Ending Those Daily Power Struggles
From Morning Scrambles to Bedtime Struggles – Tips for Smoother Transitions and a More Peaceful Day
I’ll never forget one of my first outings with two kids under two: I had a newborn and an almost-two-year-old, and we were trying to get to my toddler’s daycare drop-off. It was my first attempt at leaving the house with both kids and I naively went into it without much of a plan.
The morning was chaos: breakfast, nursing, diaper changes, getting everyone dressed, and packing bags. By the time we were finally ready to leave, I was already totally frazzled . Then came the moment of truth—juggling all our stuff, carrying a baby in a car seat, and trying to safely get both kids across a busy street. In my postpartum fog, it felt impossible. The chaos quickly spiraled into meltdowns, tears, frustration—and more tears. We didn’t make it to daycare that day, and I spent the next 24 hours feeling completely incompetent and doubting myself as a parent.
That experience opened my eyes to just how important these transition periods are. They can make the difference between an enjoyable, smooth routine and one filled with tension and frustration. They can set the tone not just for the routine itself but for the rest of your day.
This realization motivated me to dive deeper into understanding why transitions can feel so challenging and to explore what changes I could make—in both our environment and my own behavior—to make them easier. As I learned more about my little one's brain and behavior, as well as my own stress response, I developed nervous system-based strategies that have been a game-changer for our family. Now, I’m excited to share these tools with you, so your family can experience smoother, less stressful transitions too!
If you’re looking for support in making these moments less stressful, much calmer, and even a lot more fun, check out my guide: Tackling Tricky Transitions.
What you’ll learn:
1. The Science Behind WHY These Moments Can Feel So Tricky: Transitions can trigger stress responses in both kids and parents, activating the "fight or flight" response and making emotions run high. Understanding this fundamental science will help you make sense of these tough moments and develop strategies that actually work.
2. Children's Brain Development: You probably know that toddlers thrive on routines… but why do transition routines like bedtime or getting out the door in the morning STILL feel so difficult? Well, the way their developing brains process change makes flexibility tricky, even when routines are consistent—even if you literally follow the same routine every day! Learn more about your little ones developing brain and how to leverage a few easy techniques to help them follow along with the routines you have planned.
3. Co-Regulation: Parents' emotional states significantly impact their children (duh, right?). But let’s talk more you WHY. Learning about mirror-neurons and how to manage your own emotions first will make a huge difference in how your child navigates transitions.
4. Strategies for Transitions: Learn about 3 foundation strategies that will help you cruise through any transition:
Preparation: Anticipate challenges and prepare mentally to stay grounded using visualization techniques.
Acceptance: Embrace the situation without judgment to prevent stress escalation (it’s about regulating your nervous system, NOT about giving up)
Playfulness: Use humor and play to ease transitions and reduce stress.
By applying these strategies, parents can transform difficult moments into opportunities for connection and joy, setting the tone for your entire day!
