A Cuppa Momsense
We spend so much time trying to manage our children’s behavior, but if we don't understand what's driving it, we're missing the whole picture.
This week, we're talking about sensory overload: why it matters so much for highly sensitive kids, what it actually feels like in their bodies, and how recognizing it can transform those daily battles into moments of real connection and understanding.
✨ QUICK LINKS
🎒 School Struggles? You Can’t Miss This!
We love shining a light on the incredible people doing meaningful work for families like ours and this one’s a gem. 💛
Our friends at Reframe Parenting are hosting the School Support That Sticks Summit (Oct 27–30), a free online event for parents of kids who color-outside-the-lines. You’ll hear from 25+ incredible experts who get it — and who’ll share real-world tools to help your child (and you) feel more confident and supported.
Decoding Sensory Overload in Highly Sensitive Children
Imagine this situation: You're sitting at your kitchen table trying to focus. The TV in the living room is on and the volume is way too loud. Your phone keeps buzzing with notifications. The room feels stuffy and hot, and you can feel a bead of sweat forming on your forehead. Your partner is standing next to you trying to explain something something about the insurance policy and they need an answer right now. They keep talking, their voice getting louder to compete with the TV, and you can feel their impatience radiating off them.
Your heart starts to race. Your chest tightens. You feel your jaw clench. Every sound feels too loud and you just want everyone and everything to stop.
That feeling—that awful, suffocating, "I can't take one more second of this" feeling—that's sensory overload.
And that's exactly what your highly sensitive child experiences. Except they don't have the words to tell you what's happening. They don't know why they suddenly feel like their skin is crawling or why they want to scream or cry. They just know something feels terribly, overwhelmingly wrong. And they react the only way their little bodies know how: with tears, yelling, defiance, or shutting down completely.
Why It's So Hard to Spot
The tricky part is sensory overload doesn't always look like what we'd expect. We see a child melting down over "nothing"—refusing to wear certain clothes, crying when we ask them to hurry, or losing it in a busy store. But what we don't see is the buildup happening inside their bodies: the scratchy tag that's been bothering them all morning, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, the pressure of rushing when their nervous system needs more time.
Their little bodies are overwhelmed, and they don't have the emotional regulation skills we do as adults to keep it together. They're just trying to survive the feeling.
The Power of Empathy
When your child is in the throes of sensory overload, the best thing you can do is approach them with empathy instead of frustration. They're not trying to make your life harder. They're struggling, and they need you to be their calm in the storm.
This doesn't mean you have to fix it perfectly every time or never feel frustrated yourself. It just means pausing long enough to ask: What might be overwhelming them right now? Instead of reacting to the behavior, you're responding to the need underneath it.
Ready to Learn More?
In this week's blog post, we break down how to spot sensory overload before it reaches the breaking point, common sensory triggers, and what you can do in the moment to help your child regulate.
Because when you understand what's really happening inside your child's body, everything changes. You stop feeling like you're constantly battling them, and you start working with them instead.
🧸 The Perfect Cozy Hideaway
When your highly sensitive child is overloaded by noise, lights, or just life, having a quiet, safe space to retreat to can make all the difference. That’s why we love this kids play tent, it’s like a mini sanctuary your child can call their own.
Inside, there’s room for soft blankets, favorite stuffies, calming lights, and books—everything your child needs to decompress and reset when the world feels too loud.
💝 Save $10 on the Ultimate Sensory Survival Kit
When your highly sensitive child has the right sensory tools, daily life gets lighter. The right supports can mean fewer meltdowns, calmer mornings, smoother transitions, and a child who feels safe in their own skin.
That’s exactly why I created the Ultimate Sensory Survival Kit. It takes the guesswork out by showing you what to look for and giving you 115+ carefully chosen recommendations to help you build a toolkit that truly supports your child’s unique needs.
✨ For a limited time, you can grab the kit for $10 off with code SENSORY10.
🎥 What We’re Watching: Elio
We mentioned Elio back when it first hit theaters, but now that it’s streaming, we couldn’t not bring it up again—because it’s honestly become one of our favorite Disney movies.
The story follows a boy who feels so out of place on Earth that he literally asks aliens to abduct him… and they do. But underneath the adventure and the laughs, Elio is really about something much deeper: the bond between a (stand in) parent and a child who are trying to understand each other.
It’s a beautiful reminder that even when our sensitive kids feel misunderstood or alone, our connection with them is the tether that brings them back. No matter how far they drift (in space or in spirit), what they need most is to know we’re right there, loving them exactly as they are.
Before you go: Here are 2 ways I can help
1) 1:1 Coaching - Get 50% off 1:1 coaching to finally create a plan that actually works for YOUR highly sensitive child and YOUR specific triggers
2) How to Respond Calmly Your Highly Sensitive Child's Meltdowns - Transform how you respond to meltdowns, repair your relationship with your child, and become the parent you always wanted to be (even if you just yelled 5 minutes ago)
☕ 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! 💖
Until next week, sip slowly & savor the calm ☕