Winter break can turn parents into full-time cruise directors: planning, entertaining, smoothing… and still ending the day fried. In this episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude explains why over-functioning fuels burnout, why boredom is actually brain-building for kids, and how to step back without everything collapsing. You'll leave with simple scripts and Tiny Wins that make break feel calmer and more doable.

• If you feel like you're carrying the whole break (and getting resentful), start with Cruise Director → Guide Mode.
• If "I'm bored" is running your house, start with the Boredom Menu.
• If everyone's dysregulated and everything feels heavy, start with Planned Bare Minimum Days + a Good-Enough Day definition.

• Why Cruise Director Parenting spikes burnout and makes everyone pricklier (even with loving intentions).
• Why boredom isn't a moral failing—it's a brain-based opportunity for executive functioning and internal motivation to grow.
• Why autonomy-supportive structure works best: clear boundaries + simple choices + predictable rhythms.
• How a Good-Enough Day metric can reduce pressure (and improve behavior).
• How to use the Boredom Menu and planned Bare Minimum Days as guardrails (not "giving up").

• Define your Good-Enough Day: everyone ate, everyone moved a little, everyone connected once.
• Make a Boredom Menu with your kids during a calm moment—and redirect to it when boredom shows up.
• Schedule 1–2 Planned Bare Minimum Days and announce them as intentional.
• Pick only one "big thing" per day and protect white space.

• Cruise Director → Guide Mode: "I'm not here to entertain all day. I will help you make a plan."
• Boredom reframe: "Boredom is your brain looking for something to build. Let's check the Boredom Menu."
• Autonomy + boundary: "You can choose A or B. I'm not adding option C."
• Good-Enough Day anchor: "Today's goal is simple: eat, move, connect. That's success."
• Bare Minimum Day wording: "Today is a Bare Minimum Day on purpose. We're protecting our nervous systems."

• "Boredom isn't the enemy—over-functioning is what burns everyone out."
• "You don't have to make winter break magical to make it meaningful."
• "Clear boundaries plus simple choices is the sweet spot."

Join the Tiny Wins email list and download the free Big Feelings Decoder here: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder

Big Feelings Decoder helps you translate intense kid behavior (like constant "I'm bored," whining, snapping, or meltdowns) into what might be happening underneath—plus calm, nervous-system-friendly scripts to try right away.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized mental health, medical, or educational advice.

• Big Feelings Decoder: https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/bigfeelingsdecoder
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