🎂 The birthday invite never came — and the heartbreak broke us both. Because when your kid is excluded, you carry that wound too.

In this raw confession, Jane shares the reality of parenting a child who’s left out. From the quiet “Mum, what’s wrong with me?” to the fury of watching friendships collapse despite scaffolding, this episode validates the pain of social exclusion for ADHD and autistic kids — and the mums who love them.

Research shows exclusion isn’t resilience-building. It’s trauma. The brain registers it as real pain, and for neurodivergent kids, it happens far too often .

What We Cover in This Episode

• The gut-punch moment when a child realises they weren’t invited
• Why “kids toughening up” isn’t resilience — it’s trauma
• How hidden friendship rules and conditional inclusion leave ADHD/autistic kids on the edge
• The impact of social exclusion on children’s confidence, self-esteem, and nervous system
• Why mums feel grief, rage, and helplessness when scaffolding still fails
• Practical ways to validate kids, script social supports, and work with schools for inclusion

This Episode Is For You If

• Your child has come home asking “Why don’t they like me?”
• You’ve hosted playdates, scaffolded friendships, and still watched your child get left out
• You’ve been told “that’s just life” and felt unseen or dismissed
• You want language and strategies to support a child who’s socially excluded
• You need solidarity: proof you’re not alone in this heartbreak

References & Resources Mentioned

• 📑 Research: Social exclusion activates the same brain regions as physical pain
• 📘 Playground Pickup Guide for ADHD Mums
• 🎧 Related Episode: Raising Strong Children: How to Support Without Always Solving Their Problems with Emma Rose — Spotify | Apple Podcasts

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Topics Covered

ADHD kids social exclusion, ADHD birthday party invites, ADHD mums heartbreak, autism exclusion at school, ADHD friendship struggles, ADHD emotional resilience, neurodivergent kids left out, supporting ADHD children’s friendships, parenting ADHD kids social skills, ADHD school inclusion