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.