When Love and Empathy Turn into Disabling

Today's episode is a re-release of episode 23. I wanted to bring this episode back because it gets to the core of what Mike and I are always trying to teach: helping kids with ADHD move from dependence to independence. This conversation started with a powerful listener comment about how “doing everything out of love” can actually leave kids feeling helpless and incapable. That story stuck with me—it perfectly illustrates what happens when empathy turns into over-accommodation. In this episode, Mike and I talk about why confidence comes from experience, not protection, and how kids only build real executive functioning skills when they’re trusted to try, fail, and try again. We also dig into why too much therapy, too much prompting, and too much hovering can actually hold kids back. We decided to re-release it now because this message matters more than ever. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance empathy with accountability—or how to stop “lovingly disabling” your child—this is the episode to revisit. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - - Welcome to the ADHD Parenting Podcast YouTube channel—hosted by Ryan Wexelblatt, LCSW, ADHD-CCSP, founder of ADHD Dude, and Michael McLeod, MA, CCC-SLP, founder of GrowNOW ADHD. If you're parenting a child with ADHD and seeking practical, science-backed strategies, you're in the right place. Ryan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified School Social Worker, and ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider with over 20 years of experience working with children and adolescents with ADHD. Michael is an ASHA-Certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Executive Function/ADHD Specialist, recognized for developing the evidence-based GrowNOW Model. Together, they provide parents with clear, actionable guidance to help their children build essential skills, improve behavior, and boost confidence. Subscribe for straightforward, effective strategies to support your child's ADHD journey. www.adhddude.com www.grownowadhd.com