
Episode #293
293: Running on Empty? The Parenting Cost of Not Resting
Back-to-school season brings new schedules, new activities, new forms, and approximately 4,732 new things for parents to remember. But before you ask whether your kid is ready, Lisa wants you to ask a different question: Is your tank full enough for what’s coming? In this episode, Lisa challenges the belief that rest has to be earned after everything else is done. She explains why rest isn’t a reward—it’s fuel—and how your capacity directly affects your ability to stay calm, curious, and connected with your kid. You’ll learn how to identify the beliefs that make resting feel uncomfortable, redefine what “real rest” looks like, and start building small “water stations” into your day before your tank hits empty. What You'll Learn: Why rest is fuel, not a reward, and what your car’s gas tank can teach you about caring for your own nervous system. How running on empty shrinks the space between your kid’s behavior and your reaction—and makes peaceful parenting tools harder to access. Why slowing down and resting can actually make you more focused and efficient, rather than putting you further behind. How guilt, anxiety, nervous energy, and the belief that “I should be doing something” can make rest feel anything but restful. The difference between rest and distraction, plus how to discover what genuinely refuels your nervous system. How to create simple five-minute “water stations” throughout your day—and model for your kid that taking care of yourself is a normal part of being human.






