17. QUICK RESET: How We Survive the 3–6PM Sh*t Show When Kids Are Coming Down Off Meds

If your afternoons feel like a slow-motion train wreck — tears, yelling, slammed doors, and you hiding in the pantry with a chocolate bar — this episode is for you. This Quick Reset speaks directly to the ADHD mums stuck in the brutal 3–6PM rebound window (or 3–9PM if your house is really on fire). When the stimulant meds wear off, the chaos ramps up — and suddenly the smallest request can launch a meltdown. Whether your child is screaming in the backseat or your teenager is giving you the silent treatment, this episode validates the unspoken truth: it’s not you, it’s the neurochemical whiplash. Jane breaks down the reality of post-school dysregulation, explains why your child falls apart as soon as they get home, and shares real-life survival tools (not Pinterest-perfect routines) that actually help. ✨ IN THIS RESET, WE COVER: What’s really happening when ADHD meds wear off (spoiler: it’s not “bad behaviour”) Why the smallest requests trigger epic meltdowns The connection between sensory build-up, emotional suppression, and after-school explosions Why your child’s brain crashes when yours does too The invisible rebound window: how to recognise it and adapt School masking and why ‘safe’ doesn’t always look calm The only two things that changed Jane’s afternoons (music + snacks, no eye contact) Low-demand parenting that actually protects connection Why the “put your lunchbox on the bench” battle isn’t worth it — and what to do instead 💭 This episode is for you if:– You dread the school pickup more than the morning rush– You spiral into shame after yelling — again– You feel like the only mum hiding in her laundry at 5PM questioning everything 🎧 Listen now on your favourite platform and hit follow so you never miss a Reset. 🔗 Resources & Links: Join the Facebook community: ADHD Mums FB Group More resources & tools: www.adhdmums.com.au/shop   SCHOOL MINI SERIES: S1 E41: Camouflaging ADHD + Autistic Traits in Girls with Millie Carr | Spotify | Apple Podcast S3 E2: SCHOOL SERIES When School Becomes the Trauma — What No One Tells ADHD Parents | Spotify | Apple Podcast S3 E3: SCHOOL SERIES - Burnout Starts in the Classroom — And Follows Them Home | Spotify | Apple Podcast S3 E5: SCHOOL SERIES: Your Child Isn’t ‘Acting Out’ — They’re Burning Out | Spotify | Apple Podcast S3 E7: SCHOOL SERIES: The Great Gaslighting: When Schools Say We Don’t See It | Spotify | Apple Podcast S3 E9: SCHOOL SERIES -IEP Meetings Are Broken — Here’s What to Say Instead | Spotify | Apple Podcast S3 E11: SCHOOL SERIES: Reducing Stress Behaviours in the Classroom: Connection, Co-Regulation & Neuro-Aware Teaching | Spotify | Apple Podcast S3 E13: SCHOOL SERIES: When They Just Don’t Get It: Navigating School with Neurotypical Parents | Spotify | Apple Podcast 🧠 TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:ADHD rebound, parenting rage, stimulant medication, after school meltdowns, low-demand parenting, sensory overload, emotional dysregulation, school masking, post-med crash, parenting with ADHD, after school routine, co-regulation, ADHD parenting tips, medication wear-off, shutdown, parenting burnout, survival strategies, neurodivergent kids, rethinking routines, school trauma, ADHD mums.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.