When Holidays Feel Way Too Much: A Letter to Parents of ADHD and Uniquely Wired Kids

December has always held a strange kind of magic for me.

The lights, the music, the celebrations wrapped around me like a warm blanket. But beneath all that sparkle, especially as a child with an ADHD brain, long before anyone knew what that meant, the holidays were also an emotional hurricane. I felt everything bigger, louder, faster and nowhere was that more true than in December!

Now, as an adult who understands her uniquely wired brain, and as someone who supports families raising kids just like I was, I can see clearly what I couldn’t see then:

The holidays can be beautiful, and they can be overwhelming

sometimes in the very same breath.

And if your child is struggling this month with big emotions, overexcitement, clinginess, shutdowns, or meltdowns, it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It simply means their nervous system is on Holiday Overdrive.

Let’s talk about what that really means, from someone who’s lived it.

ADHD and emotionally sensitive brains are wired to feel life intensely.

Every sight, every sound, every change in routine hits deeper.

And December? It brings a flood of stimulation all at once.

Your child may be soaking in the same holiday magic as everyone else, but their brain is working ten times harder to process it. That added load can make them seem more reactive, more hyper, more sensitive, more emotional… and often more exhausted underneath it all! I know that exhaustion well. I lived it.

As a child, I wanted to enjoy the magic like everyone else. Instead, I often felt like I was “too much” Too excited, Too overwhelmed, Too forgetful, Too sensitive.

I masked it as best I could, but inside, my brain was spinning — and I didn’t know how to slow it down. Your child may feel the same. The difference is: they have you, a parent who is learning how their brain works, who notices their heart, and who wants tools that truly help.

What Holiday Overdrive Really Feels Like (From the Inside)

IMAGINE:

• Being thrilled for something… and terrified of it at the same time.

• Loving the lights… but feeling overstimulated by them.

• Wanting to be at every gathering… but feeling drained just thinking about it.

• Trying your hardest to “be good”… while your nervous system is bursting at the seams.

That is the ADHD brain in December. And your child isn’t trying to be difficult — they’re overwhelmed by sensations and expectations they can’t always name.

They don’t need perfection. They don’t need more discipline. T

hey just need support, predictability, and a soft place to land… you.

How We Help Our Kids Through Holiday Overdrive

We don’t need strict schedules. We don’t need elaborate plans.

We need compassion. We need predictability. We need tiny moments of regulation woven into the day.

A uniquely wired brain doesn’t need small, steady resets: a deep breath together after something exciting, a quiet moment before bed, a calm “Do you need a break?”, a sip of water after a big emotion, all simple movement resets when things start to bubble.

These tiny moments matter more than you’d ever imagine.

They anchor. They soothe. They create safety. And they shift everything.

The Gift Our Kids Bring

They feel the magic of this season in a way most adults have forgotten how to feel. They feel joy in technicolor. They love with their whole heart.

They see beauty where others overlook it.

And yes — they feel overwhelm and disappointment just as deeply. But, with the right support, that sensitivity becomes strength.

Let’s Navigate Holiday Overdrive Together

Because I know how intense this season can feel, for both you and your child, I’d love to invite your whole family to something gentle, fun, and heart-lifting:

🎄 Transforming Chaos Into Calm – Family Pajama Launch Party

December 6 7:00 PM EST Dress Code: Everyone in pajamas! Parents AND kids welcome!

Bring your cozy blankets, your favorite sippy or cocoa mug, and even

your favorite cuddly stuffed animals.

This is a space where families can exhale together.

A place where parents feel supported…and kids feel included, not “talked about.”

During our time together, we’ll slow things down and bring a little calm, connection, and bedtime magic into your home. Families can snuggled up together as we enjoy:

Gentle Movement

A Calming Bedtime Story

A Kid-Friendly Calm Challenge.

A Simple Craft

And we’ll end with a gentle family wind-down moment to help the whole household relax before bedtime.

Come exactly as you are. Come tired, hopeful, curious, overwhelmed, or wrapped in a blanket! You and your family are welcome here.

Hope to see you on December 6 at 7 PM EST on our Facebook Live Event @tippymissick

So, If the Holidays Feel Hard This Year… Please hear my heart:

"You are not failing. Your child is not misbehaving. Your family is not broken.

You are navigating one of the most stimulating seasons of the year with a uniquely wired child, and you are doing it with courage, compassion, and love.

You see their struggles. You’re searching for better tools.

You’re trying to understand their world.

And that matters more than you know.

With calm, compassion, and connection,

Coach Tippy