Psyched2Parent: Turning Brain Science into Tiny Wins for Parents

Tiny Wins Roadmap: Designing Your Family's Game Plan for This Year Episode summary It's easy to build a beautiful family plan in January and then feel crushed when real life shows up. In today's episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude shares a brain-based alternative: the Tiny Wins Roadmap. You'll pick a North Star for how you want home to feel, name one skill your child is practicing, and choose one Tiny Win to run as a simple 7-day experiment so your plan works on a random Tuesday, not just on a motivated Sunday. In this episode you'll learn How to choose a North Star word that guides your whole year without turning into rigid rules What Tiny Wins actually means and why outcomes are not actions The brain-based reason routines help: predictability lowers stress and reduces decision fatigue How to frame hard moments as skill practice (starting, sticking, transitioning) instead of character flaws A real-life after-school homework start line routine you can copy: snack, decompress, 7-minute timer, start together A short school email script to get teachers on the same team with skill-based language Tiny Wins to try this week Pick one. One is enough. The 5-minute Sunday Game Plan: Set a 5-minute timer. Pick one Tiny Win for the week. Write it on a sticky note. Anchor a habit: After teeth, do a 2-minute tomorrow check (clothes and backpack). Environment tweak: Create a backpack hook or landing zone, choose one timer location, or set up a visible snack bin. Skill-based praise: "I noticed you started even though you didn't want to. That's the skill." Free resources Download the Boredom Buster Cheat Sheet Download the Boredom Buster Cheat Sheet, a kid-friendly Move, Meet, Mellow menu with activity ideas, simple steps to use it, and calm scripts for screen-time boundaries: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/boredomebusterguide Grab 50 AI Prompts for Exhausted Parents Want help finding words when your brain is fried? Download 50 AI Prompts for Exhausted Parents, tiny scripts for meltdowns, school emails, screen time, all of it. Copy a prompt into ChatGPT and let it help you draft the words so your tired brain doesn't have to start from scratch: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/aiprompts4parents Join the Tiny Wins email list + download the free Big Feelings Decoder If you're parenting a big-feeling, strong-willed kid and you're thinking, "What is happening right now?" I made something for you. Get simple, brain-based support for parenting big feelings, plus a quick guide to help you decode what's really going on underneath meltdowns and shutdowns. Big Feelings Decoder: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder Disclaimer This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a provider-client relationship. If you're concerned about your child's mental health, safety, or development, please consult a qualified professional in your area.

Episode 5: Parenting Burnout Is Real: Nervous System Overload + Endurance Parenting for Big-Feeling Kids Parenting big-feeling kids can feel like you've been at mile 19 for a long time—showing up, holding it together, and then losing it over socks on the floor. In this episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude shares the personal nervous-system story behind why she talks about parenting as an endurance sport, including how training for 29029 mirrors the unseen, unglamorous bravery of hard parenting seasons. 29029 is an endurance event where you hike the vertical equivalent of Mount Everest by repeating the same mountain climb over and over (usually by gondola up/down between laps). You'll learn the brain-based reason you feel so tapped out (hint: it's not a character flaw—it's capacity and load), and how to build "training blocks" that help you stay steady in the hardest parts of the day, one Tiny Win at a time. New here? Start with… If after-school is your daily crash zone, start with After-School Meltdowns: Why Big-Feeling Kids Fall Apart at 3:30 If you're an over-functioner who can't stop managing everything, start with Over-Functioning Parent in Recovery If you've been snapping and need a fast repair plan, start with You Yelled. Now What? Repairing After You Lose It (in 90 seconds) If your brain has been spinning with worry lately, start with ADHD or Anxiety, or Just the Season We're In? A Calmer Way to… In this episode, you'll learn Why parenting burnout is often nervous system overload, not "you failing" What allostatic load is (the wear-and-tear of long-term stress) and how it builds over time Why after-school can feel impossible when both your batteries are low (executive function is a battery) What after-school restraint collapse can look like—and why it often shows up at home with the safest person How the 29029 "lap mindset" (next flag, next tree) maps to hard parenting hours when you want to tap out The core idea of Endurance Parenting: tiny, sustainable "training blocks," not perfection A school psych "in your pocket" email template that's collaborative without becoming a midnight spiral Why repair matters more than getting it right the first time Tiny Wins (pick 1–2) Name your mountains Sometime this week, list three