04/30/2026
Has parenting ever hit you with a feeling you couldn't explain?
Not just tired or frustrated, but something deeper. A wave of panic over a tantrum. Rage that surprised you. The urge to just... disappear. Out of proportion to what was actually happening.
There's a reason for that. And it has nothing to do with being a bad parent.
When our kids melt down, get clingy, scream, or need more than we have, it can trigger something stored deep in our own nervous systems. Memories we didn't know were still there. Feelings from long before we became parents.
It's called an emotional flashback. It happens to more parents than you'd think. And recognizing it is the first step to something changing.
I wrote about this, what's actually happening in your body when parenting catches you off guard, and what you can do in the moment.
Link in the comments.
Tell me: has there been a parenting moment that hit you harder than you expected? You don't have to share details ‚even just "yes, this" lets others know they're not alone.