Sensory Play, SAD & Letting Kids Be People
Wed Jan 28 2026
This week, Krista and Samantha ease into the new year with a wide-ranging, honest conversation about parenting, mental health, and the strange in-between feeling that January often brings. They talk openly about seasonal affective disorder, energy dips, and the pressure to have resolutions figured out before you’ve even found your footing again.
From there, the conversation moves into the realities of modern parenting — sensory play, behaviour systems, capsule wardrobes, and the never-ending tension between encouraging independence and just getting through the day. Krista and Samantha share their own experiences navigating clutter, materialism, and the emotional load that comes with trying to “do it right” while still letting kids be kids.
Threaded throughout is a deeper reflection on growth — for parents and children alike. They explore sibling dynamics, self-expression, chores, and the long game of raising capable humans, all with humour, perspective, and a healthy dose of realism. It’s a grounding, familiar episode for anyone parenting through winter while quietly asking, are we doing okay?
Takeaways and Merit Badges Earned:
🌥️ Seasonal shifts can shape your energy and patience more than you realise.
📆 A new year doesn’t always come with clarity — sometimes it just comes with feelings.
⚖️ Work-life balance is less about balance and more about constant adjustment.
🧸 Sensory play can be great for kids… and deeply overstimulating for parents.
🧺 Clutter isn’t just physical — it adds to the mental load.
👕 Letting kids have personality often means surrendering aesthetic control.
🧹 Chores aren’t punishment — they’re practice for independence.
👫 Siblings can love each other deeply and still drive each other nuts.
🎯 Behaviour systems work best when they’re simple and realistic.
🌱 Parenting is personal growth disguised as child-rearing.
💌 Follow us on Instagram: @MamaMeritBadge
⭐ If this episode felt like a mirror, sharing it with a friend or leaving a review helps more parents find these conversations.
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This week, Krista and Samantha ease into the new year with a wide-ranging, honest conversation about parenting, mental health, and the strange in-between feeling that January often brings. They talk openly about seasonal affective disorder, energy dips, and the pressure to have resolutions figured out before you’ve even found your footing again. From there, the conversation moves into the realities of modern parenting — sensory play, behaviour systems, capsule wardrobes, and the never-ending tension between encouraging independence and just getting through the day. Krista and Samantha share their own experiences navigating clutter, materialism, and the emotional load that comes with trying to “do it right” while still letting kids be kids. Threaded throughout is a deeper reflection on growth — for parents and children alike. They explore sibling dynamics, self-expression, chores, and the long game of raising capable humans, all with humour, perspective, and a healthy dose of realism. It’s a grounding, familiar episode for anyone parenting through winter while quietly asking, are we doing okay? Takeaways and Merit Badges Earned: 🌥️ Seasonal shifts can shape your energy and patience more than you realise. 📆 A new year doesn’t always come with clarity — sometimes it just comes with feelings. ⚖️ Work-life balance is less about balance and more about constant adjustment. 🧸 Sensory play can be great for kids… and deeply overstimulating for parents. 🧺 Clutter isn’t just physical — it adds to the mental load. 👕 Letting kids have personality often means surrendering aesthetic control. 🧹 Chores aren’t punishment — they’re practice for independence. 👫 Siblings can love each other deeply and still drive each other nuts. 🎯 Behaviour systems work best when they’re simple and realistic. 🌱 Parenting is personal growth disguised as child-rearing. 💌 Follow us on Instagram: @MamaMeritBadge ⭐ If this episode felt like a mirror, sharing it with a friend or leaving a review helps more parents find these conversations.