hard things you've lived through in the last few years. Then tell yourself: "No wonder this feels hard. I've been climbing." Protect one small "aid station" Pick one hot zone (mornings, after school, homework, bedtime) and build a 10–15 minute refuel buffer: snack + silence, low lights + music, a repeatable reset. Next flag thinking (your 29029 skill, at home) When you feel overwhelmed, choose the next tiny step instead of trying to fix the whole evening: "What's the next flag?" One boundary rep for your nervous system Choose one place you won't over-function this week (no midnight email, no extra committee, letting your child talk to the teacher). Expect discomfort. Remind yourself: "I'm allowed to put one rock down." One nervous-system hygiene habit Pick one small recovery habit (bed 20 minutes earlier, a 5-minute walk, swapping a drink for an AF option). Not for "wellness points"—for capacity tomorrow. Scripts you can borrow (quick wins) After-school "aid station" script "Hey buddy, your brain has had a really long day. It kind of looks like you're at mile 20. Let's hit a little aid station—snack, water, a few quiet minutes—and then we'll figure out the next step." When you feel yourself about to snap (In your head) "Okay, I'm not at mile 1. I'm at mile 22. Of course this feels bigger." (Out loud) "I'm feeling really stretched right now. I'm going to take a quick breath and then try that again." When you want to quit the moment (the 29029 reframe) "Okay—what's the next flag? What's one tiny step I can take without abandoning myself?" When the same hard part repeats daily "This part of the day is bumpy for both of us. Instead of fighting it every night, let's make a little routine so our brains know what's coming." A real-life repair "Hey, I don't like how I talked to you just now. That wasn't about you; that was my tired brain talking. I'm sorry I snapped. You still need to clean this up, but I'm going to try that again with a different tone." The 10-minute "no questions" rule "I'm glad you're home. Here's your snack." (That's it for the first 10 minutes.) School Psych in Your Pocket: quick email template Subject: Quick home-school check-in "Hi ___, we're noticing a pretty consistent after-school crash lately. What we see at home: (1–2 brief examples) What we're wondering: Are you noticing anything similar—especially late day or during transitions? What we're requesting: Could you share one quick observation this week—any patterns with transitions/peer stuff/demands—and we can regroup next Friday? Thank you—my goal is to stay collaborative and help ___ feel more supported." (Endurance move: draft it at night, schedule-send in the morning. Sleep is also an intervention.) Episode quotes "This i

BONUS EPISODE: The Mental Load of Parenting: How to Stop Over-Functioning Without Letting Your Kid Down Winter break is supposed to be "rest"… but for a lot of parents it turns into being on-call 24/7—snacks, screen-time negotiations, sibling conflict, and that 9:47 p.m. brain spiral where you're planning tomorrow like you're the Cruise Director of a tiny emotional resort. In this bonus episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude names the invisible load (the thinking work of parenting), explains why your brain equates "setting something down" with "letting your kid down," and shows you how to share the load in ways that are supportive—not neglectful. You'll leave with ready-to-steal scripts, a school psych lens on scaffolding, and one concrete handoff to try this week so you feel 5–10% lighter. New here? Start with… If winter break turns into more chaos and meltdowns, start with Winter Break Meltdowns: Why Kids Struggle Without Routine and What Helps If you feel like the Cruise Director of the whole family, start with You're Not the Cruise Director: A Sanity-Saving Winter Break Guide If you're the one who always rescues and you're burned out, start with Over-Functioning Parent in Recovery If you've been snapping and need a quick repair plan, start with You Yelled. Now What? Repairing After You Lose It (in 90 seconds) In this episode, you'll learn What the invisible load actually is (anticipating, tracking, remembering, preventing problems) Why winter break can double the invisible load when school structure disappears The brain-based reason over-functioning raises your baseline stress and drains connection Why doing everyone's executive functioning can block kids from building their own skills What scaffolding looks like at home and in school support (without you being the middle-man) How to separate what's truly essential from what's extra "just in case" management Specific, real-life things you can stop doing—or stop doing alone—without letting your child down Tiny Wins (pick 1–2) One portal check, not five Pick one time per week (or per day if that feels safer right now) to check school apps/portal. Put it on your calendar (ex: "Friday 3 p.m. — school check"). When the 9:47 p.m. urge hits, remind yourself: "I have a plan." Carry / Plan / Execute check (30 seconds) Pick one thing living in your head and ask: "Am I carrying it, planning it, AND executing it?" If yes, you don't need someone to "help." You need an ownership transfer. Move one piece off your brain this week. Move / Meet / Mellow (stop