10/22/2025
As we step into the holiday season full of many feelings, we have the opportunity to do things different.
Here is a go-to visual reminder of how we as parents can keep ourselves in a position to be a safe container for our kiddos through regulation, as well as a reminder for how our dysregulation can quickly impact our kids if we don’t learn to understand our feelings and what our body is telling us.
Talk to your bodies, allow things to be felt, share messages of comfort and safety. Honor your needs. Create a routine or ritual that feels good to you and allows your most regulated and present self to show up. This may be through a good night’s sleep. A slow morning with coffee. Exercise. A dance party with your kids (or self!). Reading in a quiet space. Cleaning.
Whatever it is, plan ahead to the best of your ability. Bring things with you that you know bring safety and security in chaos.
Maybe that means driving separate and having a vehicle to leave when you need. Maybe that means bringing a book and taking 10 minutes away from people. Going for a short walk with music or a podcast to ground yourself.
Once you find some ideas for yourself, be the upstairs brain for your kiddos as they are going into these situations too and will look to you for emotional safety. We can show them how to work through all the feelings in healthy and appropriate ways. And to know it’s ok to take care of yourself first.
Also, there’s no time like the present to find yourself a great therapist who can walk through the feelings with you and work to heal some of the things you’re struggling to understand 🫶🏼
It’s time to be seen and heard.