ADHDer Parent and Losing It by 6pm, What Now?

Too Many Tabs Open? Our ADHD Awareness Month Q&A Continues

It's 5:45 PM. Someone needs a snack, someone needs help with homework, dinner hasn't been started, and there's a permission slip at the bottom of a backpack that was due yesterday. Your ADHD brain clocked out an hour ago, and the evening is only getting going.

For week three of ADHD Awareness Month, we asked Caitlin Sigouin, MSW RSW, a therapist in Shift Collab's ADHD Clinic, the questions ADHD parents ask us most. If you're also raising a child with ADHD, Caitlin's post on ADHD tools that actually work for families is a great next read.

Stick around to the end for an ADHD Awareness Month offer.

What Does Caitlin Recommend for Parenting With ADHD?

Here's the quick version:

• Running on empty by dinner? Spread a few tasks across the day and keep a couple of no-effort meals on hand.
• Drowning in to-dos? Sort the must-dos from the things you can say no to, and hand a few tasks to your kids.
• Completely drained tonight? Pick one small task to do for future you, then make it even smaller.
• Seeing ADHD in your kid? Follow their needs and strengths, and look into support for both of you.

"The hours between school pickup and bedtime are the busiest of my day, and it's exactly when my ADHD brain has nothing left. How do I get through the chaos without losing my patience?"

Caitlin: Start by figuring out where you can take some of the load off. If you work from home, are there a few things you can pace out throughout the day so they aren't all waiting for you at night?

It also helps to reflect on your expectations and ask yourself what's realistic right now.

• Keep a couple of quick, no-effort meals you can go to when you have nothing left to give.
• Plan for a meal service or ordering out on your busiest nights to ease the load.
• Knock a few things off the to-do list before you take a break. Once you sit down in the evening, it can be harder to get back up and find the motivation.

"School forms, laundry, meal planning, work emails. It all piles up faster than I can keep up, and the guilt never really goes away. How do I stop feeling like I'm failing at everything?"

Caitlin: Recognize what the must-dos are, and what you can say no to. Volunteering at school sounds amazing, but do you have the capacity for it?

• Look at what your kids are capable of taking on, like emptying their lunch bags, helping pack lunches, or getting their own snacks after school.
• Reflect on your boundaries between work and home. Do you need to be checking work emails in the evening?
• If you do, set a designated time for it instead of constantly checking and responding.

"When I'm completely drained by the end of the day, what's one small thing I can do tonight to feel a bit better, and what would we work on together in therapy?"

Caitlin: Look for a quick win you can knock off the to-do list. Reframing it as something you're doing for future you can help you finish even one small task, like filling out a permission slip or taking the recycling out.

If a task still feels too big, break it into something more manageable. Emptying the dishwasher feels like too much? What about putting away the plates? Or one plate?

In therapy, we'd look at the areas you're struggling with, as well as the areas where you already have a system that works. We'd also explore the feelings that might be keeping you stuck in a loop. Guilt and shame can lead to more avoidance and lower motivation, which in turn fuel more guilt and shame. Finding ways to show yourself more compassion can help break this cycle.

"I'm starting to notice signs of ADHD in my kid. How do I support them without projecting my own struggles onto them, and how can working on my own ADHD help me show up better for them?"

Caitlin: It's a common experience to want to parent our kids in a way that would have met our needs when we were younger. Remember that your child is going to have their own experiences, needs, and strengths, and they might be very different from your own.

The wonderful part of noticing signs of ADHD is that you can guide and support your child in identifying their needs and strengths. That builds their self-awareness and helps them learn what works for them.

• This might be a good time to get a formal diagnosis for both of you, if you haven't already.
• Consider what types of support exist and could benefit you both, such as therapists, occupational therapists, and medication.

Looking for More Support That Gets Your ADHD Brain?

Shift Collab's ADHD Clinic matches you with a therapist who understands how ADHD shows up in real life, from work and school to relationships and everything in between. Every session is virtual, so you can get support from anywhere in Canada, and it all starts with a free 15 minute Meet & Greet.

For ADHD Awareness Month, we're offering $100 off your Initial Session with our ADHD Clinic. You can claim it one of two ways:

1. Want to work with Caitlin? Book with Caitlin, then email hello@shiftcollab.com and we'll add your credit.
2. Want us to find your match? Take our ADHD Clinic matching questionnaire and enter code ADHD100.

Offer valid for ADHD Clinic sessions only. Your Initial Session must take place by October 31st, 2026.

Disclaimer: This blog is for general information only and isn't a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reading it does not establish a therapist-client relationship with Shift Collab or any affiliated therapist. That relationship begins only after intake, consent, and a paid Initial Session. If you're in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 or call 911. See our Privacy Policy for how we handle your information.