Shownotes
December brings presents… and pressure. Family dynamics get loud, expectations get heavier, and suddenly you’re managing everyone’s feelings and your ADHD child’s reactions — all while trying not to implode.
This episode answers a powerful listener question: How do I handle gift-opening with my ADHD/PDA child without feeling ashamed, judged, or like I’m failing?
It’s not just about presents. It’s about generational conditioning, people-pleasing, masking, and the old belief that ‘being liked = being good.’
What We Cover
- Why ADHD/PDA kids may not react the “expected” way to gifts
- The inherited ‘good girl’ conditioning mums carry into adulthood
- Fawning as a trauma response (and why it flares during Christmas)
- How masking is taught — and why many of us learned adult comfort > child honesty
- How to script boundaries with family without apologising
- What to do before, during and after gift-opening to reduce conflict
- Why guilt shows up (and why it doesn’t mean you’re wrong)
This Episode Is For You If…
- Your stomach drops any time someone comments on your child’s reactions
- You’re torn between protecting your child and appeasing adults
- You feel responsible for everyone’s comfort — except your own
- You want to break the ‘good girl’ cycle, but December makes it hard
- You need language, scripts, and validation for navigating family events
Resources & Links
Related Podcast Episodes
Relevant Tools & Programs
Community & Forms
Content Warning
This episode touches on masking, childhood invalidation, and trauma-related people-pleasing patterns.
Listen Now
Spotify | Apple | adhdmums.com.au
