This week on The Parenting Lab, we’re kicking off a two-part series called How to Holiday - and Part One is all about the thing most parents struggle with the most during this season: boundaries and expectations.

The holidays are beautiful, but they are also a lot. Extra noise, extra pressure, family dynamics, invisible labor, unspoken rules - all of it gets louder in November and December. And if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stretched thin, or quietly resentful during the holidays, you’re not alone… and you’re not doing anything wrong.

In this episode, we walk through how to set boundaries with your partner, your kids, your extended family, and even yourself. We talk about capacity, communication, invisible labor, triggers, overstimulation, guilt, pushback, and all the emotional pressure that comes with creating “holiday magic.”

You’ll learn:

• Why the holidays magnify whatever is already happening in your family system

• How to identify your real capacity

• How to align with your partner before the season picks up

• What kids need most during overstimulating holiday routines

• • How to handle extended-family expectations, guilt, and old patterns.
  • Support for solo parents navigating this season without a partner

• And we wrap up with a vision for what intentional holidays can look like - and a sneak peek of Part Two, where we’ll explore rituals, values, and meaningful traditions.

  If you’re tired of surviving the holidays and want to start shaping a season that actually feels good, this episode is your roadmap.

  Happy Holidays!

  ♥ Your Parent Coach, Brittney

  
  

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  Email Brittney: theparentinglab101@gmail.com