Your Calm Parenting Path

Six weeks of school holidays can feel like a lot - especially when the routines and structures that usually hold everyone steady disappear.
In this reflection episode of Your Calm Parenting Path, Nina shares honestly from the middle of the long school holidays - not from the other side of them. 
This isn’t about getting it all right or creating perfect holiday memories. 
It’s about what genuinely helped us get through, what didn’t work the way she hoped, and what she's learning to carry forward into the next school break.
If the holidays left you feeling exhausted, reactive, or quietly wondering if it was just hard for you - this episode is for you.
 
In This Episode
In this episode, Nina reflects on:
Why school holidays feel so big - especially long ones
Letting go of rigid schedules and focusing on rhythm instead
What my activity box experiment taught me about perfection
Screens, meltdowns, and the reality of nervous system limits
Temporary screen bans and why they brought more calm
What happens when mindfulness slips - and how to come back
Flexibility with bedtimes, mess, and expectations
 
Three Key Takeaways
Rhythm matters more than structure during the holidays.
Perfection creates pressure - for parents and kids.
Calm parenting is about coming back, not getting it right.
 
Why This Episode Matters
School holidays often remove the invisible structure that helps families cope - and many parents struggle through them feeling alone or like they’re failing.
This episode offers permission to stop striving for perfect holidays and instead reflect with honesty and compassion. 
Calm parenting isn’t about flawless regulation - it’s about noticing what supports you, adjusting when things aren’t working, and coming back to yourself again and again.

Small Shift for Big Impact
As you settle back into routine, you might like to gently reflect on:
What felt hardest during the holidays for you?
What genuinely helped - even a little?
What do you want to carry forward, or let go of, next time?
 
You don’t need to fix anything. Noticing is enough.

Take the next step
If the holidays stretched you more than you expected, you don’t have to work through that alone.
You’re warmly invited to book a SOS Parenting Support Call - to gently explore what felt hardest and identify one or two small shifts that can support you right now.
👉 Learn more or book at here.
 
Links & Resources Mentioned
Calm Summer Holiday Blueprint
 
Let’s Connect
Follow Nina on Instagram
Website: mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au
Email: [email protected]

About Nina
Nina is the voice behind Your Calm Parenting Path and the founder of Mindful Parenting Lifestyle. 
She supports parents to move away from reactivity and overwhelm and toward calmer, more connected family relationships.
Through mindfulness, nervous system awareness, and self-compassion, Nina helps parents understand that calm parenting isn’t about being perfect - it’s about learning, adjusting, and coming back to yourself with kindness.

Christmas can feel like a pressure cooker of expectations, logistics and emotions. In this episode, Nina gently invites you to let go of perfect Christmas ideals and let go of perfect Christmas checklists, so you can focus on presence, connection and a calmer nervous system instead.
 
You'll Learn
Why the invisible load of Christmas feels so intense.
How different families “do” Christmas and make peace with your version.
Ways to stay flexible with naps, sugar and routines (without guilt).
Simple roles kids can play so it’s not all on you.
How to move from Christmas into the school holidays more calmly.

Why This Episode Matters
When you’re already overwhelmed, it’s easy to believe you’re ruining Christmas. This episode reminds you that your children need you present, not perfect – and that a messy, real day can still be deeply good.
 
Take Home Action 
Choose one way you’re going to make Christmas kinder on your nervous system.
 
Journal Prompts and Reflections 
If my child remembered one small moment from this Christmas, what would I love that to be?
 
Before Christmas Day, ask yourself:
What is the bare minimum version of this day that would still feel like Christmas to me?
Maybe that’s:
One special breakfast.
A couple of presents.
Time outside or at the beach.
A simple meal together.
 
Either later that night, or the next day, you might sit with a cuppa and gently ask yourself:
What actually went well today?
Where did I feel most connected to my kids?
Where did I lose it?
If I could change one small thing for next year, what would it be?

Take the Next Step
Complete the prompts above to help you design a version of Christmas that feels calm, connected and realistic for your family. 
Download your free Christmas Planner to set calm intentions, map December and take some pressure off your brain. 
For support beyond Christmas, watch the on-demand Calm School Holidays Blueprint masterclass.
 
Links and Resources
Free Christmas Planner
Grab the Calm School Holidays Blueprint, only $37

Let’s Connect
Want more support? Follow Nina on Instagram, or sign up for tips and updates at mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au.
Have a question or parenting challenge you'd like addressed on the podcast? Send a DM or an email.
Follow Nina on Instagram
Website: mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au
Email: [email protected]
 
About the Host
Nina Visic is a mindful parenting coach and mum who helps parents move from overwhelmed and reactive to calm, confident and connected with their kids. 
She combines mindfulness, emotional regulation tools and down-to-earth strategies that work in real homes with real children.
Through her podcast, workshops and resources like the Christmas Planner and Calm School Holidays Blueprint, she supports parents to create holidays that feel grounded in presence and connection, not perfection.

In this special episode, Nina chats with Tess, a mum-of-two and long-time listener, who shares how she used the calm boundary script from Episode 8 in a moment when her daughter was yelling at her. 
It’s a real story about emotional boundaries, staying steady under pressure, and what happens when you choose connection over control - even when it’s hard.
 
