Maycember is here: theme days you find out about at 8:47 p.m., end-of-year events, and, for middle and high school families, finals and exam stress layered on top of everything else. In this episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude shares a simple Finish Line Mode plan to lower demands without losing structure, so your kid can finish the year feeling capable, not crispy. You'll leave with tiny wins you can use this week, including the Sleep, School, Connection anchors and a quick 10–10–10 exam plan that turns "I'm cooked" into "okay, I can start."

• Why Maycember is a capacity season, not a character test, for kids or parents
• The MV3 Finish Line Mode anchors: Sleep, School, Connection
• How to lower demands using the Drop, Modify, Keep method
• The 10–10–10 Exam Rescue to help middle and high schoolers map finals week
• How to support teen self-advocacy without bulldozing school communication

• Write MV3 on a sticky note: Sleep, School, Connection
• Do the 10–10–10 Exam Rescue once (30 minutes total)
• Pick a school anchor for the last two weeks (example: exam days or first period)
• Help your teen send one self-advocacy message (they write it, you proofread)
• Add an 8-minute connection check-in daily (no fixing, just presence)

Pick one. One is enough.

• Volcano Moments + Hurricane Level Feelings: What to say before your kid explodes. – scripts for the moment right before things blow. https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/volcanomoments
• School Psych Toolkit (K–12) – support for home–school problem-solving. https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/schoolpsychtoolkit

• The term Maycember captures how May can feel like December-level intensity, packed with end-of-year events and parent mental load. https://theholdernessfamily.com/mayisthenewdecember/
• End-of-year transitions can feel bittersweet, and that mixed emotion can raise stress for both kids and parents as routines shift. https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/scientific-mommy/202505/parenting-through-the-bittersweet-end-of-another-school-year
• American Academy of Pediatrics family guidance emphasizes routines and basic supports, especially sleep, as anchors that help kids function during school seasons and transitions. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/school/Pages/back-to-school-tips.aspx

• Shownotes and Previous Episodes: https://psyched2parent.com/podcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psyched2parent/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@psyched2parent
• Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/psyched2parent/

If you'd like to support Amy's fundraiser: https://kyle-pease-foundation-inc.networkforgood.com/projects/297130-amy-patenaude-s-fundraiser

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a provider-client relationship. If you're concerned about your child's mental health, safety, or development, please consult a qualified professional in your area.

Bedtime is when kids' brains time-travel—especially after your family has lived through serious illness or loss. In this ALS Awareness Month mini episode (1 of 3), Dr. Amy shares her personal "why" and gives you kid-sized truth (not the whole ocean), plus exact scripts for the "Are you going to die?" questions that tend to show up when the lights go out.

• Why bedtime questions hit harder (it's nervous-system inventory, not drama)
• How to avoid the two extremes: forever promises vs fear-flooding
• The middle path: truth + steadiness + a plan + connection
• Exactly what to say for the first question and the sticky follow-up
• How to use Two Hands + Three Breaths to help your child's body settle
• What to say if your child replays scary equipment memories (one sentence, then connection)

• Pick one anchor phrase: "I'm healthy right now. And you are taken care of."
• Use the boundary: "Kid-sized pieces only."
• Offer the choice: "Hug, facts, or quiet company?"
• Do Two Hands + Three Breaths after you answer
• If you get flooded: step out for 30 seconds, breathe, then come back with: "That hit my heart too. I'm here."

Pick one. One is enough.

• Donate or share the fundraiser (Kyle Pease Foundation)
  https://kyle-pease-foundation-inc.networkforgood.com/projects/297130-amy-patenaude-s-fundraiser
• Free Volcano Moments + Hurricane Level Feelings phrases guide
  https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/volcanomoments
• Summer Without the Spiral: A Parent Workshop to Build a Simple Summer Plan for Learning, Play, Screens, and Sanity (May 14 webinar)
  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8017774015643/WN_PDHZiQKXTu-1eo_9_5NAiA
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/psyched2parent/
• Facebook
  https://www.facebook.com/psyched2parent/
• TikTok
  https://www.tiktok.com/@psyched2parent

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a provider-client relationship. If you're concerned about your child's mental health, safety, or development, please consult a qualified professional in your area.

Red Zone Parenting: Why Kids Won't Listen in Meltdowns Episode summary

Ever tried to reason with your kid mid-meltdown… and it made everything worse? In this episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude breaks down what the Red Zone actually is—when your child's brain is flooded and they genuinely can't listen, even if your logic is perfect. You'll learn what to do instead of talking, why after-school meltdowns hit so hard, and the short scripts that help kids settle faster (without you becoming Category 5, too).

In this episode you'll learn

• Why kids won't listen in the Red Zone (and why it's not "defiance")
• How to spot the early tells (the eye shift, rigid body, "angry seatbelt click") before the volcano erupts
• How the "Last Word Trophy" trap escalates both of you
• The Category 5 rule: no teaching—what to do when your kid is fully flooded
• What to say instead: short, repeatable scripts that keep safety and connection intact
• How to teach + repair after the storm passes (when learning actually happens)

Tiny Wins to try this week

• Pick one Red Zone phrase and practice saying it out loud when you're calm (yes, really).
• When you notice your child's early tells (eye shift, rigid body, forceful car door/seatbelt), treat that as your cue to say less and slow down.
• Try the "two choices" structure during transitions: "Now or two minutes."
• If your brain starts doing the dishwasher spin cycle, take a 90-second reset so you don't become Category 5, too.
• After the meltdown, do one repair sentence: "We're back. That was big. Next time we'll try earlier."

Pick one. One is enough.

Free resources

• Volcano Moments Guide — phrases for hurricane-level feelings (so you're not improvising mid-eruption): https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/volcanomoments

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a provider-client relationship. If you're concerned about your child's mental health, safety, or development, please consult a qualified professional in your area.

Links & follow

• Shownotes + previous episodes: https://psyched2parent.com/podcast/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psyched2parent/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psyched2parent
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@psyched2parent