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Brew #2: Breaking Free from Mom Guilt & The Best Games to Connect with Your HSC

Author

Jill Gilbert
October 31, 2024

Raising Highly Sensitive Kids. No Filter.

Real Talk

Can we talk about guilt for a minute?

I've carried all kinds of guilt - the heavy kind that keeps you up at night. I've felt guilty because, before I understood what was happening, I wished parenting wasn't so hard and that Brody didn't have those overwhelming experiences. I felt guilty for doubting if I was cut out for this, and guilty every time Brody had a meltdown in public. I even felt guilty about feeling embarrassed when I saw other parents able to take their kids out to dinner or run errands while I was constantly having to leave restaurants and stores mid-meltdown.

But here's what I know now: that guilt? It wasn't serving either of us. This week, we're talking about releasing that weight, because you (and your child) deserve nothing less.

Jill

FOUNDER & CEO

HOT OFF THE BLOG

Overcoming Mom Guilt as The Parent of a HSC

One moment you're feeling like Supermom, raising a highly sensitive child and juggling everything life throws your way with grace. And then suddenly, the weight of mom guilt presses down, making every decision feel heavy and filled with doubt. Whether it's working late hours or allowing extra screen time just to catch a breath, that nagging sense of not doing enough can be relentless.

But here's the thing - overcoming mom guilt is not only possible; it’s essential for both your well-being and that of your family. Although tackling mom guilt is not something you can do overnight, we have just the right strategies to get you started.

WORTH YOUR FOLLOW

Meet Alane Freund, a seasoned mental health professional with over three decades of experience and an International Consultant on High Sensitivity (ICHS). As both a professional and the parent of a highly sensitive young adult, she brings unique insight to her work supporting parents of sensitive kids. Her acclaimed Google Talk on understanding highly sensitive people has reached over a million viewers!

What makes Alane's approach special is her focus on the whole family's journey. Rather than trying to "change" sensitive children, she believes the key to family success lies in helping parents develop their own tools and self-regulation skills. As Elaine Aron's appointed child and youth expert, she's passionate about transforming children's lives by empowering their parents with practical strategies and deeper understanding.

Exciting news! From November 1st to January 1st, members of the Are You Highly Sensitive Community can access the entire Are You Highly Sensitive Library for free! This includes over 100 hours of masterclasses plus weekly office hours where you can bring your questions and pick her brain. Take advantage of this awesome opportunity while it lasts!

Sleighing the Highly Sensitive Holidays

A power workshop guiding moms of highly sensitive children from holiday stress to magical moments, one strategy at a time.

Go from dreading the holiday chaos to actually looking forward to the festivities. No more crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. We're talking real strategies for everything from surviving that endless car ride to Grandma's to handling Uncle Mike's well-meaning but oh-so-unhelpful advice.

Be on the lookout next week for more information on how to register!

News & Research

ON THE RADAR

New Research: The Impact of Music and Art Therapy for the Neurodiverse

A new article highlights how music and art therapy are transforming support for highly sensitive and neurodiverse children. These creative approaches offer non-verbal expression, anxiety management, and skill development, proving to be game-changers for kids who experience the world intensely. This news showcases how these effective methods can help your highly sensitive child thrive while embracing their unique traits. It's a refreshing shift from "fixing" to celebrating neurodiversity, offering hope and practical insights for supportive parenting.

WEEKLY POLL

The

ESSENTIALS

Our board games roundup for mom and child connection. These games are the perfect way to snag those sweet bonding moments with your sensitive kiddo (and maybe even avoid another screen time guilt spiral).

Our recommendation for ages 8+

What Do You Meme? Family Edition

BY RELATABLE

Looking for a way to connect with your kid in their own language? This game is your secret weapon. It takes the exact humor your kid is already loving on their tablet and turns it into real-life family connection time (win-win!).

What makes it work so well for our sensitive kiddos? Zero pressure, no wrong answers, and plenty of space for their creativity to shine. We've had some serious "almost peed our pants" moments matching these silly captions to pictures - the kind of pure joy that makes you forget about the hard stuff for a while.

Our recommendation for ages 8+

Zingo Bingo

BY THINKFUN

Got a non-reader or early reader who needs a gentle introduction to game night? This award-winning twist on Bingo is like a calm, structured party in a box. It's the perfect mix of learning and fun without overwhelming your sensitive kiddo.

Why our HSC families love it? The simple matching format builds confidence, the sliding tile dispenser adds just enough excitement (without chaos), and the clear structure means no anxiety about what comes next. This game has turned many potentially overwhelming afternoons into "just one more round, please!" moments - and they're learning while they play!

☕ Sip & Support: While "A Cuppa Momsense" is our gift to you, some product links may be affiliates. If you treat yourself, we might get a little something too – at no extra cost to you. It's how we keep the coffee flowing! 💖

Just for Moms

DAILY GRATITUDE APP

Three Good Things App

Can I be totally honest with you? When your highly sensitive child is having their third meltdown of the day and your mother-in-law's words about "being too soft" are ringing in your ears, when you're lying awake at 3am wondering if you're permanently damaging your child because you lost it today, when you're carrying that crushing weight of "I'm not cut out for this" - that's exactly when you need this practice most. I've been loving this super simple (and free!)

Three Good Things app that takes less than 5 minutes before bed each night. Even on the hardest days, especially on the hardest days, forcing myself to find three tiny wins - like how my son finally let me hold him after that big meltdown, or how he used his words instead of screaming at breakfast - has been slowly but surely helping me see that I'm not failing him after all.

P.S. The mom guilt doesn't magically disappear overnight, but I promise you this practice helps quiet that mean voice in your head that's telling you you're not enough. You are enough, and your child is exactly who they're meant to be.

We hope you enjoyed this email from a cuppa momsense.