Let’s be real—raising kids is already a full-time job. But when your child feels everything deeply and reacts like the world is ending over spilled juice or a bedtime delay, it can feel like you’re walking on eggshells all day long.
On this week’s episode of Wellness with Vanda, I sat down with parenting expert and clinical psychologist Rachel Bailey, and WOW—this one’s a must-listen if your home has been feeling like an emotional rollercoaster.
We talked all about how to raise kids with big emotions (without losing your own), why some children are more sensitive or strong-willed than others, and how you can parent with more confidence and less chaos.
What Are “Big Emotions” Anyway?
Rachel defines “big emotions” as more than just dramatic outbursts or bad behavior. It’s about emotional intensity—whether it’s sensitivity, anxiety, strong-willed responses, or just a lot of feelings that kids don’t yet know how to manage.
The kicker? These emotions often feel threatening to us as parents. We worry that if we don’t fix it immediately, things will spiral… and that’s when we jump in with our own big reactions.
Sound familiar?
The Yuck Cycle: Why Everyone Ends Up Dysregulated
Rachel introduces something she calls the Cycle of Yuck—when your child’s emotional explosion puts you into fight-or-flight, and then your reaction puts them even deeper into meltdown mode.
Breaking the cycle starts with one big shift: stop seeing your child’s reaction as a threat.
Instead of immediately correcting or reacting, she encourages us to stay grounded, recognize that our kids are struggling (not misbehaving), and stop engaging with their yuck in the moment. Then, we can teach the skills they need outside of the chaos.
How to Actually Help Your Child Build Emotional Resilience
Rachel shares practical strategies for helping kids widen their “zone of tolerance,” including:
- Teaching flexible thinking outside of emotional moments
- Helping kids name and externalize their feelings (some even draw their emotions!)
- Modeling calm responses instead of escalating the drama
- Developing what Rachel calls a “Threat Plan” to better handle your own triggers as a parent
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being intentional—especially when things don’t go as planned.
You Deserve Support Too, Mama
One of my favorite parts of this conversation? The reminder that your emotions matter too. Parenting a child with big feelings can be exhausting, especially when you’re running on empty yourself.
That’s why I’m always reminding you to fill your cup—whether that’s through simple self-care, mineral support, or (when you’re ready) diving into personalized hormone + mineral testing with me.
Because the more calm and regulated you feel, the easier it becomes to show up with the tools your child needs.
Want More Help With Big Feelings?
Rachel created a free resource just for this—“How to Handle Yuck in the Moment”—which walks you through what’s happening when your child is melting down and how to respond in a way that de-escalates the situation.
👆 You can grab that in the show notes of this episode, along with links to connect with Rachel and learn more about her parenting programs.