Holiday Magic… or Holiday Meltdown? Helping Kids Handle Big Feelings in Festive Seasons

The holidays are supposed to feel magical… so why does everyone melt down by 4 p.m.? 🎄
In this episode, Katie and Meagan talk about the joys and the madness of the holiday season — why kids (and adults) get overwhelmed, what “overstimulation” really looks like, and how to protect everyone’s nervous system so you can actually enjoy the good stuff.

We’re talking real-life stories (including Thanksgiving football drama and a three-day Christmas bender ending in tears), practical strategies, and a gentle reminder that your worth as a parent is not measured in perfectly curated memories.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why big feelings spike around the holidays (for kids and parents)

• How disrupted routines, sugar, noise, and excitement overload kids’ nervous systems

• What “overstimulation” actually feels like in your body as a grown-up

• The idea of a “window of tolerance” and how to gently stretch yours during busy seasons

• How to spot the early signs that your kid is nearing a meltdown

• Simple, kind ways to offer kids a break without shaming or embarrassing them

• Realistic expectations for travel, multiple events, and seeing all the extended family

• Building in downtime on purpose (instead of crossing your fingers and hoping for the best)

• The “ungrateful kids” narrative — what’s actually going on underneath it

• How our kids learn what to expect from us… and why that isn’t their fault

• • Shaping gratitude without shaming, labeling, or calling kids “selfish” or “ungrateful”

  
  

  🎧 Listen to “But The Years Are Short” on your favorite platform:

  
  

  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/but-the-years-are-short/id1836480974

  
  

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  🌐 Learn more about the podcast:
  https://buttheyearsareshortpodcast.com/

  
  

  👋 Work with us:

  Meagan’s counseling practice: https://meaganjacksoncounseling.com/

  Katie’s consulting & counseling work: https://www.katiezconsulting.com/