This episode is about the version of parenting no one talks about. The one where you’re running on almost nothing. Where your child still needs you, and you’re not sure what you have left to give. We’re not talking about burnout as a concept, or fatigue as a buzzword. We’re talking about the real-life moments when you're holding a meltdown with one hand and your own regulation with the other. When you want to be calm, present, available but you’re overstretched and running late and the toast is wrong again. This conversation won’t give you tricks. Just clarity. A way to think about tiredness that doesn’t make it a personal failing. A way to respond to your child without having to pretend you’re okay. For parents who are doing their best, even when their best is quiet, slow, and not very pretty.

Mentioned in this episode: Making Sense of Anxious Children A course for parents who want to understand what’s really going on beneath the behaviour

Available at www.huddlewisdom.com

Is your child's misbehaviour leaving you frustrated, confused, or exhausted? You're not alone. In this powerful episode of The Huddle Wisdom Podcast, host Dr Tan unpacks a crucial concept that will transform how you view your child's struggles: challenging behaviour is not the problem, it's the signal.

Learn why parents often fall into the trap of "fixing the smoke" (addressing outward child behaviour like yelling, tantrums, defiance, or meltdowns) instead of uncovering the true "fire" beneath. Often anxiety, overwhelm, perfectionism, or unmet emotional needs.

Learn actionable strategies to:

• Pause before reacting to your child's difficult moments.
• Get curious, not furious, about what might be driving their actions.
• Gently name the underlying emotions or "fire" you observe.
• Stay present and connect, even when things feel chaotic.

To navigate your anxious child's behavior with confidence and calm, explore Dr Davin Tan's signature online course: "Making Sense of Anxious Children." Learn how to identify those hidden fires, build essential communication skills, and foster a more peaceful home environment.

Find out more and enroll today at: www.huddlewisdom.com

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why misbehaviour is a signal, not the core problem.
• The dangers of "smoke-fixing" in child behavior.
• How to identify the "fire" (underlying anxiety or needs) beneath challenging behaviors.
• Practical steps to respond with curiosity and connection instead of frustration.
• A real-life example of transforming homework meltdowns by addressing underlying perfectionism.