Episode 14: How to Help Your Child Calm Worry at Bedtime (Without Losing Your Mind)
Release Date: 10/20/2025
Episode 42: Fun, Burnout and Balance for Moms (An Interview with Megan Caldwell)
Emotions With Ease
Feel like you’re doing everything right—but still exhausted? In this episode, Jami talks with Megan Caldwell about why high-achieving moms burn out and how fun (yes, fun) might be the missing piece. Spoiler: you don’t need a full life overhaul—just small shifts that actually feel good. Key Takeaways: Burnout often comes from misalignment—looking fine outside, drowning inside Fun isn’t extra—it builds resilience, energy, and connection “People > productivity” creates calmer, more connected homes Simple Script Parents Can Say: “People matter more than the to-do...
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Episode 41 Game Film Parenting: Fix Meltdowns at the Root
Emotions With Ease
What if your hardest parenting moments could actually become your best teachers? In this episode, I walk you through her “Game Film” tool—how to pause, replay, and coach yourself through tough moments so you can show up calmer next time. Plus, I introduce the Root System so you stop chasing behaviors and start addressing what’s really driving them. Key Takeaways: Stop chasing behavior: focus on the roots (body, brain, beliefs, boundaries, balance, belonging) instead of the “bad apples.” Game Film = growth: replay hard moments to spot what actually drove the meltdown and what to do...
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Episode 40: Turn Parenting Mistakes Into Calmer Wins
Emotions With Ease
Intro: What if you could “rewind” a tough parenting moment and learn exactly what to do differently next time? In this episode, Jami shares a simple tool she calls Game Film—a practical way to reflect, reset, and show up calmer when it matters most. Key Takeaways: Pause + replay: Walk through a hard moment step-by-step and notice where things escalated. Brain states matter: Logic doesn’t land when your child is in Watchdog Brain—regulation comes first. You set the tone: Stay the “thermostat” (calm leader), not the thermometer (matching their chaos). Simple Script: “Hey,...
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Episode 39: What to do After a Child Meltdown
Emotions With Ease
Your child melts down… calms down… but everything still feels off. The re-entry is awkward, siblings are on edge, and your child seems shut down. Here’s exactly what to do in that in-between moment. Key Takeaways: After a meltdown, kids are often feeling embarrassment or guilt (not just “being difficult”) Re-entry matters: a quick connection helps your child feel safe again The “rip + repair” loop must be completed (don’t just move on like nothing happened) 1 Simple Script: “I’m really glad you’re back. We can talk about it later—I’m here.” Want help walking...
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Episode 38: Why Moms Yell- The Nervous System Explained
Emotions With Ease
If you’ve ever said, “I won’t yell today”… and then did—it’s not because you’re failing. It’s your nervous system hitting the gas without a brake. In this episode, we make it simple: what’s happening in your body and what to do in the moment. 3 Key Takeaways It’s not a character flaw—it’s your nervous system: Gas (reactivity), shutdown (freeze), and the missing piece—your brake. Triggers + low capacity = reaction: It’s not just your child’s behavior—it’s how full your system already is. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s faster recovery: Pause sooner,...
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Episode 37: Helping Kids Through Grief and Big Feelings
Emotions With Ease
When we hear the word grief, we usually think death. But in this episode, Meghan Riordan Jarvis reminds us that grief also shows up in everyday kid life—lost loveys, friendship drama, not making the team, and all the “this is the worst day ever” moments. This conversation is practical, honest, and full of tools that help parents support kids without making it weird or heavier than it already is. 3 Key Takeaways Grief is bigger than death: It’s the body’s response to loss, and kids feel it in everyday disappointments too. Don’t rush the feelings: Kids may not be “done” just...
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Episode 36: Why Moms Feel Alone in Parenting (And What Helps)
Emotions With Ease
Ever feel like you’re the only mom struggling behind closed doors? Like everyone else is thriving while you’re just trying to get through the day? This episode is your reminder: you are not alone—and there’s a better way to get support. 3 Key Takeaways Surface-level connection creates isolation: When we don’t go deeper, it looks like everyone else is fine. You’re not the only one: Many families are navigating big emotions and behaviors—you just don’t see it. Growth happens in community: Watching others get coached gives you clarity, perspective, and real tools. 1 Simple...
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Episode 35: What Does a School Counselor Do for Students?
Emotions With Ease
What School Counselors Actually Do for Students Ever wondered what a school counselor actually does all day besides magically appear when your child is melting down in the hallway? In this episode, I sit down with veteran school counselor Tina Russell to talk about how school counselors support students socially, emotionally, and practically—and why they can be such a helpful part of your family’s team. 3 Key Takeaways School counselors do more than crisis support: They teach social-emotional lessons, run small groups, check in with students, and help coordinate resources behind the...
