How to Stay Calm This Half-Term (Even When the Kids Are WILD)

Hi Subscriber First Name

Monday morning. All of my triplets have picked up an ungodly Japanese stomach bug from pre-school (don’t ask!). They are all grumpy and completely non-compliant – throwing potties down the stairs and at each other’s heads while I’m trying to get them ready – and I’m frantically searching for a document for a journalist that I just know I saved on Google Drive.

By the time we make it out of the house, fed, dressed, vaguely presentable, it’s 10am and I’m properly in the stress red zone.

Are you OK?" my husband asked.
"I’m fine." (Anyone saying this has got tracks to cover.)
"OK, where should we go on our day out this week?"
"It’s hard enough just to go to the park," I snapped.
"Oh," he said. "I didn’t realise you were in a bad mood."

(FYI, if you think someone is in a bad mood, this is the WORST thing to say.)

But what was really going on was that I was getting more and more wound up – both by my wild boys and by the missing file. And everyone was picking up on that vibe, which was making everyone worse.

The one fail-safe for me (and therefore my whole family, because I set the tone) is to get outside. So that’s what we did – and five minutes later, everyone was happy, well 5-minutes after the conversation above… I also noticed a daffodil which really made me smile. Sunny days are coming…

Compassion, Not Comparison

I felt pretty epic for making it to the park. Then I looked on Instagram and saw a friend had taken their son F1 racing.

Let’s be real – it’s not realistic that your kids will have their best day ever every day, or that you can drop everything or fund that kind of lifestyle.

In reality, kids don’t need a jam-packed VIP schedule. They need you – and they need downtime too.

In fact, research shows that boredom is actually elite parenting. It teaches them creativity and problem-solving.

How to Reset Your Nervous System (and Theirs!)

Regulating your stress levels isn’t just for you – it’s for them too. Kids don’t self-regulate, they co-regulate.

I’ll save you the science, but basically, whatever energy I put out, I get boomeranged back to me threefold – so from the very beginning, it’s been crucial to stay as calm and grounded as I can. To notice when I’m not and actually do something about it.

Here’s what works for me:

For when you’ve only got a minute.

💜 Take 5-5. Close your eyes and take five slow breaths. Now think of a colour. Open your eyes and find five things in that colour. (Bonus: you can get older kids to do this too.)

For when you’ve got a few minutes.

💜 Listen to a calming song. If you’ve been with me a while, you’ll know my go-to is Breathe it In by Beautiful Chorus, but whatever slows you down. Classical music would work well.

For when you’ve got at least 10 minutes.

💜 Get outside. Fresh air and movement work wonders – even if it’s just a ten-minute walk. People used to marvel at the sight of me out with my triple pram and teeny prem babies, but not only would they stop crying (and possibly sleep) if I took them out for a walk, I got some sunshine, and my dog got a walk. Wins all round.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s regulation.

So, what’s been your low-key win this half-term? Hit reply and let me know.

Much love 🙏🏽

Leila (and the triplets) xxx

PS. Photo is of Rafa hosing my laundry. Cheap thrills.