reinventing the day) Aim for a simple daily rhythm: Move: walk, trampoline, scooter, dance party, park Meet: friend/cousin/neighbor, board game, library Mellow: Legos, audiobook, craft, bath, movie You don't have to do all three perfectly—just aim for one Move, one Meet, one Mellow most days. One handoff spot Pick one: a Sign Here basket (older kids) or a backpack launchpad by the door (younger kids). Stop hunting for school stuff in the kitchen, couch, and car. Scripts you can borrow (quick wins) Name the invisible load out loud "A lot of my brain has been holding school stuff—emails, forms, due dates—and also the whole winter break plan. I love you, and I've been carrying more than one person can carry long-term. I'm going to start sharing some of that." Shift from "I'll remember" to "Let's build a system" "Instead of me trying to remember this in my head, let's put it on the family calendar/whiteboard so it's not just living in my brain." Kid handoff (older kids): Sign Here basket "It's your job to put anything I need to sign in this basket by 7 p.m. If it's not here, I'm going to assume there's nothing to sign." Kid handoff (younger kids): backpack launchpad "After school (or in the morning), you put your folder and backpack on the launchpad by the door. That's your job." Partner handoff (prevents the nag loop) "I'm not asking for help. I'm asking for full ownership of one thing—from noticing it, to planning it, to doing it. If I have to remind you, it's still living in my brain." Tolerate discomfort instead of rescuing "I hear that you're worried about forgetting. That's a real feeling. Let's figure out what you can do about it—set an alarm, write a note, or put it by the front door." When you catch yourself over-functioning (school stuff) "I just realized I was about to email your teacher for you. That's my old habit. I can help you think about what to say, but I'm not going to send this one." School translator script (for teachers/support team) "We're working on building independence and reducing how much school lives in my head. Can we identify the top one or two routines you want my child to own right now—and what simple structure we can use at school to support that—without me being the middle-man?" Episode quotes "The invisible load is the thinking work—anticipating, tracking, remembering, preventing problems—so life doesn't fall apart." "Dropping 10% isn't neglect. It's sustainability." "I don't have to carry all of

Episode 4: You Yelled. Now What? Repairing After You Lose It (in 90 seconds) Episode Description You snapped. You raised your voice. And now you're stuck in the shame spiral wondering if you just messed everything up. In this episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude walks you through what actually matters after you yell: repair. You'll learn what's happening in your brain when you "flip your lid," why repair is more powerful than perfection, and a 90-second reset you can use the same day. You'll leave with simple scripts and Tiny Wins to rebuild connection without a big lecture for you or your child. New here? Start with… If you're stuck in "I'm the worst parent" shame, start with Repair over Perfection If you want practical words to say tonight, start with The 3-Sentence Repair If you keep yelling at the end of the day, start with The Pause and Park It Plan In this episode, you'll learn Why "losing it" is often a nervous system overload moment, not a character flaw The simplest brain-based explanation for why yelling happens and why it's hard to stop mid-stream The rupture to repair idea that protects trust and emotional safety over time What a repair actually looks like in real life without over-explaining or groveling A repeatable 90-second repair script that builds safety and models accountability How repair helps your child build a healthier story: We can have hard moments and still be okay Tiny Wins (pick 1–2) Try the 3-sentence repair once this week, even if it feels awkward Choose a one-word cue for yourself when you feel the surge: Pause, Yellow light, or Not yet Use Park It language once: I'm too heated to talk kindly. I'm going to cool down and we'll come back. Add one next time sentence after repair: Next time I'm going to step into the other room before I respond. Scripts you can borrow (quick wins) The basic repair (90 seconds): Hey, about earlier when I yelled… I was really overwhelmed and I raised my voice. That wasn't okay. I'm sorry. I love you and we're okay. The check-in: Did that scare you or hurt your feelings? You can tell me the truth. I want to know. The next-time plan: Next time I'm starting to feel that mad, I'm going to take a break instead of shouting. One line for you: I messed up, and I'm also a good parent who's learning. Episode quotes Kids don't need perfection. They need a parent who comes back. Repair is a deposit in the relationship bank account. Flip your lid less when you can, and repair faster when you can't. Free resource Join the Tiny Wins email list and download the free Big Feelings Decoder here: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder Big Feelings Decoder helps you translate intense kid behavior like backtalk, shutdowns, whining, or meltdowns into what might be happening underneath, plus calm, nervous-system-friendly scripts you can use in the moment and after repair. Disclaimer This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized mental health, medical, or educational advice. Links Big Feelings Decoder: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder Instagram: @psyched2parent

