Restarts aren’t just a January thing — they happen all year long. Coming back from break, starting a new season, returning to school after summer, re-engaging after a friendship conflict… even just getting back into routine after life gets off track.

In this episode, Katie and Meagan talk about why restarts can feel so big for kids (and for adults, too). We unpack the anxiety that shows up with “unknowns,” what stress does to the brain and nervous system, and why kids may look irritable, shut down, or emotionally “bigger” during transitions.

We also talk about the parent side of it — that intense urge to fix it, solve it, and take the discomfort away. And why one of the most powerful things we can do is learn to hold the hard with them, without rescuing them from it.

You’ll walk away with practical tools to support your child through restarts:

• prepping and talking about the transition ahead of time

• helping kids visualize what’s coming

• breaking big things into small steps

• using simple lists/checklists to reduce overwhelm and power struggles

• and “tapes” to play in your own head when your kid’s stress activates yours

If you’re in a season of restarting — big or small — this episode is a reminder that progress isn’t always linear, and struggle doesn’t mean failure. Every restart is practice… and every time your child moves through something hard with support, they build the confidence: this is hard, and I can do it.

The holidays are fun… until they’re over and real life hits hard.
In this episode, Katie and Meagan talk about the post-holiday routine crash — the sugar overload, the lack of sleep, the missing structure, and the pushback that shows up when it’s time to get back on track.

From a therapist’s perspective (and real-life parenting experience), we unpack what’s happening in kids’ bodies and brains when routines disappear — and why easing back in works better than flipping a switch.

We share practical, realistic ways to reset family routines gently, manage pushback without power struggles, and set expectations that actually support your kids and you.

If you’re navigating the transition back to school, work, or “normal life,” this episode is a reminder that slow resets are not only okay — they’re effective.

January comes with so much pressure — to start strong, fix what feels broken, and somehow reinvent ourselves overnight. In this episode of But the Years Are Short, Katie and Meagan talk about why that pressure feels especially heavy for parents — and why it so often backfires.

Instead of rigid resolutions, they explore the power of intentions: smaller, values-based shifts that actually fit real family life. Together, they unpack why resolutions usually fizzle by February, how perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking get in the way, and how self-compassion makes change more sustainable.

They also share practical ideas for reflecting on the past year, choosing intention words, and even creating a family intention — a simple, meaningful way to bring kids into the process without pressure or punishment.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted by New Year expectations, this episode offers a calmer, kinder way forward.

• Why New Year “reset” pressure doesn’t match real life

• The most common reasons resolutions fail by February

• Resolutions vs intentions: what’s the difference?

• How bandwidth and life season matter more than motivation

• Why self-compassion is key to sustainable change

• How intention-setting models flexibility and emotional health for kids

• Simple ways to reflect on what worked — and what drained you — last year

• How to create a family intention (without guilt or pressure)

  
  

  We created a simple 2026 Intention Worksheet to help you reflect on last year, identify what you want to keep, and choose intentions that fit your real life.

  👉 Grab the Worksheet here!