Pinterest makes summer look magical.

Reality looks a little different.

In this episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings, Samantha sits down with five-year-old Willow to chat through their family's actual 2026 summer bucket list—from beach sunrises and backyard movie nights to Disneyland, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, paddleboarding, and simple neighborhood ice cream nights.

But this episode isn't really about checking boxes.

It's about letting go of the pressure to create the "perfect" summer and remembering that kids often treasure the smallest moments the most.

If you've ever wondered whether you're doing enough as a parent during summer break, this conversation is your reminder to breathe, lower the expectations, and simply enjoy your family.

Because sometimes the best summer memory is just melted popsicles and sandy pajamas.

☀️ Why moms become the unofficial "Summer Activity CEO"

🏖️ Our real 2026 family summer bucket list

🌅 Beach sunrises in pajamas

🏕️ Backyard camping vs. living room sleepovers

🎬 Backyard movie night ideas

🏌️ Mini golf, paddleboarding, fireworks and Yes Day

🏰 Our upcoming Disneyland adventure

❤️ Why making memories matters more than finishing the checklist

• Disneyland
• Lake Tahoe
• Yosemite National Park
• Avalon, NJ
• Sea Isle City
• Backyard movie nights
• Family Yes Days
• Summer bucket lists
• Beach sunrises
• Paddleboarding
• Delaware River tubing
• Shady Brook Farm fireworks

Follow along for more realistic motherhood, parenting conversations, and family adventures.

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/therunningwinemom_

Podcast:
https://therunningwinemom.com

If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another parent who needs permission to stop chasing the perfect summer.

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What does joy actually feel like for a child?

In this heartwarming episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings, Samantha and her daughter Willow explore one of the most important emotions kids can experience: joy. From warm hugs and favorite songs to surprise marshmallows and cozy pajamas, Willow shares what joy looks like through a child's eyes while Samantha breaks down the science behind why joyful moments matter for emotional well-being.

Parents will learn the difference between happiness and joy, why children naturally find magic in everyday moments, and how filling a child's emotional "bucket" can build resilience, connection, and emotional health.

If you've ever wondered how to help your child experience more joy—or how to reconnect with your own—this episode is for you.

✨ What joy means to a 5-year-old

✨ The difference between happiness and joy

✨ How joy affects a child's brain and nervous system

✨ Why kids find joy in ordinary moments adults often overlook

✨ The "bucket filling" concept and emotional reserves

✨ Simple ways families can create more joyful moments together

✨ Willow's favorite things this week

✨ A powerful reminder for parents to slow down and notice the magic

• Joy can be loud and exciting or quiet and comforting.
• Children's brains release feel-good chemicals during joyful experiences.
• Joy helps reduce stress and supports emotional regulation.
• Kids naturally find wonder in small moments.
• Parents model joy for their children more than they realize.
• Small acts of kindness help fill another person's emotional bucket.

• Child Mind Institute
• Harvard Center on the Developing Child

🌐 The Running Wine Mom

📸 Instagram @therunningwinemom_

If this episode filled your bucket, brought a smile to your face, or reminded you to slow down and find joy in the everyday, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another parent.

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Why do kids get SO grumpy over the tiniest things? Scratchy socks. The wrong cup. Being told to hurry up. A broken granola bar. In this episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings, Samantha and her 5.5-year-old co-host Willow dive into the surprisingly real science behind grumpy moods — and why being “grumpy” is usually about overwhelm, hunger, exhaustion, or sensory overload… not just “bad behavior.”

Together, they talk about:

• Why kids melt down over “small” things
• What grumpy feelings actually feel like inside a child’s brain
• Why “calm down” never works
• Signs your child is emotionally overloaded
• The connection between hunger and emotions (“hangry” is VERY real)
• What parents should avoid saying during grumpy moments
• Easy co-regulation tools that actually help
• Why adults get grumpy too

Willow also shares her Toy of the Week favorites, including her Spidey friends, a Wicked book, and Cinderella.

This episode is funny, honest, and incredibly relatable for parents trying to survive big emotions — including their own.

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