Big Feelings — Helping kids name, navigate, and feel safe with their emotions.

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When the Meltdown Is Mine Too

You know that moment when your child is falling apart—and suddenly, you are too?

Big feelings are contagious.
That’s because your nervous system is wired to respond to distress in people you love.

The truth is: you’re not a “bad parent” for getting overwhelmed. You’re a human who’s co-regulating a tiny person still learning what to do with big, scary emotions.

Here’s how to help them and yourself in those hard moments:

🌀 Step 1: Notice what’s happening in you

Your racing heart. Your clenched jaw. The urge to yell or fix.
Just pause and name it quietly:

🫁 Step 2: Anchor yourself first

Breathe into your belly.
Drop your shoulders.
Put your hand on your chest or splash cold water on your face.
This is nervous system care.

🤲 Step 3: Offer calm, not control

Instead of saying, “Stop crying,” try:

🌱 Step 4: Repair if needed

If you did yell or snap, repair gently:

💬 Final Thought:

It’s not about being perfectly regulated.
It’s about returning to connection — again and again.
That’s what rewires a child’s brain for emotional safety.

Want more fact based evidence? Check out this interesting read! https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4465117/