So you say you're feeling overwhelmed by this whole parenting thing? Your child is intense, strong-willed, has big emotions, and you are just hanging on? Or maybe they are slow to warm up and getting them to do anything new feels like a struggle... Wherever you are, it can feel isolating when everyone around you seems to have it so easy. And they're so full of advice, but it just doesn't work for your child. Welcome, friend. The Lifeline is my weekly-ish email for parents just like you. You are not alone, and you don't have to grit your teeth and just get through it. You can change the dynamic within your family. You can reclaim your life. One day at a time. One email at a time. I can't wait for you to join us.
the world spins madly on
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Hello Reader, My fingers feel a bit rusty as I type this to you this morning. 2025 has been quite a year, hasn't it? And it's only March 1st. When the world is swirling around you, unexpected life changes are cropping up, and your child still needs your support more than ever, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. And it's even worse if your partner isn't on board with your parenting, or your friends have kids who sleep through the night, love going to school, or any other number of things kids are "supposed to do" (but yours doesn't). It's more than overwhelming; it's isolating. You try to tell them about what you're going through and they offer you what worked for them that week that things got a little tricky with their kid. They mean well, right? But most people don't understand the reality of parenting an intense, perceptive, and sensitive child. We need each other. We need support. We need tools. So, this morning, I want to offer you one of the most basic tools that gets me through my fight or flight moments when life feels overwhelming. First, I take a moment to notice what's happening in my body. When I'm overwhelmed, my whole body feels activated. On alert. My muscles are at the ready, just in case anything happens. And my neck and shoulders get particularly tense. In these moments, it's like I'm living from the shoulders up. Your experience might look a little bit different, but our bodies do give us signs that our nervous system is activated. So what do you do? Find your feet. Try to identify the sensations you are experiencing in your toes. Work your way up to the soles of your feet. And then, breathe through them. I'm always hesitant to say "breathe through your feet," because, well, it's physically impossible. But if you can visualize your inhales beginning at the soles of your feet and rising through each part of your body, and if you can visualize your exhales moving down through your body and out through your feet, it's highly effective. Forget the fact that your breath is actively moving in and out of your nostrils. Try it right now. What do you notice? I notice the activation I sometimes feel throughout my muscular system start to fade away. When that releases, I am a lot less reactive, much more focused, and able to figure out one simple thing that will help move me forward and keep me swimming rather than sinking. I hope this reminder helps you access something similar. Your partner in parenting, Julia McGarey PS I mentioned in my last email that I'm moving away from popular social media platforms. I would much rather connect people (and connect with people) in a place where connection is the primary purpose. So, I'm starting a band. No, not that kind of band. Band is a platform that is exclusively for groups. You can set up a profile like any other social media, but there's no algorithm feeding you videos every five seconds. I would love it if you come join me. Let's grow our parenting circle together. Here's the invitation: https://band.us/n/aca5A7t56bT7d PPS If you are struggling to connect with your child, feeling anxious all the time, or just wishing kids came with an instruction manual, we need to set up a call. We'll talk through your situation and explore whether coaching is the right fit for you. If it is, I offer tiered pricing to make coaching together more accessible to more families. Click on the button below. Let's get you set up. And if you don't see a time that works for you? Reply to this email and we'll find one together.
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The Lifeline
So you say you're feeling overwhelmed by this whole parenting thing? Your child is intense, strong-willed, has big emotions, and you are just hanging on? Or maybe they are slow to warm up and getting them to do anything new feels like a struggle... Wherever you are, it can feel isolating when everyone around you seems to have it so easy. And they're so full of advice, but it just doesn't work for your child. Welcome, friend. The Lifeline is my weekly-ish email for parents just like you. You are not alone, and you don't have to grit your teeth and just get through it. You can change the dynamic within your family. You can reclaim your life. One day at a time. One email at a time. I can't wait for you to join us.
We have had a few weeks full of life, y'all. This photo was taken a few weeks ago in the waiting room at the hospital. My husband had major surgery — it was a long day, but he came home a few days later, and we were so relieved. Once he was home, he needed a lot of help. That made it hard to flow with our regular homeschool routine, so we decided to slow down and just focus on getting through it. And honestly? Sometimes that's the most important thing we can do for our kids -- slow down....
Hello Reader, Can we take a moment to breathe together? (Inhale, exhale). There's a LOT happening in the world right now. Actually, it's been quite an eventful year. There's been a lot to process. And that's just on the national and global stage. I've found it difficult to write about parenting and kids, honestly, because there is so much happening beyond the walls of our homes, and because sometimes the most impactful thing we can do is narrow our focus to our own communities, our own...
Hello Reader, We've all been there. You made the plans. They know the plans (although, it's debatable whether or not they're fully on board). The time comes to execute the plan, and they're giving you a full-bodied no. They won't go, and now they're in full-blown meltdown mode, crying on the floor or curled into themselves under a blanket. What can you do? Most parents have one of two reactions: Are you kidding me?! Faced with a sudden meltdown, they feel blind-sided. They had a plan and...