World Mental Health Day 2026

On October 10, 2026October 10, 2026 By justmymomsenseIn Mental Health, UncategorizedLeave a comment

When you realize panic attacks are actually real and you’re not just “being dramatic.” Be kind to your brain today and everyday!

Although this is from a comedy TV show, I think everyone has either been unsure as to whether or not they’re being dramatic or have been accused of being dramatic by someone else. Mental health is real health, and it deserves the same care we give everything else on our list.

If you’re a parent, you probably spend most of your energy making sure everyone else is okay. Did they eat? Did they sleep? Are their shoes on the right feet? Are they overwhelmed by the noise, the tags, the transitions, the everything? Somewhere in all of that, your own mental health slides to the bottom of the to-do list, right under “find the other sock.”

So today I want to say something plainly: I am pro-therapy. Therapy is not a failure and it’s not shameful.

Here’s what I’ve learned, both as a mom and as someone who talks a lot about regulation in this space:

We can’t teach regulation we haven’t practiced. I spend so much time helping kids name their feelings, take breaks, and find their calm. It would be pretty hypocritical to expect that of them while white-knuckling my own stress.

Needing support isn’t failing. We would never tell a child with a skinned knee to just tough it out. Our brains deserve the same care.

Therapy isn’t only for crisis. It’s a place to untangle things before they become knots. It’s okay to go because you’re tired, overloaded, or just want someone in your corner. It’s ok to go before the volcano bubbles over.

Our kids are watching. When they see us ask for help, they learn that asking for help is normal and strong. That might be the most valuable thing I can model.

And a gentle truth for my neurodivergent-parenting crowd: this journey can be isolating. The appointments, the advocacy, the second-guessing, the unsolicited advice from the grocery store line. You are carrying a lot. You’re allowed to have a place to set it down.

If you’ve been thinking about reaching out to a therapist, consider this your nudge. It can feel awkward to start, and finding the right fit sometimes takes a few tries. That’s normal, and it’s worth it.

And if you’re in a hard place right now, you don’t have to wait for the perfect moment. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 anytime to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Take care of you today. The kids will be okay if you take ten minutes. Honestly, they’ll be better for it.

Emotional regulation printables available at: justmymomsense.etsy.com

Listen to the Just My MomSense podcast on your favorite podcatcher or click on the tab above.

Prime Big Deal Days 2026: A Sensory-Friendly Shopping Guide for Parents

On October 6, 2026October 10, 2026 By justmymomsenseIn Sensory ResourcesLeave a comment

Amazon’s October sale, Prime Big Deal Days, runs October 6-7, and it’s happening right now. If you’re parenting a child with sensory needs, you already know that the right tool at the right moment can change a whole day. Fall is also when we start thinking about school routines, cold-weather clothing battles, and holiday gifts that won’t overwhelm anyone.

I put together my go-to categories to watch during the sale. Deals change throughout the event and Prime membership is required, so I’ve linked the products instead of listing prices. Tap through to see today’s price.

1. Calm-Down and Regulation Tools

Sensory regulation tools are the things I’d buy first.

Noise-reducing headphones for loud places like restaurants, assemblies, fireworks, and theme parks. Here are my recommendations:
- Headphones
- Loop Ear Plugs
Weighted blankets: Check the weight guidance for your child’s size and talk to your pediatrician or OT if you’re unsure. Here are my recommendations:
- Unicorn Weighted Blanket
- Blanket in various colors
Fidgets for the classroom or car ride. Here are my recommendations:
- Worry Stones
- Transformable Fidget

2. Comfortable Clothes (Goodbye, Morning Battles)

Seamless socks: https://amzn.to/4AR0pu9
Tagless tees: https://amzn.to/4dU7Mao
Cozy loversized hoodie for the cold months: https://amzn.to/47o2sbX

3. Routine and Transition Helpers

Visual timers that make “five more minutes” something kids can see: https://amzn.to/3TpX4lf
Picture schedules or routine chart: https://amzn.to/4dZsyFF
White noise machines for better sleep: https://amzn.to/4dIA4ov
Lavender Oil: https://amzn.to/4765d1e
MP3 Player: https://amzn.to/3TN3WsW

4. Movement and Sensory Play

Indoor swings. My recommendations:
Tunnel for indoor play: https://amzn.to/4ASkWyG
Kinetic sand and Play-Doh:

5. Early Holiday Gift Ideas

I like to shop early so I’m not scrambling in December.