Winter Break Meltdowns: Why Kids Struggle Without Routine and What Helps Winter break is supposed to feel cozy and fun. But for a lot of families, it turns into clingy kids, more meltdowns over tiny things, and that constant question on repeat: "What are we doing next?" In this bonus episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude explains what's happening in your child's brain when the school routine disappears, why "relaxing family time" can feel like chaotic whiplash, and how to build a simple winter break rhythm that helps kids feel safe without turning you into a drill sergeant. You'll leave with an easy daily plan, ready-to-steal scripts, and one Tiny Wins tool: Move, Meet, Mellow. In this episode, you'll learn Why kids' brains often struggle when routines suddenly disappear What "winter break wobbles" can look like in real life and why it's normal How predictability helps your child's nervous system feel safer A simple daily rhythm that reduces decision fatigue and control battles How to reframe "they're being ungrateful" into "they feel wobbly" Scripts to use when your child is stuck, clingy, or spiraling A Tiny Wins framework that makes break feel easier for everyone Tiny Wins (pick 1–2) Put a Daily Trail Map on the fridge for tomorrow using 5–7 simple blocks Choose one anchor you'll keep steady all week (outside after lunch, quiet time at 2:00, consistent bedtime start) Try Move, Meet, Mellow once a day and keep everything else flexible Use one script one time before the meltdown hits: "Your brain likes to know the plan. Here's our rhythm today." Scripts you can borrow Name what's happening in the brain "Break days feel really different to your brain. School days have a rhythm. On break, things feel wobbly, so big feelings show up faster. Let's make a simple plan for today." The gentle daily map "We're not doing a strict schedule, but here's our rhythm: breakfast, then quiet play while I work, lunch, outside, then screen time." The stuck moment menu "You're not sure what to do right now. Want to pick one: something to move your body, something with another person, or something mellow?" The transition reframe "Switching from school days to home days is a big change. Your grumpy feelings are your brain saying, 'This is different.' We're going to give it time and a little structure." Episode quotes "Nothing is wrong with you or your kids. Their brains just lost their trail map." "You don't need a strict schedule. You need a few trail markers." "Big feelings on break are often a nervous system signal, not a gratitude problem." Free resource Download the Boredom Buster Cheat Sheet, a kid-friendly Move, Meet, Mellow menu with activity ideas, simple steps to use it, and calm scripts for screen-time boundaries: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/boredomebusterguide Disclaimer This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized mental health, medical, or educational advice. Links Big Feelings Decoder: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder

Bonus Episode 1 — You Are Not the Cruise Director: A Sanity-Saving Guide to Winter Break Episode Description Winter break can turn parents into full-time cruise directors: planning, entertaining, smoothing… and still ending the day fried. In this episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude explains why over-functioning fuels burnout, why boredom is actually brain-building for kids, and how to step back without everything collapsing. You'll leave with simple scripts and Tiny Wins that make break feel calmer and more doable. New here? Start with… If you feel like you're carrying the whole break (and getting resentful), start with Cruise Director → Guide Mode. If "I'm bored" is running your house, start with the Boredom Menu. If everyone's dysregulated and everything feels heavy, start with Planned Bare Minimum Days + a Good-Enough Day definition. In this episode, you'll learn Why Cruise Director Parenting spikes burnout and makes everyone pricklier (even with loving intentions). Why boredom isn't a moral failing—it's a brain-based opportunity for executive functioning and internal motivation to grow. Why autonomy-supportive structure works best: clear boundaries + simple choices + predictable rhythms. How a Good-Enough Day metric can reduce pressure (and improve behavior). How to use the Boredom Menu and planned Bare Minimum Days as guardrails (not "giving up"). Tiny Wins (pick 1–2) Define your Good-Enough Day: everyone ate, everyone moved a little, everyone connected once. Make a Boredom Menu with your kids during a calm moment—and redirect to it when boredom shows up. Schedule 1–2 Planned Bare Minimum Days and announce them as intentional. Pick only one "big thing" per day and protect white space. Scripts you can borrow (quick wins) Cruise Director → Guide Mode: "I'm not here to entertain all day. I will help you make a plan." Boredom reframe: "Boredom is your brain looking for something to build. Let's check