Showing Up for Your Kids Without Ignoring What’s on Your Heart

In this episode, we talk about what it actually looks like to parent when the world feels like it’s on fire — not in theory, but in real time.

We talk about the mental tug-of-war between staying informed and staying functional. About trying to show up for our kids while our brains are half somewhere else. About why “just ignoring it” doesn’t work — and why living in constant doom doesn’t either.

This conversation goes the usual way — oscillating between grief, anger, fear, and empathy — and then we talk about cleaning sprays, screen time, sourdough, Disney movies, and honey toast. Not because those things fix anything, but because they’re part of how we keep going.

We share what’s helping us regulate *right now*:

– Finding anchors when our nervous systems are shot

– Letting routines bend without breaking

– Using stories, movies, and nostalgia to talk about big ideas with little kids

– Why it’s okay for kids to see our emotions — and where the line actually is

– How partners often regulate differently, and why that can be a strength

– The difference between using tools (screens, routines, distractions) versus relying on them

– Why advocacy, care, and “doing something” don’t look the same for everyone

This isn’t about having the perfect response to hard things. It’s about finding reliable ways to stay connected to yourself, your kids, and your values — even when the conditions change. If you’ve been feeling half-present, emotionally fried, or unsure how to hold all of this *and* still parent — this episode is for you.

📣 Stay Connected

Instagram: @judgment_not_judgmental

Rachel: @regulatingwithrachel

If your mind went off into a million directions here like ours did with this conversation please join the convo, subscribe and leave a review — it helps us keep building this space, and helps the show get better. Xo, chat next time!