My Shopping Strategy

Make a list first. Decide what you need before you scroll.
Set a budget and stick to it.
Check the price history on any item you’ve had your eye on.
Read recent reviews, especially from parents of kids with similar needs.
Check return policies so you can try things at home.

The sale ends Wednesday, October 7, at 11:59 p.m. PT, so don’t wait too long. Come back and let me know what you grabbed!

Prices and availability change quickly and are set by Amazon at the time you click. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click a link above and buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share things I’d genuinely recommend to another parent.

Sensory Processing Awareness Month

On October 1, 2026October 1, 2026 By justmymomsenseIn Sensory Processing Awareness, Sensory ResourcesLeave a comment

Every October, Sensory Processing Awareness Month rolls around, and if you’re not living it, it can feel like just another hashtag. But if you’re raising a sensory-sensitive child, this is one of the few months where the world briefly uses language you already know by heart.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) affects how the brain receives and responds to sensory information: sound, touch, light, movement, taste, texture. For those with sensory sensitivites, a scratchy tag, a fluorescent light, or a crowded room isn’t a minor annoyance. It’s a full-body experience that can trigger stress, and it often gets mistaken for “bad behavior” instead of what it actually is: a nervous system doing its best with too much input.

Why awareness actually matters here

The biggest thing awareness does isn’t just spread information, it gives parents, teachers, and even extended family a reason to ask questions instead of jumping to judgment. A family member who reads one article about SPD is one who might understand why a kid needs headphones at a birthday party instead of assuming they’re being dramatic.

A few ways to mark the month, even quietly

Share one honest post about what sensory processing looks like in your house, so many parents are relieved to see they’re not alone
Send one article or resource to a teacher, coach, or family member who interacts with your child regularly
Build (or restock) a small sensory toolkit: headphones, fidgets, a coping card, something with deep pressure
Give yourself credit. Parenting a sensory-sensitive child is a full-time job most people never see

Podcast

Check out the latest episode of the Just My MomSense Podcast where I talk more about Sensory Processing Awareness Month

Two freebies that may help understand feelings:

Feelings Check-in

Emotional Regulation

Etsy Products that may help navigate Sensory Processing better

Sensory Trigger Tracker

Visual Schedule Printable for Kids

Brain Break Cards

Halloween With a Sensory-Sensitive Child | Costumes and Calm

On September 29, 2026September 29, 2026 By justmymomsenseIn Sensory Processing AwarenessLeave a comment

Halloween looks like pure fun on the surface: costumes, candy, neighborhood excitement. But for a lot of sensory-sensitive and neurodivergent kids, it can be overwhelming: scratchy costumes, loud strangers, flashing lights, unpredictable noises, and a schedule that’s nothing like a normal evening. On today’s episode of the Just My MomSense podcast I’m talking about planning for Halloween and how it may not look the way you imagined.

Click here to listen to the full episode or listen on your favorite podcatcher!

As mentioned in the episode:

Halloween Communication Cards

Holiday Calm Kit

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Visit Just My MomSense on Etsy for digital downloads to help calm big emotions.

Follow Just My MomSense across the social media universe:

Why I Created The Just My MomSense Etsy Shop

On September 26, 2026 By justmymomsenseIn Printable ResourcesLeave a comment

If you’ve been following the podcast or blog for a while, you know Just My MomSense started as a place to talk honestly about parenting overall and especially parenting sensory-sensitive children.

