Finding the Language for Big Feelings In our last post, we talked about the difference between our internal “emotions” (the physical body reaction) and our “feelings” (the story our brain tells us about that reaction). If we want to help our kids manage the “brain story,” we have to start…

A Practical Guide to Emotional Regulation Welcome back to the Sunshine House. Grab your coffee (or something stronger, no judgment here)—today, we’re getting practical. In our last few chats, we’ve covered the difference between emotions (what the body feels) and feelings (what the brain says). But now we have to…

Teaching Our Kids the Art of True Repair In our house, we talk a lot about storms. Sometimes the weather inside our bodies gets too big, too loud, and too fast. And just like a real storm, things might get knocked over. Words might come out that sting like hail.…

How to modify traditional “Growth Mindset” for Neurodivergents This post contains many examples and scripts; please find or refine whichever ones you find most useful for your family. We need to have a heart-to-heart about a “power tool” we’ve all been told to use: Growth Mindset. When I first learned…

Understanding the Difference Between Emotions and Feelings Grab a drink and settle in. We need to talk about something that changed the way I look at parenting. In our day-to-day lives, we tend to swap the words “emotion” and “feeling” as if they are the exact same thing. But in…

I am not a perfect person, and I will never claim to be. My family isn’t perfect, my relationships aren’t perfect, and my days are full of the same beautiful messes that every family faces. Like many of you, I’m a flawed woman and a mother who struggles daily with…