Taking the Helm Podcast Lynn McLaughlin Taking the Helm Podcast Lynn McLaughlin

Holiday Magic Without the Meltdown

Laurel Crossley joins us again with guest host Kathryn Collins to explore how small, thoughtful decisions can make a huge difference for families during the holidays. From keeping little ones comfortable and predictable to helping older kids engage in meaningful ways, we cover boundaries, calm moments, and simple strategies to create lasting memories without the overwhelm.

Key Points:

๐Ÿ’ฅ Keeping young children settled and comfortable, even when routines are challenged.

๐Ÿ’ฅ Setting clear expectations with extended family to reduce tension and stress.

๐Ÿ’ฅ Creating calm spaces and rhythms that support babies, toddlers, and new parents.

๐Ÿ’ฅ Reimagining gift-giving and holiday activities to boost connection, not clutter.

๐Ÿ’ฅ Involving older children in planning, budgeting, and traditions that teach life skills.

๐Ÿ’ฅ Recognizing when itโ€™s time to pause or step back to protect your childโ€™s well-being.

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Taking the Helm Podcast Lynn McLaughlin Taking the Helm Podcast Lynn McLaughlin

Before Birth and Beyond: The Lasting Power of Calm Beginnings

๐ƒ๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐œ๐š๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐›๐ž๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐›๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐ก ๐ฌ๐ก๐š๐ฉ๐ž๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐ž๐ซโ€™๐ฌ ๐ž๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ? ๐‡๐จ๐ฐ ๐œ๐š๐ง ๐ž๐š๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐œ๐š๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ก๐ž๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐ž๐ซ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐œ๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ๐ž๐ซ ๐ฆ๐š๐ง๐š๐ ๐ž ๐›๐ข๐  ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ž๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ?

Educator and wellness expert Laurel Crossley shares insights from 30 years of supporting families, and the science behind calm beginnings that lead to confident kids.Laurel Crosby shares how a motherโ€™s emotional state, even before birth, can shape a childโ€™s development for years to come.

๐Ÿ’ฅ She explains the importance of supporting maternal mental, emotional, and spiritual health

๐Ÿ’ฅ How early calm and connection lay the foundation for resilient, empathetic children.

๐Ÿ’ฅ From mindfulness in everyday life to modelling emotional regulation during tantrums

๐Ÿ’ฅ Practical strategies for parents and educators

๐Ÿ’ฅ The power of outdoor play, sensory tools, and storytelling to help children manage their emotions.

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