The holidays promise magic, but for many families, they also bring sensory overload, unpredictable routines, big emotions, and the kind of meltdowns that can appear out of nowhere. And if we’re honest, parents aren’t far behind.

In this episode, host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman explores why holiday overstimulation affects kids and adults, how behavior becomes communication during busy seasons, and what families can do to stay grounded, connected, and regulated. With humor, relatable stories, and practical strategies, this conversation will help your household navigate the holidays with more ease and fewer meltdowns.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

• Understanding why the holidays increase sensory overload for kids and parents
• How to identify early signs of overwhelm in your child
• Why emotional regulation starts with basic needs like sleep, food, and hydration
• The role of modeling calm, even imperfectly, during chaotic moments
• Simple reset routines and calm corners that work at home and on the go
• Why Santa threats and empty consequences don’t support regulation
• How parents can manage their own holiday overload with realistic tools
• Support available through the Making Spirits Bright Holiday Guide and Amiga Moms™ Coaching
  
  
  

TUNE IN TO LEARN

• Practical ways to prevent overstimulation for kids and adults
• What to say when your child is melting down (and what not to say)
• How to create a calm corner without making it a Pinterest project
• Why parents’ nervous systems matter as much as their children’s
• Small, doable mindfulness practices that help the whole family
• How to protect your peace and set healthy boundaries this season

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE

Holiday overstimulation is real, for both kids and for parents. But with small shifts, simple routines, and moments of presence, families can move through the season with more calm and connection. Tune in for tools that help you protect your peace, support your children’s regulation, and create a holiday experience that feels manageable, meaningful, and grounded.

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Use this link to get 15% off your total when you purchase the amazing brain sensing headband that tells you when you're in a meditative state and guides you to improve your practice.


LET’S STAY CONNECTED
🌐 Website: https://www.freetobemindful.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/
🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking


DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

When the holidays roll around, many moms find themselves slipping back into old family roles before they even realize it’s happening. One step into a family gathering, one comment from a relative, one expectation placed on you, and suddenly your nervous system is on high alert.

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman breaks down the emotional patterns, cultural expectations, and invisible pressures that make this season feel so heavy for so many moms.

With humor, honesty, and practical guidance, Vanessa shares how to identify your emotional triggers, understand why family dynamics hit so hard, and set boundaries that don’t require conflict or confrontation. You’ll walk away with simple scripts, mindful tools, and a whole new perspective on protecting your peace this season.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

• Why holiday gatherings activate old emotional patterns and childhood wiring
• The most common family triggers and how they show up in your body
• How to recognize the difference between respect and obedience in culturally rooted families
• Why avoidance can be a boundary — and how to use it intentionally
• Simple, clear, drama-free scripts you can use with relatives
• Mindful tools to help you stay grounded when emotions run high

TUNE IN TO LEARN

• How to understand the “invisible hierarchy” in family dynamics
• What physical signs reveal your emotional triggers
• Scripts that help you say no without guilt or confrontation
• How to protect your energy, time, and emotional bandwidth
• Strategies for maintaining calm around family stressors
• A grounding reflection to help you visualize healthier interactions this season

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE

Family gatherings can bring joy, and they can bring triggers. You deserve to walk into this season feeling empowered, centered, and supported. With awareness, intentional boundaries, and mindful tools, you can show up with clarity and compassion for yourself and your loved ones.

Remember… in a world where you are free to be anything, you are always free to be mindful.

Send us a text

Support the show

1:1 PRIVATE COACHING FOR MOMS: https://www.amigamoms.com/

120 COPING SKILLS
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills

WATCH THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE
https://www.youtube.com/@counselorvdejesus


GET THE MUSE HEADBAND AT A DISCOUNT!
https://choosemuse.com/freetobemindful
Use this link to get 15% off your total when you purchase the amazing brain sensing headband that tells you when you're in a meditative state and guides you to improve your practice.


LET’S STAY CONNECTED
🌐 Website: https://www.freetobemindful.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/
🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking


DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, Vanessa De Jesus Guzman unpacks the guilt moms silently carry during the holiday season - especially the cultural guilt, emotional pressure, and endless “I shoulds” that make this time of year heavier than it looks online. Recorded in real time during a week filled with sick kids, canceled plans, and dropped responsibilities, Vanessa shares a relatable story that highlights how quickly guilt takes over, even when we’re doing our best.

This conversation helps moms understand why guilt shows up, where it comes from, and how to shift from obligation to values in order to create a holiday season that feels lighter, calmer, and more aligned with what truly matters.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION
• Understand the three layers of the “guilt sandwich” moms unconsciously carry during the holidays.
• Explore the cultural and generational expectations that intensify holiday overwhelm.
• Identify the “shoulding” language that fuels mom guilt without us realizing it.
• Learn three simple tools to interrupt guilt spirals with self-awareness and compassion.
• Hear personal stories that show what it looks like to choose capacity over pressure.
• Discover how gratitude and grounded choices can transform the way your holidays feel.

TUNE IN TO LEARN
• Why holiday guilt feels so heavy for moms
• How to tell the difference between values and obligation
• What cultural expectations add to your emotional load
• The signs of guilt-driven decision-making
• Three tools to break the guilt cycle
• How to honor your capacity during the busiest season
• Ways gratitude can shift holiday overwhelm into presence

DOWNLOAD THE FREE GUIDE:
Making Spirits Bright: A free reflection guide to help you reconnect with joy and presence https://www.freetobemindful.com/makingspiritsbright

Send us a text

Support the show

120 COPING SKILLS
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills

1:1 PRIVATE COACHING FOR MOMS

https://www.amigamoms.com/

WATCH THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/@counselorvdejesus


GET THE MUSE HEADBAND AT A DISCOUNT!
https://choosemuse.com/freetobemindful
Use this link to get 15% off your total when you purchase the amazing brain sensing headband that tells you when you're in a meditative state and guides you to improve your practice.


LET’S STAY CONNECTED
🌐 Website: https://www.freetobemindful.com
🎧 Podcast: https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/
💛 Coaching for Moms: https://www.amigamoms.com/
🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking


DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not ...