the Boredom Menu." Autonomy + boundary: "You can choose A or B. I'm not adding option C." Good-Enough Day anchor: "Today's goal is simple: eat, move, connect. That's success." Bare Minimum Day wording: "Today is a Bare Minimum Day on purpose. We're protecting our nervous systems." Episode quotes "Boredom isn't the enemy—over-functioning is what burns everyone out." "You don't have to make winter break magical to make it meaningful." "Clear boundaries plus simple choices is the sweet spot." Free resource Join the Tiny Wins email list and download the free Big Feelings Decoder here: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder Big Feelings Decoder helps you translate intense kid behavior (like constant "I'm bored," whining, snapping, or meltdowns) into what might be happening underneath—plus calm, nervous-system-friendly scripts to try right away. Disclaimer This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized mental health, medical, or educational advice. Links Big Feelings Decoder: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder Instagram: @psyched2parent Download the Boredom Buster Guide (Move / Meet / Mellow menu + calm scripts for screen-time boundaries): https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/boredomebusterguide

ADHD or Anxiety, or Just the Season We're In? A Calmer Way to Make Sense of What You're Seeing When your child can't focus, melts down, avoids homework, or spirals at bedtime, it's easy to wonder: Is this ADHD? Anxiety? Or are we just in a fried, overloaded season? In this episode, we zoom out from the moment and look for patterns over time—while also using a nervous-system lens (fight/flight/freeze) to guide what to do today. You'll leave with clear scripts and Tiny Wins to gather better "data" without spiraling into labels. In this episode, you'll learn Why ADHD and anxiety can look similar—and why labels describe patterns over time (not one hard afternoon) How to use a nervous-system lens in the moment: fight/flight/freeze as communication How "the season" (sleep, screens, overload, too little downtime) can be the loudest factor How small environment shifts can clarify what's underneath (and create better info for your support team) How to aim for calmer, more curious nervous systems on both sides—not perfect scripts Tiny Wins (pick 1–2) Use the Big Feelings Decoder once a day (one moment only) to spot patterns Protect a 20-minute after-school reset (snack + regulating activity, then gentle transition) Try a 10% "load lift" for two weeks (sleep, schedule, screens, homework cap + teacher email if needed) Bedtime worry script: write down "what if" thoughts and save them for "tomorrow-brain" Scripts you can borrow (quick wins) Detective mode (not labels): "We don't have to figure this out today. We're collecting clues." Nervous system translation: "Your body is having a fight/flight/freeze moment. I'm here. Let's help your body feel safe first." When focus falls apart: "Looks like your brain is overloaded. Let's do a reset, then choose one tiny next step." 10% load lift: "For two weeks, we're making this a little easier while we learn what helps." After-school reset: "First snack and reset—then we'll talk about what's next." Bedtime worries: "Let's put those 'what if' thoughts on paper for tomorrow-brain. Nighttime brain is not the boss." Episode quotes "ADHD and anxiety are labels that describe patterns over time. In the moment, your child's behavior is their nervous system talking." "You are becoming a curious detective, not a frantic diagnostician." "This is data, not a disaster. I'm learning how my child's brain works in this season." Join the Tiny Wins email list + download the free Big Feelings Decoder: If you're parenting a big-feeling, strong-willed kid and you're thinking, "What is happening right now?" — I made something for you. Get simple, brain-based support for parenting big feelings—plus a quick guide to help you decode what's really going on underneath meltdowns and shutdowns. Big Feelings Decoder

Over-Functioning Parent in Recovery: How to Stop Rescuing and Build a Capable Kid Have you ever "helped" so much that you ended up doing 80% of the work—homework, emails, projects, the whole thing? In this episode, we talk about why over-functioning is so tempting (especially with anxious, big-feeling kids) and how it can quietly chip away at kids' confidence. You'll learn the simple CAR metaphor for motivation—and walk away with scripts + Tiny Wins to shift from rescuer to coach, without turning into a cold "figure it out" parent. In this episode, you'll learn Why over-functioning lowers short-term stress but can block long-term confidence and skill-building The CAR motivation metaphor: Control/Choice, Ability, Relationship Why autonomy-supportive parenting (warm + structured + choice) supports motivation better than psychological control How family accommodation can reduce anxiety in the moment but increase it over time How to change the pattern while staying emotionally supportive: "I love you, and I believe you can do small brave steps." Tiny Wins (pick 1–2) The 30-Second Empathy Pause (before anything instructional) Choice inside a boundary (2–3 real choices within the non-negotiable) Pick one low-stakes thing you will not rescue this