listen to it RIGHT HERE. Second of all, I'm THRILLED to share that Kim is one of the mentors in my new upcoming program, Mothers Evolve. If you like her style and can resonate with her words, you'll love getting to know her and work with her in Mothers Evolve. You can sign up for the October Pilot of Mothers Evolve RIGHT HERE. Oh, and speaking of M.E. - the beginning of this episode introduces you to all 5 mentors in my program - be sure to listen to their powerful and positive messaging. I'm SO lucky to have them in my life! Now, back to the episode. 

Please shower Kim with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 9/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Kim Heilig is BACK! She's one of my all-time favorite people and I'm so excited to share with you what she has to say in this Part 1 of 2 episodes. First of all, if you never caught her first episode WAY back in June '21 (#28!), definitely listen to it RIGHT HERE. Second of all, I'm THRILLED to share that Kim is one of the mentors in my new upcoming program, Mothers Evolve. If you like her style and can resonate with her words, you'll love getting to know her and work with her in Mothers Evolve. You can sign up for the October Pilot of Mothers Evolve RIGHT HERE. Oh, and speaking of M.E. - the beginning of this episode introduces you to all 5 mentors in my program - be sure to listen to their powerful and positive messaging. I'm SO lucky to have them in my life! Now, back to the episode. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Becoming a homeschooling family - unwillingly
-Giving up your dream job to support your child
-Learning to trust the process
-Healing: It takes a LONG TIME!
-What education is like for gifted children with learning disabilities
-What a strengths' based approaching to schooling could look like
-How confidence leads to achievement - NOT the other way around.
-How to establish a positive homeschool environment


Please shower Kim with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 9/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: I had the best talk with Jennifer Rhein. The amount of similarities in our children we discovered in this episode were insane! Gifted kids are often anxious kids, and that can lead to major challenges. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Are we trying to work together or trying to control?
-Behavior struggles with gifted, anxious kids
-When reward systems don't work
-High anxiety means kids want control
-How to name the anxiety monster


Please shower Jennifer with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 9/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: This episode is the *perfect" one to plug your headphones into on your next drive to work or dog walk - short but packs a PUNCH. Tahira and I start asking questions about WHY society tries to get our neurodivergent kids to conform. Plus, we take a deep dive into the concept of putting our oxygen masks on first. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-The things you want for your kids, you have to give to yourself first
-How to let go of battles
-When you haven't checked in with yourself in YEARS
-Why do doctors and therapists try to "fix" our kids?
-Who even built society's "box", anyway?
-Self-care is INTERNAL work!
-Meeting your kids' needs at the risk of your own

Did you miss Part 1? Make sure you listen to that too, to get more on Tahira's story!

Please shower Tahira with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 9/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!

About This Episode: Sometimes, a conversation is just so juicy that it needs two parts! This one, with mom Tahira, is one of them. I think you're going to absolutely LOVE this episode. Tahira is a former "authoritarian" parent, relearning who she is, what she values, and what works best for her kids' brains. I can completely relate to her story and I think you will, too. Here are just some of the topics we discussed:

-Giving tools to our kids is really about needing those tools for ourselves
-Growing with our children
-Balancing the needs of multiple ND kids
-Going back to old patterns when we're stressed
-How understanding your kid's brain changes everything
-Why are some kids compliant and others aren't?
-When the way you were raised doesn't work for ND kids

Please shower Elle with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story!

MORE:
-I'm looking for moms to pilot my new program, Mothers Evolve. Sign up to save your spot at ontheharddays.com/pilot

-Want to be a part of my support group community, Mothers Together? Head over to ontheharddays.com/motherstogether to sign up. New groups start 8/1!

-Subscribe to On The Hard Days via Apple, Spotify, or however you get your podcasts.  *Please leave a review*  to spread the word to other moms around the world!