1. Holiday Stress and Disrupted Routines

Holidays are magical but chaotic. Late nights, family gatherings, and constant changes in routine can leave children feeling untethered. For kids, routine provides a sense of security, and when it’s disrupted, their subconscious may process that instability through bad dreams.

This sense of instability is tied to the root chakra, the energy center associated with safety and stability. When the root chakra is off-balance, kids—and parents—can feel anxious, ungrounded, and irritable. It’s no wonder these feelings often show up at bedtime when their busy minds finally slow down.

The Parallel Connection:
Just as your child feels destabilized by changes, you may feel similarly unsettled by the pressures of the season. If you’ve been rushing to keep up with the holiday to-do list, skipping self-care, or feeling on edge, your child may be mirroring that energy.

What You Can Do Tonight:

Create a grounding bedtime routine that restores a sense of safety for both of you.

1. Sit with your child in a quiet, dimly lit space.
2. Practice deep breathing together, imagining roots growing from your feet into the ground.
3. Share three things that make you feel safe and invite your child to do the same.

This simple practice not only calms their nervous system but also models self-regulation—a skill they’ll carry into their own emotional toolkit.

2. Sensory Overload and Emotional Overwhelm

The holidays are full of lights, sounds, and excitement, which can quickly overwhelm a child’s nervous system. All this unprocessed stimulation can create a “traffic jam” in their mind, which shows up in vivid, chaotic dreams.

The Parallel Connection:
Have you ever felt so overstimulated by holiday planning—juggling gifts, meals, and expectations—that you wanted to shut down? Your child is likely feeling the same. Their emotions may mirror your overwhelm, even if expressed differently.

What You Can Do Tonight:
Help your child wind down with calming activities that create space for processing their day.

1. Designate a “calm-down corner” with blankets, a stuffed animal, and dim lighting.
2. Read a grounding story like Myla Gets to the Root, which helps children process big emotions.
3. Before sleep, spend five minutes together reflecting on three things you appreciated about the day.

This practice doesn’t just settle their energy—it reconnects you both in a meaningful way.

What You Can Do Tonight:

Help your child wind down with calming activities that create space for processing their day.

1. Designate a “calm-down corner” with blankets, a stuffed animal, and dim lighting.
2. Read a grounding story like Myla Gets to the Root, which helps children process big emotions.
3. Before sleep, spend five minutes together reflecting on three things you appreciated about the day.

This practice doesn’t just settle their energy—it reconnects you both in a meaningful way.

3. The Pressure to Be “Good”

Holiday traditions like Santa’s naughty-and-nice list can unintentionally create stress for kids. They may feel they have to “earn” love and gifts through perfect behavior, which creates tension they don’t know how to release.

The Parallel Connection:
As parents, we often feel the pressure to “get it all right” during the holidays—to make every moment magical, hide our stress, and never let anyone see us struggle. That’s a lot to carry. When we feel overwhelmed by perfectionism, our kids pick up on that energy, adding to their own feelings of insecurity.

What You Can Do Tonight:

Shift the focus from being “good” to being connected.

• Start a new family tradition like creating a “Kindness Jar,” where you and your child write down acts of love and kindness throughout the season.
• Use the 7 Days of Presence Workbook to guide daily moments of mindfulness and gratitude, helping both of you reconnect to what truly matters.

A Moment of Reassurance for You

You’re doing an amazing job just by being here, searching for ways to support your child. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling short when the holidays get overwhelming, but the truth is, focusing on connection and open communication is one of the most powerful ways to create meaningful change—for both you and your child.

Grounding practices, like the ones we’ve explored, not only help calm your child’s nervous system but also give you both a chance to pause and breathe. These small moments of presence can shift your holiday from a season of stress and perfectionism to one of connection and intention.

By focusing on these practices, you’re breaking the cycle of busy materialism and creating something much deeper: grounded, positive traditions that will stay with your family for years to come. It’s not about getting it perfect; it’s about showing up with love and intention.

If you’re looking for more tools to support you on this journey, I’ve created something I wish I’d had when my kids were younger…

Why I Created the "Ultimate Holiday Emotional Growth Bundle"

Parenting during the holidays isn’t about getting it perfect—it’s about showing up with love and intention, even when things feel hard. That’s why I created the Ultimate Holiday Emotional Growth Bundle. I designed these tools to help families like yours navigate the ups and downs of this season with more connection, emotional safety, and peace.

Here’s how the bundle can help:

• Myla and The Presence of Christmas Digital Story: A heartwarming children’s story teaching the power of gratitude, presence, and connection during the holiday season.
• Bonus "7 Days of Presence Workbook": An inspiring guide for parents and children to practice mindfulness, gratitude, and intentional connection over seven impactful days.
• Myla Gets to the Root Digital Story: A touching children’s tale that teaches children how to process big emotions through grounding and mindfulness.
• The Parallel Journey Parent Support Guide: A comprehensive resource for parents, filled with actionable emotional regulation and co-regulation strategies.
• Balloon Belly Breaths Technique Guide: A fun and effective breathing exercise to help calm big emotions and promote mindfulness for both parents and kids.
• Turn Mighty Nightmare Around Worksheet: Use the Turn My Nightmare Around worksheet to help your child reframe their nightmare and turn fear into empowerment. Guide them through each step of the Satori Shift for a calming, confidence-building experience.
• "Squeeze and Release" Co-Regulation Technique: A hands-on technique with reflection questions to foster a calming, shared emotional experience between you and your child.

Each resource was created to help you and your child grow emotionally—together.

Get Your Bundle Today at the special holiday price of $24.99!

PDF Digital Download

Conclusion:

The holidays are a time of wonder and connection, but I know firsthand how easily they can also become overwhelming—for both parents and kids. If you’re navigating moments like nightmares, stress, or emotional overwhelm, I want you to know something: you’re not alone, and you’re doing better than you think.

I’ve been where you are—feeling like I needed to do everything perfectly for my kids, only to realize later that the most meaningful moments weren’t about perfection at all. They were about the small, intentional acts of connection that brought us closer together. That’s why I’ve created these articles, tools, and resources—not to add more to your plate, but to walk with you on this journey of emotional growth for you and your child.

So, as you take the steps to ground yourself and support your child, I hope you’ll explore more articles here at Satori Kid Club. These resources are here to guide you, encourage you, and remind you that the connection you’re building matters so much more than getting it “right.” Together, we can make this holiday season—and every season—a little more peaceful, present, and full of love.

From my family to yours, I’m wishing you a holiday season filled with meaningful moments and connection. Let’s keep growing together. 💛