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Episode 34: When You Hear Your Parent’s Voice Come Out of Your Mouth
Emotions With Ease
Have you ever reacted to your child and thought, “Oh no… that sounded exactly like my mom.” You’re not broken — you’re human. In this episode, we talk about why our kids trigger old parenting patterns and how to start changing them with small, doable steps. 3 Key Takeaways Awareness is the starting point: Noticing your triggers is the first step to breaking generational cycles. Borrow better models: Healthy parenting can be learned by observing and asking other parents how they handle hard moments. Self-compassion fuels growth: Change happens faster when you’re kind to...
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Episode 33: Meredith Miller on Raising Kids Who Love Scripture (Without Forcing It)
Emotions With Ease
Wonder Conversations: Helping Kids Love Scripture Intro Meredith Miller joins Emotions with Ease on release day for her new book, We talk about making Bible stories feel safe, life-giving, and actually engaging—especially in those tired, end-of-day moments when everyone’s nervous system is toast. 3 Key Takeaways Wonder beats pressure: Scripture works better as a conversation (question mark) than a lecture (period). You have freedom: If bedtime is chaotic, shorten it, make it silly, or swap to a breath prayer—connection is the goal. Grace changes everything: Focusing on who...
info_outlineHow to Help Your Child Calm Worry at Bedtime (Without Losing Your Mind)
✨ Grab the free Back-to-School Worry Toolkit for calm mornings and confident kids! Come hang out with me on Instagram @sacredgroundcoaching for more tools like this
If you’ve ever tucked your child into bed, turned off the lights, and heard: “Hey, Mom…” you already know what’s coming next. The worry brain — or what I call the Watchdog Brain — loves to show up at bedtime. And suddenly, your peaceful evening turns into a two-hour spiral of what-ifs and but what abouts.
In this episode of the Emotions with Ease Podcast, I’m sharing exactly what to do when bedtime becomes a worry fest. You’ll learn simple, science-backed tools that help calm your child’s body and brain so everyone can finally rest.
🌙 Step One: Create a Nighttime Routine A predictable routine cues your child’s nervous system that it’s time to rest. Dinner, shower, snack, teeth, prayers — whatever rhythm fits your family, try to keep it consistent. Even if life feels chaotic, ask yourself: “What’s one small thing we can do every night that says, ‘It’s bedtime’?” That one step helps their body feel safe and ready for sleep.
📵 Step Two: Limit Screens Before Bed Blue light and fast-paced content keep the brain alert. Experts recommend no screens for two hours before bedtime — but even 30 minutes helps. When the whole family goes screen-free, everyone’s nervous system gets the message: it’s time to slow down.
🍎 Step Three: Focus on the Roots, Not the Fruit Using my Apple Tree metaphor — the fruit represents your child’s behaviors or worries. The roots are what’s happening underneath: their sense of safety, their body cues, and their emotions. Don’t jump into fixing the worry story (“You’ll do fine on your test!”). Start by helping their body feel safe and grounded first.
🪷 Step Four: Calm the Body Through the Senses The nervous system speaks in five languages — sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Help your child discover what feels calming for them: A weighted blanket or cozy comforter Nightlight or soft hallway glow White noise or a fan A stuffed animal or favorite pillow Ask, “What helps your body feel safe at night?” and build from there.
🌬️ Step Five: Try Body-Based Calm-Down Tools Here are three of my go-to tools that work wonders at bedtime: 1. The Mindful Minute (5-4-3-2-1) Have your child name five things they see, four they can touch, three they can smell, two they can hear, and one they can taste (a sip of water works!). It grounds them in the present moment. 2. Progressive Muscle Relaxation Play a game: “Freeze like ice… now melt!” Have them squeeze their muscles tight for five seconds, then release. It teaches tension release through play. 3. Belly Breathing with a Stuffy Have your child place a stuffed animal on their belly. As they inhale through their nose, tell them, “Make your stuffy rise to the ceiling.” As they exhale, the stuffy lowers. Simple, visual, and calming.
💭 Step Six: Help Them Externalize Their Worries When worries stay trapped in the brain, they grow louder. Try one of these ideas to help your child get the worries out: The “Hold My Worries” Ritual – Have them pretend to hand you their worries, and tell them you’ll hold them until morning. A Worry Journal – Let older kids write or draw their worries before bed. The Mini Shredder Trick – Have them draw their worry on a Post-it and “shred” it. Watching it disappear can be surprisingly powerful! These small rituals teach kids that worries can be seen, named, and released.
💤 Step Seven: Use Sleep Stories or Calming Audio Try calming bedtime stories on apps like Calm or Headspace, or the YouTube gem Sleepy Paws. The soft rhythm and voice help slow heart rate and bring safety to the nervous system — no screens, just sound.
🌿 Final Thoughts
Helping your child calm worry at bedtime starts with safety, not logic. Build consistency through routine, calm the body before the brain, and use playful rituals that create distance from the “worry voice.” You don’t need to fix your child’s worry — you just need to show up with presence, patience, and a few good tools.