A huge week in the Coulson household — ADHD dilemmas, graduation milestones, big Roblox safety updates, and a brutally honest conversation about whether homeschooling is finally over. In this episode, we unpack the emotional load of parenting when life feels stretched thin, and why the choices we make for our kids rarely come with simple answers.

KEY POINTS
ADHD medications, family wellbeing, and the real question behind parental burnout
Why “child problems” are often “environment problems”
A major Roblox safety update parents need to know about
Graduation highs, formal prep… and food poisoning
A heartfelt mother–daughter conversation about going back to school
How exploration conversations help kids feel heard (and make decisions they trust)

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

"We’ve got to stop blaming the child — most of the time it’s not a child problem, it’s an environment problem."

RESOURCES MENTIONED
ADHD episode (“Halloween ADHD Overdiagnosis”)
Sammy Tamimi’s Searching for NormalandNaughty Boys
Happy Families Podcast feedback: podcast@happyfamilies.com

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Pause and ask: Is this really a child issue, or is the environment overstretched?
Revisit routines — sleep, movement, screens, food — before jumping to quick fixes
Try an “exploration conversation” with your child when emotions are high
Stay curious, not certain — especially with big decisions
Monitor new Roblox age-check and chat-safety changes if gaming is in your home

A huge week in the Coulson household &mdash; ADHD dilemmas, graduation milestones, big Roblox safety updates, and a brutally honest conversation about whether homeschooling is finally over. In this episode, we unpack the emotional load of parenting when life feels stretched thin, and why the choices we make for our kids rarely come with simple answers.
KEY POINTS
<ul>
<li data-start="296" data-end="370">ADHD medications, family wellbeing, and the&nbsp;real question behind parental burnout</li>
<li data-start="296" data-end="370">Why &ldquo;child problems&rdquo; are often &ldquo;environment problems&rdquo;</li>
<li data-start="296" data-end="370">A major Roblox safety update parents need to know about</li>
<li data-start="296" data-end="370">Graduation highs, formal prep&hellip; and food poisoning</li>
<li data-start="296" data-end="370">A heartfelt mother&ndash;daughter conversation about going back to school</li>
<li data-start="296" data-end="370">How exploration conversations help kids feel heard (and make decisions they trust)</li>
</ul>
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
"We&rsquo;ve got to stop blaming the child &mdash; most of the time it&rsquo;s not a child problem, it&rsquo;s an environment problem."
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li data-start="296" data-end="370">ADHD episode (&ldquo;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/when-halloween-hyper-meets-adhd-what-a-new-study/id1082244480?i=1000734090711">Halloween ADHD Overdiagnosis</a>&rdquo;)</li>
<li data-start="296" data-end="370">Sammy Tamimi&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.abbeys.com.au/book/searching-for-normal-a-new-approach-to-understanding-distress-and-neurodiversity-9781911717133.do?srsltid=AfmBOopPsU0kyWtgy5bf5BhNjtzKEBZ5ezu-b0QHOBjHfVQTEBx2vwq5">Searching for Normal</a> and <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/naughty-boys-9781403945112/">Naughty Boys</a></li>
<li data-start="296" data-end="370">Happy Families Podcast feedback: <a href="mailto:podcast@happyfamilies.com">podcast@happyfamilies.com</a></li>
</ul>
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ul>
<li>Pause and ask:&nbsp;Is this really a child issue, or is the environment overstretched?</li>
<li>Revisit routines &mdash; sleep, movement, screens, food &mdash; before jumping to quick fixes</li>
<li>Try an &ldquo;exploration conversation&rdquo; with your child when emotions are high</li>
<li>Stay curious, not certain &mdash; especially with big decisions</li>
<li>Monitor new Roblox age-check and chat-safety changes if gaming is in your home</li>
</ul>

The Happy Families Podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.

The Happy Families Podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.

The Happy families podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now.

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

When Parenting Feels Overwhelming: ADHD, Homeschooling, and Big Changes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/726dafed-5db6-411a-ae02-b38600129926/transcript