BLOG: How to Stay Regulated (and Sane) When Your Kids Are Constantly Interrupting Your 'ME Time'

How to Stay Sane When Your Kids Are Constantly Interrupting Your 'Me Time' This Summer

When I say "ME time," I don’t mean long, peaceful hours spent sipping coffee in complete silence like you used to do in the olden days - you know, before you had these little tiny humans chasing you around. These days, ME TIME looks a little different. But it’s just as important, if not more so - because it’s so limited! So, we need to figure out how to grab those short moments when we’re not interrupted. I’m talking about the moments when you need to use your brain, dive into something important, or even take five minutes to practice yoga and breathe. Time to find that regulated space where things feel easier, flowing even. It's so important for busy brains to find this space - this window of tolerance, it’s known as. In fact, it’s essential.

In the summer holidays, especially, finding moments to regulate and take a breath on your own feels few and far between. It’s easy to feel like all the work you’ve done on your nervous system can go right out the window in an instant. Trust me, I absolutely get it. And I hope I can make some suggestions to help.

I really love having my kids home. I love researching activities, writing lists (and losing them in the kitchen pile...), and going on adventures. But there comes a point when I need to fill my own cup, regulate my nervous system, and just be. That’s when I want to sit at my desk, focus on writing, create, or take a quick yoga break to reset. But then, there's that little tap at the door and just as I find that moment of quiet, my 4-year-old bursts into the room with her Nintendo Switch, asking a thousand questions: “How do I put on the wetsuit, Mummy? How do I go into the shop, Mummy? How do I make them stop talking, Mummy?”

For those who know Animal Crossing, you’ll understand the charm of these questions. But not when you’re trying to focus. I love her so much, but she doesn’t stop talking. Not for a second. When I’m in my “getting-things-done” mode, I feel the tension building. It’s not that I don’t want to help or enjoy the moment, it’s just that I just wanted five minutes to breathe, think, and focus without interruption.

As an ADHD mum, long stretches of focus aren’t a luxury I get often. I work in short bursts, but when I’m constantly interrupted, the frustration builds fast. I know I need to regulate myself, and I know I have the tools to do it. But wow, do I have to dig deep - and fast.

In that moment, I had a choice: Let the heat of frustration take over, or use the tools I’ve learned to shift my state. I planted my feet on the floor, sat up straight to engage my core, and took a deep breath. I stretched my hands to the ceiling, then brought them back down as I exhaled. Simple and quick - but it worked. I did it a few more times just to make sure. After teaching two classes, I wasn’t in the mood for anything more, but this was enough to change my state and bring me back to centre - phew!

You’re Not Alone in This

Summer brings a whole new set of demands on you as a parent. There's no school run (yay!), but there’s the constant feeding and tidying, screen time battles, sibling squabbles, and the guilt of feeling like you’re not doing enough for yourself or your kids. There’s always something pulling for your attention, and in the middle of it all, we’re all trying to get work done too. It’s a juggling act, and some days, something's gotta give.

When you’re neurodivergent, regulating your nervous system isn’t easy. We tend to swing from hyper- to hypo-arousal (see my handy infographic below!). But here’s the key: Self-regulation is essential to thriving. We’re not going to get it right all the time, and that’s okay. The important part is that when overwhelm hits, reach for your toolkit. I was about to lose my cool, but instead of spiraling, I remembered my toolkit. Sometimes we need to get out of our heads (and not in the way you might think). Your body knows how to calm itself. You just have to tune into it before everything gets too overwhelming.

Simple Tools to Help You Regulate

When you feel like the tension is about to break, here are a few quick practices I use to reset:

• Ground yourself: Sit down, plant your feet on the floor, take a deep breath, close your eyes, raise your hands to the sky, and slowly bring them back down. A quick, easy reset to bring you back to the present.
• Lie down for a moment: If you can, lie on the floor, close your eyes, and let your body relax into the earth. It’s grounding, calming, and my personal favorite. Gravity is awesome.
• Child’s pose: Even with a child climbing all over you, 10 breaths in this pose can help you reconnect with your body and shift your energy. Plus, it’s fantastic for a reset if you’re sleep-deprived as resting your busy third-eye chakra is incredibly calming. That space between your eyebrows—let it soften.
• Step outside: Honestly, I love taking the bins out—just that reminder that outside is quiet, you can listen, you can look up. It can change your state in an instant. Take a breath of fresh air, look at a tree, or just close your eyes and let your senses soak in your surroundings.

Finding Peace in the Summer Holidays

For me, peace and balance don’t come from big vacations or long, uninterrupted breaks. They come from the small, simple moments you carve out for yourself in between the joys of daily life. When you’ve got a trusty toolkit and use it regularly, you start to feel more in control of your day.

You can feel like the calm, confident, and in-control mum you want to be. In fact, you already are that mum - you just need the tools and support to feel it.

Download your ToolKit here now and you'll have the first tools you need. Let's get started :)
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And always remember - you belong here, among the wildflowers.