On The Hard Days

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 204 Mom Amanda on Being an "Action Taker" While Pursuing *All The Things* to Help Her Family Thrive Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

"We kind of go along each day, living in the moment of where our kids are at that time, and how we can support them in that." Don't miss this one with mom guest, Amanda! You'll feel inspired and validated by her unique journey!

In this episode, we talk about:

Life with *8* adopted, neurodivergent children after fostering dozens of kids
How her own ADHD has led to MANY different passions and hobbies
What it was like in burnout as a foster parent
Homeschooling, homesteading, and their daily life
How she meets the needs of her PDA child among the needs of other kids
Finding her joy in friendship and her version of "self care" - publishing a book about social workers and foster families

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"Wow, listening to this was so validating!" <--- Sound like you? Please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more moms - just like you - who need the support and validation to get through the hardships of parenting ND kids.

Click HERE, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select "Write a review". And be sure to follow the show so you're notified whenever I publish an episode. Follow Now!

Mothers Together *Open House*

...is coming up on April 2nd! Open House is primarily a validation-based event, where you and I can connect and chat, and I'll support you, along with my Host Mom "tour guides", as we introduce you to the warm and welcoming Mothers Together community.

Open House is FREE, VIRTUAL, and NOT time zone-dependent, so you can join from anywhere around the world!

Ep. 203 Mom Emily on Managing *Caregiver Burnout* When There's No End in Sight Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

"It always goes back to - NOBODY gets it." We're BACK!! And we're kicking it off with mom guest, Emily. I'm telling you right now - you will ABSOLUTELY resonate with her story!

In this episode, we talk about:

The frustration of being your child's co-regulator 24/7
When being a "stay at home mom" means you can't take your kids out due to your child's struggles - so you're always at home.
The way motherhood is romanticized on social media
The sadness of losing friendships with other adults over time because they have NT kids.
How sharing your nervous system with your child's means you have nothing left at the end of the day.
How finding her village has helped her reclaim her identity
How parenting a demand avoidant kid requires a whole different approach

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

Click HERE, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select "Write a review". And be sure to follow the show so you're notified whenever I publish an episode. Follow Now!

Mothers Together *Open House*

Open House is FREE, VIRTUAL, and NOT time zone-dependent, so you can join from anywhere around the world!

Ep.202 Mom Chantelle Stieghan on Facing Motherhood Struggles With Humor & Rolling With the (Literal) Punches Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

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!

Ep.201 Mom Felicia Watkins on Stopping the Cycles of Self-Gaslighting and Judging How She Parents Her Neurodivergent Kids Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

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!

Ep.200!! Celebrating 200 Episodes With Megan Through Vulnerability & Validation Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

About This Episode: I'm celebrating 200 episodes today - join me as I reflect on how sharing stories brings us the crucial validation we need.
** 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!

Ep.199 Mom Stephanie Fluger on Asking For Help: Learning to Let Go of Control, Shed Guilt & Anger, and Actually Take Care of Yourself Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Stephanie. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:
-The hardships of raising a non-verbal toddler and a baby during Covid with very limited resources.
-Relearning how to ask for help and take care of herself as a stay-at-home mom.
-When everything just feels like too much
-Feeling like we have to do everything and letting go of control
-Why did she feel so angry all the time?
-How she now feels that exercise isn't self-care - it's a necessity.
-How hormone imbalance adds to our challenges

Please shower Stephanie 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 225K 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!

Ep.198 Mom Cathy Shields on Acceptance & Understanding of a Neurodivergent Young Adult Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Cathy. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too!

Please shower Cathy with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom who needs to hear her story.
Find Cathy at cathyshieldswriter.com!
** 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 almost 220K 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!

Ep.197 Dad Rob Gorski on the "Sudden Detour" of a Massive Regression & Parenting the Kid, Not the Diagnosis Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

About This Episode: Today's brand new episode features a dad!! I'm talking with Dad Rob Gorski. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:
-How challenging a massive regression was for him to process
-How fevers brought back the "old" child - and going through the grief all over again
-What "survival mode" looked like for him
-How he channeled his struggles into writing and podcasting
-What life looked like as a single dad - and how he chose to focus on positivity
-How to compassionately hold his kids accountable for tough behaviors
Want to connect with Rob? Go to theautismdad.com and specialneedsohio.com.

Please shower Rob with love and support by SHARING this episode with a mom (or dad!) who needs to hear his 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 almost 220K 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!

Ep.196 Mom Taylor Alexander on Surviving & Prioritizing What's Important When Managing a Whole Family With ADHD Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

About This Episode: It's Mama Monday! This week, I'm talking with mom Taylor. I loved this whole conversation and I know you will too! Here are just some of the topics we discussed:
-How she received an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood and what ADHD looks like for her
-How ADHD looks differently in girls vs. boys
-The process of acquiring stimulant medication for multiple people in the family at the same time.
-How hard it is to leave the house as a family - always preparing for the worst-case scenario
-Figuring out true priorities and what she can let go

Please shower Taylor 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 almost 220K 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!

Ep.195 On The Hard Days is BACK! Here's The Update! Oct 08, 2023

Show notes

After a hiatus, we're back, my friends! I'm thrilled to be pushing out new episodes to you starting TOMORROW and every Monday after that.
**You're invited to the Mothers Together "Open House", a virtual gathering to give you a taste of what my Mothers Together community is all about. Be sure to get on the email list, as I'll be sending out more information soon.
Go to mothers-together.com/openhouse to sign up!

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