12/12/2025
"We would all love to imagine an end of year and long summer season filled with joy, cuddles, carols, songs, sunshine, waves and the relief that school is finally over. And yes, a reminder to notice the ✨glimmers✨ and the glows and soak up those moments amongst the messiness of the season and parenting generally.
AND… you can count on me to keep it real.
For many families, this time of year brings even more dysregulation. The kids are tired. Many have been masking all year to stay “good” in school, and it comes crashing out after school, on weekends and definitely over the holidays.
Parents are also burnt out. You have likely been holding space for your kids’ feelings, school challenges, sibling conflict and dysregulation while carrying your own anxiety, fear, shame, anger, stress and a tired nervous system.
When your child is dysregulated and full of too many feelings or unmet needs, they can be reactive and impulsive. Their nervous system is saying fight or flee.
Why? It is nuanced. It may be frustration, fear, anxiety, a trigger, play tipping into overwhelm, mineral deficiencies, a sense of danger, toxic stress, a neurodivergent brain (ADHD, Autistic, SPD), trauma, retained reflexes or chronic dysregulation. Often there are layers that take time to understand.
Overwhelming huh. These kids need emotional support, care, compassion and a safe adult when they are seemingly at their worst.
And if you are also activated and unsure where to start with your nervous system, anger, fear or capacity to hold big feelings, you make sense. These kids bring up our own anxieties, rage and stress responses. The key is committing to growth, emotional safety and remembering this is a journey with many messy days."
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