The holidays can bring moments of joy and connection, and they can also stir up old wounds, stress responses, or emotions that feel hard to manage.

To support families navigating trauma, I created A Trauma-Sensitive Parenting Guide called PEACEFUL HOLIDAYS, an easy-to-remember acronym that helps you slow down, regulate, and move through the season with more steadiness.

Each letter offers a grounding prompt you can use when overwhelm shows up or routines shift. 💛These are tools that support nervous system safety, emotional balance, and connection for both you and your child.

Small, compassionate steps can make the holiday season feel more peaceful.

When big feelings show up, kids don’t need perfection — they need tools. Simple, repeatable tools. That’s where the ABCs + 123s of Calming come in. These are easy strategies you can teach, model, and practice together so your child learns: “I can handle hard moments.”

A — Affirmation

Kids borrow our calm before they learn their own. Start with grounding words that anchor the moment:

• “You’re safe. I’m here.”

• “Feelings come and go — we can handle this.”

• “You’re not in trouble. You’re learning.”

In our home, instead of Elf on the Shelf, we “hide Jesus “ from Dec 1–24. Each evening our grandson excitedly searches for Him. And some days, Jesus is right in front of his eyes—but he still can’t see Him.

And it hits me every time:

We’re just like that.

Jesus is near, present, and right in front of us… yet in the rush and noise, we often overlook Him too.

This simple tradition reminds me to Seek Him—because He’s always closer than we think.