The holidays bring big feelings for kids and adults especially around gifts, expectations, disappointment, and the pressure to “perform” gratitude. In today’s episode of Voices of Your Village, Rachel and I talk about why so many kids melt down after opening gifts, why some fly through presents while others savor every detail, and how dopamine crashes show up as “I’m bored” or “What else is there?” We also dig into the generational side: how many of us were raised with zero space for overwhelm, and why asking grandparents or extended family to support a different rhythm can feel like a major paradigm shift. This episode is full of practical tools for navigating: 🎁 gift overwhelm 😅 adult embarrassment 💛 teaching gratitude without shame 🧠 dopamine highs and crashes 🙃 “post-gift letdown” 🤝 prepping your child before celebrations 💬 responding to disappointment without spiraling It’s a good one, village. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts! #VoicesOfYourVillage #SeedAndSew #BigKidsBiggerFeelings #HolidayParenting #ChildDevelopment #EmotionalRegulation #DopamineCrash #HolidayOverwhelm #PositiveParenting #NervousSystemSupport