You say no to something ordinary. Screens are done. It's time to leave. That's not happening tonight. The decision is clear, but the moment shifts anyway.

In this episode of Chaos to Context, Jody looks at why limits so often trigger outsized reactions in the middle grades, how developing autonomy and uneven regulation shape those moments, and what helps adults hold boundaries without getting pulled into escalation or self-doubt. The episode focuses on what's actually happening when a simple no changes the emotional balance, and how staying anchored to the present keeps both the boundary and the relationship intact.

This episode draws on developmental psychology, neuroscience, and the author's experience as a parent and educator.