HOW TO HANDLE "HUNG OVER" KIDS

▶️ Anytime there's a disruption in our routines, how do we get through these days of re-establishing sleep patterns and fighting increased battles of will?

(preaching these to myself today!) 😣

#1️⃣ Always #1 - Stay calm & take care of yourself. 🧘‍♀️ We cannot properly mitigate ramped up ridiculousness if we're struggling ourselves. It seems simplistic but it's the hardest part of it all. They feed off our vibe, and if it's calm, cool, collected & confident... their struggles will diminish quicker. So get to sleep earlier yourself (so hard & lame, i know). Take breaks. 💆‍♀️👥🚶‍♀️ Know you need more care and plan accordingly.

#2️⃣. Validate their feelings. If they are struggling, they are STRUGGLING. 💔 It is what it is and it is REAL to them. Just like we would like grace & empathy when we can't get it together sometimes, they need it too. Don't let them completely act a fool, but when something simple seems really hard, say what they're trying to say for them. "You really don't want to go to school today! You wish you could eat ALL the candy for dinner! This is really hard for you right now!" 😫 The boundary still stands, but you can authentically empathize with where they're coming from.

#3️⃣. Set them up for success. 👊 Do all the things you know help. Let them be in charge of what they wear, stick to the consistent AM routine, serve double the snacks, rock them to sleep for an earlier nap.... It's all hands on deck until things are back to "normal". 💪

#4️⃣. Going right along with #1, remember that we cannot control them. No matter what we do, we cannot make them sleep. They are a separate person from us with an entirely different viewpoint and list of priorities. Accept this, don't take it personally, and try to solve the problems for what they are: a little person you love asking for help. 😢

The days are long but the years are short, friends. 💕

As always, reach out for help! 🙋‍♀️