Somewhere along the way, that turned into something else too: a small shop of printable tools built from the exact situations my own family has lived through.

Everything in the shop comes from a real moment: a meltdown at a birthday party, a holiday gathering that went sideways, a child who needed the words for “I’m overwhelmed” and didn’t have them yet. So instead of generic worksheets, you’ll find things like:

Coping card sets for specific hard moments (family gatherings, holidays, big feelings)
Emotional regulation tools, including bilingual (Spanish/English) options
Sensory support kits built around real-life situations like travel, school transitions, doctor visits, restaurants
Simple printable crafts for fine motor and early literacy practice, made with sensory-friendly kids in mind

The shop is designed to hand them (and you) something concrete to reach for in a hard moment because half the battle with sensory overload is not knowing what to do when it hits.

If you’re new here: welcome. If you’ve been around a while: thank you for letting this become more than just a blog. You can browse the full shop here [Just My MomSense Etsy Shop] and if there’s a specific situation you’re struggling with that isn’t covered yet, let me know!

New Podcast Episode: Regulation 101

On September 22, 2026September 22, 2026 By justmymomsenseIn Parent Life, PodcastLeave a comment

This week I’m breaking down regulation: what it actually is, the difference between self-regulation and co-regulation, and steps you can use the moment your child is overwhelmed. Listen here:

Just My MomSense Podcast

Grab the free companion guide, Regulation 101 by clicking here.

Grab Dr. Matt’s book: Neurodiversity Playbook by clicking here.

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Visit Just My MomSense on Etsy for digital downloads to help calm big emotions.

Follow Just My MomSense across the social media universe:

One stop shop: www.justmymomsense.com

Between the Stacks | My Thoughts on Going to the Library

On September 20, 2026September 20, 2026 By justmymomsenseIn Parent Life, Public LibraryLeave a comment

I have a hot take.

In fairness, I didn’t realize it was a hot take until recently, but apparently I was wrong.

Here it is: going to the library and using library resources is awesome!

Growing up, I barely went to the library. I remember stopping in from time to time but it wasn’t a constant thing. I never thought too much about it and that was because I didn’t know enough.

My kids have had their own library cards since they were infants. We would take them to music classes there and of course take out lots of books along the way. Since then our love for the library has grown.

Benefits of the Library:

The obvious: Taking out books! Your favorite books, new books, discovering new genres and authors, the opportunities are endless.
Movies! If you’re like me, you miss Blockbuster! Dust off that DVD player and head to your library on a Friday night to take out a movie. You get a hit of nostalgia and your kids get a little hint of what a weekend in the 90s was like!
Video Games! Have a gaming system but don’t want to invest in a game that you’re not sure you’ll love? Try it out courtesy of the library!
Museum Passes! Most libraries offer free passes to local museums, botanical gardens and more! Some even offer discounted tickets to local zoos and aquariums, so be sure to ask your librarian about their offerings.
Classes! From babies to adults, your library may offer music classes, workout classes, financial classes and everything in between.
Movie screenings, concerts and other entertainment opportunities! This one speaks for itself. Want to check out a movie you missed in the theater? It may be playing on a rainy Saturday at your library.
Work spaces! If you are a remote worker and need a quiet place to focus, this is the perfect place. Many libraries also offer conferences rooms you can rent and soundproof phone booths to take a call.
Passport services, 3D printers, Seed Libraries, Oh My! Honestly, there is so much your library may be offering that you may be unaware of; so it’s always great to ask about all of the possibilities when you visit.

Each summer, my county offers a library tour and a few years ago we did it! You can pick up a passport book and have it stamped at every library you visit! I wrote about our experience in a previous blog, which you can check out my clicking here. I loved this opportunity as it gave us a chance to visit libraries we may not have thought of visiting otherwise.

