99. When the Teacher Asks ‘What Can I Do to Help? But You Don’t Know What to Say with Kat Marrington & Sally Galloway

If your child looks ‘fine’ at school… but falls apart the second they get home —

this episode is for you.

🧠 What We Cover in This Episode:

• What masking really looks like in a classroom setting
• Why ‘they’re fine at school’ can be deeply misleading
• The invisible work happening before the school day even starts
• Why internalising kids are often missed entirely
• What it costs to ‘look like you’re coping’ all day
• Why asking a child to self-advocate isn’t always realistic
• How anxiety builds when expectations aren’t predictable
• The difference between behaviour you can see… and effort you can’t
• Why some kids nod, smile… and completely miss instructions
• What actually reduces stress in the classroom (and what doesn’t)

💭 This episode is for you if:

• Your child holds it together at school but unravels at home
• You’ve been told ‘we’re not seeing that here’
• Your child doesn’t speak up when they’re struggling
• You can see the effort they’re putting in — even if others can’t
• you’re trying to explain your child to the school and not being heard
• You feel stuck between what you see… and what they report

📬 Check out my Free Resources on Schools:

The School Complaint & Escalation Guide for Parents

https://adhdmums.com.au/product/school-complaint-escalation-guide/

📬 Check out my Paid Resource on Schools:

When School Looks Fine But Isn’t Understanding Burnout, Masking & School Can’t

Making School Work: A Parent’s Guide to Neurodivergent Kids and the System

School Advocacy Hub of Resources

https://adhdmums.com.au/advocacy/

📬 Listener Questions & Community

🎙️ Ask a Listener Question (voice)

Voice notes are preferred when possible — hearing your voice helps add context — but you’re very welcome to submit a written question instead.

Send me a WhatsApp voice message here:

https://wa.me/61403457313

✍️ Ask a Listener Question

https://form.jotform.com/251238118486864

👥 Join the ADHD Mums Facebook Group

For community, shared language, and conversations with other mums who get it.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/adhdmumspodcast

Mentioned in this episode:

Free Resources Good Copy

Free Resouces