week Try a systems-focused repair line: "If it goes sideways, we need a better system. We'll figure it out together." Scripts you can borrow (quick wins) Empathy pause: "This feels hard. I'm with you." Choice inside a boundary: "This is getting done. Do you want to start with the easy part or the hard part?" Ability scaffold: "Let's do the first one together, then you try the next." Warm + boundaried: "I won't do it for you, and I won't leave you alone with it. I'll stay close while you practice." Coach mindset: "You are more capable than you feel right now—and I'm right here while you try." Systems repair: "If it goes sideways, we need a better system. We'll figure it out together." Episode quotes "Think of your child's motivation like a CAR they are trying to drive through school and life." "You are more capable than you feel right now, and I am right here while you practice." "Where am I climbing into the driver's seat of my child's CAR—and what's one small place I can slide back into the passenger seat this week while staying close?" Join the Tiny Wins email list + download the free Big Feelings Decoder: If you're parenting a big-feeling, strong-willed kid and you're thinking, "What is happening right now?" — I made something for you. Get simple, brain-based support for parenting big feelings—plus a quick guide to help you decode what's really going on underneath meltdowns and shutdowns. Big Feelings Decoder

After-School Meltdowns: Why Big-Feeling Kids Fall Apart at 3:30 (and What Helps) If your child holds it together all day and then falls apart the second they're home, you're not alone—and your child isn't "being difficult." In this episode, we unpack why after-school meltdowns are often a tired "air traffic control" brain + an overflowing stress bucket… and why it usually spills out with the person they feel safest with. You'll leave with a few simple scripts and Tiny Wins that make the after-school window kinder for your child's nervous system… and yours. In this episode, you'll learn Why meltdowns spike when executive function is maxed out What "after-school restraint collapse" is (and why it often lands on you) Why strong-willed, big-feeling kids can experience the day at volume 10 How a short after-school "landing strip" reduces power struggles How to be warm and boundaried at the same time Tiny Wins (pick 1–2) Name the pattern (even silently): "This is after-school collapse." Protect the first 20–30 minutes: snack + chill before demands Decode the feeling first: "What might this behavior be trying to say?" Try High / Low / Silly to connect without a heavy debrief Scripts you can borrow (quick wins) Landing strip: "Your brain worked really hard today. First we're doing snack and chill—then we'll talk about homework." When they snap at you: "Oof. That came out sharp. I'm going to stay close and keep everyone safe." Warm + boundaried: "I won't let you hit. You can be mad, and I'm right here. Let's stomp/push the wall/pillow." Transition to homework: "Do you want 10 minutes and then start, or start now and be done sooner?" Join the Tiny Wins email list + download the free Big Feelings Decoder: If you're parenting a big-feeling, strong-willed kid and you're thinking, "What is happening right now?" — I made something for you. Get simple, brain-based support for parenting big feelings—plus a quick guide to help you decode what's really going on underneath meltdowns and shutdowns. https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder Timestamps 00:00 — Intro 00:00 — Why after-school collapse happens 00:00 — Tiny Wins 00:00 — Scripts -->

Feeling like parenting is an endurance sport and no one handed you a map? In this trailer, Dr. Amy, a school psychologist, mom of two, endurance athlete, and creator of Psyched2Parent, shares what this podcast is all about and why she is right there with you in the messy middle of parenting. Psyched2Parent is where brain science meets real family life. Dr. Amy takes what she sees every day in schools and in her practice, blends it with the latest research on kids' brains and nervous systems, and turns it into tiny, doable shifts you can actually use at home. Think less "perfect parenting plan" and more "one small thing I can try today." In this trailer you'll hear: • Who this show is for: caring, thoughtful parents who feel overwhelmed, second-guess themselves, and want things to feel lighter at home • Why Dr. Amy cares so much about turning data and research into real-life strategies that make sense in your body, not just your brain • The kinds of topics she will unpack this season, like after-school meltdowns, "I'm the worst" self-talk, school stress, anxiety, ADHD, and resilience • How each episode will leave you with one or two tiny wins, such as a sentence to try the next time your child explodes, a tweak to your routine, or a question you can bring to your child's teacher or therapist If you are ready to trade "I'm failing at this" for "We're building tiny wins that fit our family," this podcast is for you. Hit follow or subscribe and come along for the first season of Psyched2Parent: Turning brain science into tiny wins at home, one ordinary, messy, beautiful day at a time. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, or individualized evaluation.