I love that my kids still love going to the library and have grown up there. They’ve attended classes, had playdates and taken out more books and movies than I can count. I feel fortunate that we have this amazing space in our neighborhood and so many others throughout the area.

So that’s it, that’s my hot take. Libraries are awesome and I recommend checking out the one in your neighborhood!

Love the library like we do? Leave a comment or follow along on social media, you may catch some of our library hauls!

Where else you can find me:

Visit Just My MomSense on Etsy for digital downloads to help calm big emotions.

Follow Just My MomSense across the social media universe:

Figuring This Out, Out Loud

On September 15, 2026 By justmymomsenseIn Parent Life, PodcastLeave a comment

I finally put out a new episode of the podcast! It’s been awhile and this one’s more of a stream of consciousness.

For a while now, this space has been a mix of two things: here’s what happened with my kids, and here’s what I learned from it. My kids are getting older, and I want to be more protective about what I’m sharing. I still want to be helpful. I still want to be honest. I just don’t want to keep narrating their lives to do it. Instead of leading with what happened with them, I want to lean more into what I’m learning, from books, from conversations with other parents, from professionals. The podcast has always felt like a place that sat in between their personal stories and what I’ve learned from them. Moving forward, I’m going to lean more into the what I’ve learned portion.

This won’t be perfectly consistent. Some episodes might still include a personal story that feels okay to share. Others will just be reflections, borrowed wisdom, or something I read that reframed my whole week.

Since life got away from me last year when it came to the podcast, I wanted to provide an update of where I’m at. Not much is changing but I wanted to share what I’ve been thinking.

If you’ve ever felt this same pull, wanting to share and wanting to protect at the same time, I’d love to hear how you’ve handled it. That’s kind of the whole point of this space anyway: figuring it out together, in real time.

🎧 Listen to the full episode, “Figuring This Out, Out Loud,” wherever you get your podcasts, or you can click ‘play’ below:

Where else you can find me:

Visit Just My MomSense on Etsy for digital downloads to help calm big emotions.

Follow Just My MomSense across the social media universe:

Why I Create and Share Resources for Kids and Families Who Feel Everything

On May 23, 2026 By justmymomsenseIn Printable ResourcesLeave a comment

If you’ve been here for a while, you know that Just My MomSense has always been about me wanting to share things I’ve learned as a way to hopefully help other parents. Over the years, through the research, the conversations, and the the trial and error of parenting kids who experience the world a little differently, I’ve learned some things that genuinely changed how I show up for my kids.

The Thing That Changed Everything For Us: Co-Regulation

Your child cannot regulate their emotions alone and that’s not because something is wrong with them, it’s because their brain literally isn’t built that way yet.

Co-regulation is the idea that kids regulate their nervous systems through connection with a calm adult. When you stay calm during a meltdown, when you lower your voice instead of raising it, when you sit nearby without demanding anything, you are literally lending your regulated nervous system to your child. For me, understanding this changed how I responded. Instead of trying to stop the meltdown, I started focusing on being the calm in it.

Please note that I know this is easier said than done when you’re in the middle of a spiral at 7am before school.

The Sooner They Can Name It, The Less It Controls Them

Another thing I’ve learned is that feelings that have a name are easier to manage than feelings that don’t.

When a child can say “I feel overwhelmed” instead of just melting down, something shifts in their brain. The thinking part comes back online. They feel understood instead of out of control. Over time, that emotional vocabulary becomes one of the most powerful tools they have.

This is why feelings check-ins matter so much, not as a worksheet exercise, but as a daily practice. When kids get used to checking in with how they feel, they start to recognize their own patterns. They notice when they’re getting close to the edge before they go over it. That awareness is so important. Kids who develop emotional literacy earlier tend to have better relationships, stronger self-advocacy skills, and fewer behavioral challenges as they get older. It’s not about being perfect, it’s just about building the language.

