38: Late realised AuDHD motherhood: From overstimulation to self-understanding with Samantha Johnson

What happens when motherhood becomes the catalyst for understanding your neurodivergence?

In this deeply validating conversation, Laetitia sits down with Samantha Johnson, lived experience educator, content creator, and late-identified AuDHD mother, to explore the realities of neurodivergent motherhood. Together, they unpack overstimulation, executive functioning demands, sensory needs, identity shifts, and the grief that can come with late discovery.

Samantha shares her own journey from feeling like she was "failing at motherhood" to understanding her AuDHD neurotype, and offers practical insights for mothers navigating the complex intersection of parenting, regulation, and self-discovery.

This episode is a powerful reminder that you're not broken, you're not failing, and you're certainly not alone.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇

🧠 How overstimulation can be one of the first clues of neurodivergence in motherhood

🧠 Why executive functioning demands often become more visible after having children

🧠 The unique sensory challenges of parenting when your child has a different sensory profile to yours

🧠 Understanding grief after a late autism or ADHD identification

🧠 Why motherhood often becomes the tipping point for self-discovery

🧠 The impact of hormones, pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause on neurodivergent women

🧠 How to identify and support your own needs after years of masking

🧠 Practical ways to reduce overwhelm through neuroaffirming adaptations

🧠 The healing power of parenting your child differently from how you were parented

🧠 Why community can be life-changing for late-realised neurodivergent mothers

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ABOUT THE GUEST 👇

Samantha Johnson is a lived experience educator, content creator, and late-identified AuDHD mother supporting fellow neurodivergent mothers to better understand their unique neurotype.

Drawing on her own diagnosis journey, lived experience, and ongoing study, Samantha helps mothers navigate sensory differences, nervous system regulation, identity shifts, and the realities of neurodivergent parenting. Her work focuses on reducing shame, increasing self-understanding, and helping mothers create lives that feel sustainable, realistic, and aligned with their needs.

Through workshops, resources, advocacy and social media, Samantha creates spaces where neurodivergent mothers can feel seen, supported, and empowered to adapt life in ways that work for them.

💻 Website: https://www.attemptingmotherhood.com/

📸 Instagram: @samattemptsmotherhood

🎙️ Podcast: Attempting Motherhood

ABOUT THE HOST 👇

Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.

She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.

Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.

Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.