Nervous System Prep for Summer as a Parent
Episode 116: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
View transcript on Buzzsprout
Summer break can bring joy—and chaos. For many parents, it means less structure, more sensory input, and increased pressure to make things feel magical for their kids. In this episode, Amanda offers a grounded, compassionate guide to prepping your nervous system for the summer ahead.
If you’re already feeling stretched thin by the shift in seasons, this one’s for you.
What We Cover in This Episode
- Why the transition into summer can overwhelm your nervous system
- How loose rhythms, not rigid routines, support regulation for both you and your kids
- What co-regulation looks like in everyday moments (yes, even when it’s chaotic)
- Why repair after rupture is more important than getting it “right” all the time
- Simple somatic tools to anchor your body in overstimulating moments
Three Pillars for a More Regulated Summer
Amanda introduces three foundational nervous system pillars to help parents move through summer with more ease: rhythm, regulation, and repair.
1. Rhythm: Loose Structure for Anchoring
Your nervous system—and your kids’—crave predictability. Without school as a stabilizing anchor, Amanda suggests building a loose rhythm:
- Daily anchors like meal times, outside play, rest breaks
- Simple chore charts or daily checklists
- Morning and bedtime routines
- Shared expectations around screen time, play, learning
These rhythms don’t have to be rigid. Think scaffolding, not strict schedules.
Amanda shares examples from her own household and encourages listeners to co-create structure with their kids, based on values and needs.
2. Regulation: Support for Your System
Summer brings more togetherness—and more chances to get dysregulated. Amanda emphasizes:
- Micro-doses of regulation like visual orienting, breathwork, somatic shaking
- Foundational habits like sleep, movement, hydration, nutrition
- Mantras for parenting stress, such as:
- “Firm but kind”
- “How developmentally appropriate of them”
Your regulation is not optional. It’s what supports your ability to show up with steadiness while your kids navigate their own big feelings.
Amanda also encourages teaching kids simple regulation tools through co-regulation: shared breathing games, sensory check-ins, naming feelings in the body.
Want ongoing support? The Regulated Living Membership and Restore 1:1 Coaching programs are built for this. If you want help building regulation into your daily life—especially as a parent—these are excellent places to start.
3. Repair: Ruptures Are Inevitable
You will snap. You will shut down. You’re human. What matters most is your willingness to repair.
Amanda reinforces that safety doesn’t come from perfection, but from consistent, attuned repair:
- “Sorry, I yelled. That wasn’t your fault.”
- “I need a break, and then we can try again.”
Repair builds trust. It models accountability, emotional safety, and the belief that relationships can mend.
You don’t need to get it right all the time. You just need to be willing to come back.
Questions for Reflection
Amanda invites parents to reflect:
- What rhythm or habit helps me reconnect to myself?
- What boundary protects my energy right now?
- What support can I ask for before I’m burnt out?
You are not a background character to your child’s summer. You matter, too. Your needs, rhythms, and regulation shape the energy of your household.
Three Tangible Takeaways
- Rhythm regulates. A few consistent daily anchors can provide a sense of grounding for both you and your kids.
- Repair matters more than perfection. How you come back after a rupture builds lasting safety and trust.
- Your regulation isn’t optional. The more you support your nervous system, the more capacity you’ll have to show up the way you want to.
Looking for more personalized support?
- Book a FREE discovery call for RESTORE, our 1:1 anxiety & depression coaching program (HSA/FSA eligible & includes comprehensive bloodwork)
- Join me inside the Regulated Living Membership, a mental health membership and nervous system healing space (sliding scale pricing available)
- Join my Release Class – Monthly guided nervous system regulation class
- Order my book, Healing Through the Vagus Nerve today!
*Want me to talk about something specific on the podcast? Let me know HERE.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