Things I Made

I started an Etsy shop awhile back without showing it much love. I wasn’t sure what I really wanted to put out there but I know I wanted it to be useful.

I wanted to take what I’ve learned about sensory processing, emotional regulation, meltdown support, routines and turn it into something practical. Something you could print out and actually use. Something that meets kids where they are and helps the adults who love them feel a little less lost.

Some of the items there include:

Calm Down Corner Kit: everything you need to set up a calm down corner that actually works, including a feelings check-in, breathing techniques, a calm down menu, and affirmation cards.

Meltdown vs. Tantrum Explainer Pack: because understanding the difference changes everything about how you respond. Includes a caregiver guide, trigger tracker, and recovery plan.

Sensory Overload Trigger Tracker: a sensory profile, trigger log, sensory diet planner, environment checklist, and calm plan all in one pack.

Visual Daily Schedule: routine charts, a school day planner, transition warning cards, a feelings check-in strip, and a reward chart. Great for kids who thrive on predictability.

Kids Sensory Journal: a way to help kids build mindfulness, gratitude, and emotional awareness.

Emotion Identification Cards, Brain Break Cards, and more!

Everything is an instant digital download. No branding on any of the pages. Print as many times as you need.

You can browse the full shop right here: Just My MomSense on Etsy

I Made A Freebie Too!

If you’re not sure where to start or just want to try something before you buy, I have a free printable for you.

The 5-Minute Feelings Check-In is a simple, kid-friendly tool you can use every single day to help your child build that emotional vocabulary we talked about. It takes five minutes. It’s free. And it’s a great first step toward helping your child understand what’s happening inside them before it comes out sideways.

Grab it here: Get the Free 5-Minute Feelings Check-In ← add your freebie link here

I want parents to know that what you’re doing matters. The fact that you’re reading this, looking for tools, trying to understand your child’s experience, that’s huge!

Some helpful links:

Just My MomSense on Etsy

Just My MomSense Podcast

Just My MomSense Previous Blogs

The 5-Minute Feelings Check-in That Can Change Your Morning

On May 7, 2026 By justmymomsenseIn Printable ResourcesLeave a comment

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we talk a lot in our house about tools in the toolbox.

Anything that helps you reset when big feelings show up is a tool. Breathing, listening to music, building something with Legos, going for a walk, sitting quietly for two minutes. All of it counts. There’s no right or wrong tool.

Kids do so much better when they already know what their tools are before a hard moment hits. When everyone is calm is exactly the right time to figure it out together, not in the middle of a meltdown when nobody can think straight.

A feelings check-in is exactly what it sounds like: a simple, intentional pause to ask “how are you feeling right now?” before the day gets away from you. The simpler the better.

Kids, especially young ones, often don’t have the language for what they’re feeling. When you give kids a regular, low-pressure moment to check in with their emotions, a few things happen:

They build emotional vocabulary. The more often a child practices naming feelings, the easier it becomes in harder moments.
They feel seen. Being asked “how are you feeling?” and having someone actually listen to the answer, tells a child that their inner world matters.
You catch things early. A quick check-in can reveal that your child is anxious about a test, sad about something that happened yesterday, or just tired. Things you might not have known until the meltdown.
It works for parents too. Checking in with yourself alongside your child models exactly the behavior you’re trying to teach. Kids learn emotional regulation by watching adults do it.

If you want something tangible to anchor the habit, I made a free one-page Feelings Check-In printable you can print and stick on the fridge.

It includes a simple mood scale kids can point to, a space to write one thing on their mind, a grounding prompt, and a check-in section for parents too because you deserve to be asked how you’re feeling as well.

Grab your free Feelings Check-In printable here!

Print it once, use it every day. Some families laminate it and use a dry erase marker. Some print a fresh one each week. Whatever works for your house.

The mornings won’t always be perfect. But having a simple tool that opens the door to connection, even on the hard days, makes a difference. Not just for your kids, but for you too.