If you’ve ever fantasised about walking out of the house for five minutes just to breathe, this pause is for you. Because despite what we tell ourselves, that urge to escape for a moment isn’t a sign you’re failing - it’s a sign you’re human.

This time of year can feel like a perfect storm. Someone needs you, something burns, something spills, someone cries, and suddenly every cell in your body whispers, I need out. And honestly - I get it. So do most parents.

What if we stopped treating these moments as failures, and started seeing them as skilful? Wise, even. Because taking sixty seconds outside in the cold, yelling into a pillow, or hiding in the loo with a podcast is not abandoning the family - it’s modelling self-regulation. It’s showing them that adults get overwhelmed too, and we can take care of ourselves without shame.

And the magic trick? Tell your children what you’re doing. “I need a breather. I’ll be back in a minute.” It keeps their imaginations from filling the gap with guilt or fear. They’re sensitive creatures - they feel your stress long before you speak it.

So if the festive season feels intense, that’s because it is intense. You’re allowed to step outside the snowstorm, just long enough to find your footing again.

Thank you for pausing with me. Take care.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kimmccabe.substack.com/subscribe