#68 Holiday Stress SOS: Your Survival Guide for Family Gatherings and School Breaks
Do you ever find yourself dreading the "well-meaning" advice from relatives who just don’t get it? Are you worried that the chaos of school breaks will lead to more meltdowns than magic for your struggling reader? Today, we’re getting real about the sensory overload and academic pressure that often hide behind the festive lights as I bring you your survival guide for family gatherings and school breaks!
In this episode, I share my proven frameworks for shutting down the "they just need to practice more" comments and explaining dyslexia in 30 seconds flat. We’ll dive into which routines are non-negotiable for a dyslexic brain and why I’m giving you full permission to ditch the holiday worksheets entirely, along with so much more.
By the end of this one, you’ll know exactly what you need to do to scout your "quiet zones," recruit family allies, and ensure this season is defined by connection rather than comparison.
Would you like to understand reports, ask the right questions, and get schools to take you seriously? Together Through Dyslexia 6-month program provides expert mentorship for parents of dyslexics and struggling readers, and you can claim your spot now at https://www.literacyuntangled.com/together-through-dyslexia!
My mini-course, From Lost to Empowered: How to Get Your Struggling Reader: The 3-Step Evaluation Request Blueprint for Parents of Struggling Readers, is available now! This 3-step evaluation request blueprint walks you through everything you need to know, from documenting concerns with the right details to writing the evaluation request letter with language that triggers legal timelines, to handling what to do when schools try to push you off, and so much more. You can break through the barriers NOW and get instant access at https://www.literacyuntangled.com/from-lost-to-empowered.
Topics Covered:
- A helpful response framework you can use for handling awkward holiday comments [2:37]
- Why you need to find your family allies ahead of time and not go at it all alone [4:11]
- Which routines to maintain to keep your child regulated while school is out for the holidays [4:53]
- The real reasons why your child needs a true academic break and a reminder that you absolutely can give yourself permission to skip the worksheets [5:54]
- Specific signs of sensory overload and social fatigue that often hide behind "bad behavior" during loud, bright, and crowded holiday events [7:15]
- How to approach building an emergency strategy and exit plan for gatherings over the holidays [8:19]
Key Takeaways:
- That your child will remember feeling supported and understood long after they forget the details of a specific tradition.
- Why having an exit plan is a powerful strategy to help protect your child’s nervous system.
- How to decouple intelligence from decoding and use a simple mental shift to advocate for your child.
When you're ready to work with me, here are 3 ways I can help you:
Claim your spot now to Together Through Dyslexia, my 6-month program providing expert mentorship for parents of dyslexics and struggling readers!
Subscribe to my Podcast Literacy Untangled Podcast for bimonthly episodes on navigating the dyslexia journey with your kid.
Want 1:1 help from an Orton-Gillingham expert? Book a call to see how I help kids who are struggling to learn how to read.
Have a question or want a certain topic covered? Send an email to [email protected] or a DM on Instagram.
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