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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What does excitement actually feel like for kids?
In this episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings, Samantha and 5-year-old Willow dive into the BIG feeling of excitement — from birthday countdowns and Disney rides to excitement crashes, “loud tired,” and why waiting feels impossible for little kids.

Willow shares the most excited she’s ever been (her birthday nail salon party), why anticipation “hurts your brain,” and how excitement can sometimes turn into frustration, crying, or roller coaster tummy flips.

Samantha also talks about:

• why excitement is more than happiness
• the science behind anticipation and overstimulation
• why kids ask “is it time yet?” 500 times
• post-party and post-Disney emotional crashes
• how parents can help kids regulate BIG positive emotions

Plus:

• Willow shares her favorite things this week
• the viral-worthy concept of being “loud tired”
• NeeDoh sensory toys
• Gabby’s Dollhouse excitement
• Disney excitement chaos
• Willow’s Tiny Take of the Week for parents

This episode is funny, honest, chaotic, and deeply relatable for parents navigating emotional regulation with young kids.

• NeeDoh Sensory Toys

• Gabby’s Dollhouse Live & Movies
• Walt Disney World
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

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What does “nervous” actually feel like for kids—and what are they really trying to tell us?

In this episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings, Samantha and her daughter Willow talk through one of the most common childhood emotions: nervousness. From first-day-of-school worries to swim class fears and telling the truth after doing something wrong, this conversation breaks down what nervous feelings look like in a child’s body—and how parents can respond in a way that builds confidence instead of shutting emotions down.

You’ll hear real, unfiltered kid responses (including some hilarious moments), plus simple tools your child can actually use in the moment.

• What nervousness feels like in a child’s body
• Why kids often say “I’m scared” when they mean something deeper
• How to respond without dismissing the feeling
• 3 simple tools kids can use when they feel nervous
• How to help your child reframe fear into bravery

• Talking about nervous feelings before school, swim, and new experiences
• “I thought my teacher would be mean…” → what actually happened
• Why kids feel nervous telling parents the truth
• The shift: nervous doesn’t mean stop
• Willow’s advice to other kids: “Hug them”

• “Smell the flower, blow out the candle” breathing
• Holding a trusted adult’s hand
• Replacing “I can’t” with “I can try”

Nervous isn’t something to fix—it’s something to understand.
It usually means your child is about to do something that matters to them.

If you’re listening with your child, pause and ask:
👉 “Where do you feel nervous in your body?”

And don’t forget to follow Tiny Takes, Big Feelings for weekly real conversations that help kids understand their emotions—and help you respond in a way that actually works.

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Being a kid is a big job — and helping them navigate big feelings? Even bigger.

In the very first episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings, Samantha sits down with her 5-year-old daughter, Willow, for a real, unfiltered conversation about what it means to feel proud.

This isn’t about trophies, perfection, or doing things “the best.”
It’s about effort, progress, and helping kids recognize their own growth.

Inside this episode, you’ll hear:

• A simple way to help kids identify emotions in their body
• How to shift from results-based praise → effort-based confidence
• A powerful parenting reframe using the word “yet”
• A “tiny proud speech” your kids can use daily
• A real-life moment: training for a first run (with tears… and growth)

This is the kind of conversation you can play in the car, at pickup, or before dinner — and actually use.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

• Why “proud” should be tied to progress, not perfection
• How to build confidence through small, repeatable language
• Questions that get kids talking (without forcing it)
• How to model emotional awareness in everyday moments

💬 Try This at Home:
At dinner tonight, ask:

“What’s one thing you’re proud of today?”

Then model it yourself.

📲 Connect + Share Your Wins:
Tell us your child’s “proud moment” this week:
👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningwinemom_/

🎧 Listen to More:
Explore more conversations on parenting, mindset, and real life:
👉 The Running Wine Mom Podcast

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