Hey teacher friend, it’s that time of year when the real holiday stress hits. Not from the students. Not even from admin.
From parents… and from ourselves.

Between “Will there be a Christmas concert?” emails and “Can you send one more progress update?” requests, it can feel impossible to keep up.
In this episode, we’re talking about how to handle parent pressure and classroom expectations before the holidays, with grace, clear boundaries, and a bit of humor.

• Why parent pressure often comes from love (and worry, not criticism)

• How to use proactive communication to reduce stress for everyone

• Ways to balance festive fun with realistic IEP and classroom goals

• Simple boundary phrases that protect your time and energy

• Why your calm, predictable classroom matters more than perfection

• Send short, consistent updates to prevent last-minute questions

• Share wins before parents ask for progress

• Set clear expectations for special events (“No costumes needed”)

• Reframe “Can you also…?” requests with kindness and boundaries

• Remember: purpose beats perfection, simple activities count too

You don’t owe anyone “extra.”
You owe your students your calm, your care, and your energy, and that’s already more than enough.
So give yourself grace, set those boundaries, and remember: your classroom’s magic comes from belonging, not glitter.

Hey teacher friend, let’s get real for a minute.
The holidays are coming, your classroom smells like candy canes and chaos, and somewhere between the glitter and the Christmas concerts… the teacher guilt starts creeping in.

That little voice that says:

“I should be doing more.”
“I feel bad saying no.”
“Maybe I can squeeze in just one more thing.”

In this episode, we’re talking about teacher guilt and boundaries before the holidays.. why guilt shows up, what it’s really trying to tell you, and how to protect your time and energy without feeling bad about it.

• Why guilt hits hardest right before school breaks

• The cost of always saying “yes” (and what it’s taking from you)

• Practical ways to set time, energy, and emotional boundaries

• How saying “no” actually helps your students too

• A mindset shift to replace guilt with grounded self-care

When guilt says “You should be doing more,” reframe it as:

“I’m saying yes to something that matters more right now.”
Whether that’s rest, family time, or simply leaving work on time — it all counts.

You don’t have to make the holidays magical... you just have to make them manageable.
Your students don’t need a perfect teacher; they need a present one.
Rest is productive. Boundaries are brave. You deserve both.

Hey teacher friend, it’s that time of year again! The classroom is buzzing with pre-holiday excitement, glitter is everywhere, and students seem to have collectively decided that rules are optional.

When chaos hits, it’s easy to reach for more consequences... more visuals, more reminders, more “If you don’t do this, you’ll lose that.”
But here’s the truth: our neurodivergent students don’t need more consequences… they need more consistency.

In this episode, I’m sharing why consistency builds safety, why consequences often backfire, and how small predictable routines can make your classroom calmer, happier, and more connected this season.

• Why predictability = safety for neurodivergent students

• The difference between regulating through consistency vs. reacting with consequences

• Simple ways to keep routines steady during chaotic holiday weeks

• How calm, predictable responses build trust and reduce anxiety

• Keep morning and goodbye routines the same, even when the schedule changes

• Show visual reminders for special events or surprises

• Stay calm and steady... your tone is their safety cue

• Replace “Stop or you’ll lose recess” with “I can see this is hard. Let’s take a break.”

Your students don’t need a perfect teacher... they need a predictable one.