You’ll Learn:
How to use calm boundaries when kids are rude, yelling or dishonest
The “I won’t let you X, but you can Y” structure in action
Why pausing (see Episode 3) can shift the whole energy in your home
How calm boundaries can open space for repair, respect, and deeper understanding

Why This Episode Matters
Tess’s story reminds us that calm boundaries do work - even when kids push hard. This isn’t a polished expert take - it’s one mum showing up with love, courage, and the skills she’s learned along the way. 
It’s a raw and real example of parenting under pressure - and a beautiful reminder that connection often comes after a boundary is held kindly but firmly.
 
One Small Shift
Next time your child is rude, yelling, or being dishonest, try:
“I won’t let you speak to me that way. I’m happy to talk when we’re both calm.”
Then pause. Breathe. Hold the boundary with calm confidence — and trust that connection often follows.
 
And just as important: be kind to yourself.
As Tess shared, speak to yourself the way you’d speak to a friend or acquaintance. Progress doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from compassion and practice.
 
Take the Next Step
If emotional blow‑ups, backchat, or lying are becoming frequent in your home - and you want support turning them into moments of calmness and repair - book a free 20‑minute clarity call. I’ll help you identify what’s really going on and give you 1–2 simple, effective tools to try straight away.

Links and Resources 
Recommended episodes of Your Calm Parenting Path  Episode 3. Is This the Most Underrated Parenting Tool to Help You Stay Calm?
Episode 8. What’s the Secret to Calm, Clear Boundaries?
Episode 11. Tired of Doing It All? What Needs to Change? With Eva Rado

Book a free 20-minute Clarity Call here.

Let’s Connect
Follow Nina on Instagram
Website: mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au
Email: [email protected]
 
About the Hosts
Nina Visic is a mindful parenting coach, podcast host, and mum of three based in WA. She supports parents to move from yelling and reactivity to calm, confident connection. Her work blends practical tools with deep compassion — because parenting isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence.
In this episode, Nina chats with Tess - a long-time listener and past client - who brings the boundary tools to life in the middle of a real parenting moment. It’s raw, real, and a powerful reminder that calm parenting is possible, even when emotions are big.

In this soothing conversation with Melissa from Melissa Made with Love, we explore how self-care doesn’t have to be another task on your overflowing to-do list. Instead, it can live inside the tiny, everyday rituals you’re already doing - washing your hands, having a shower, putting on moisturiser, or unwinding before bed.
Melissa shares how mindful skincare became her sanctuary during motherhood, and how small, intentional moments can calm your nervous system, settle your energy, and help you reconnect with yourself — especially when life feels chaotic.
 
You’ll Learn:
How skincare can become a grounding, mindful ritual rather than a chore
Ways to slow down and create micro-moments of self-care in a busy day
Practical tips for weaving self-care into the things you already do
The surprising benefits of slowing your everyday movements
Why slow, mindful rituals support emotional regulation in kids
Gentle ways to stay connected to yourself when life feels frantic

Why This Episode Matters
So many mums feel like self-care is out of reach. There’s no time, no headspace, and no childcare to “escape” for an hour. This episode flips that idea on its head.
Melissa reminds us that self-care isn’t about adding more - it’s about doing what we already do, slower, softer, and with more presence.
If you’ve been feeling stretched thin or touched out, this episode will feel like a deep exhale.
 
One Small Shift
This week, try slowing down just one thing you already do - washing your hands. Take a breath. Feel the water. Notice the sensations. Ten seconds. That’s it. See how it softens your pace for the rest of the day. 
 
Take the Next Step
If today’s episode sparked something in you, explore more of Melissa’s beautiful work - from natural skincare to soulful rituals you can bring into your home (links below). 

Links and Resources 
Check out Melissa's website
Get your Free DIY Skincare eBook
Grab the Embrace Self-Care eBook
Follow Melissa Made with Love on Instagram
Watch how Melissa makes her beautiful products here.
Recommended episode of Your Calm Parenting Path  Episode 29 – When You’re Just Too Tired to Be Mindful

Let’s Connect
Follow Nina on Instagram
Website: mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au
Email: [email protected]
 
About the Hosts
Nina Visic
Nina is a mindful parenting who helps mums move from overwhelmed and reactive to calm, confident, and connected. Through practical tools, mindful habits, and compassionate guidance, Nina supports parents to create a calmer family life - one small shift at a time. 
Melissa Howell
Melissa is the creator of Melissa Made with Love, crafting natural skincare infused with intention, Reiki energy, and mindful calm. Through her products, workshops, and self-care offerings, she helps women slow down, reconnect with themselves, and find small, nourishing moments in their everyday lives.

In Part 3 of our Calm Summer Series, Nina sits down with Jess Gannaway, mum of two and founder of The Colour Club Studios in Belmont, WA. 
Together they explore how arts and crafts can help kids build autonomy, agency, and confidence, and how parents can gently lean into creativity over perfection - even if they don’t see themselves as “crafty”.
 
You’ll Learn:
Why creativity supports children’s emotional wellbeing
How arts and crafts can challenge perfectionism in kids (and parents)
Simple ways to set up low-pressure craft spaces at home
How to use recycling, “tinker boxes”, and crafty carts to keep things easy
Practical prompts to help children move into more self-directed play

Why This Episode Matters
School holidays can bring pressure to entertain, perform, and keep everything tidy. This conversation offers a softer, more sustainable path: embracing creativity over perfection, focusing on the process rather than the product, and setting up craft in a way that feels realistic and contained for the whole family.
 
One Small Shift
Create one simple “crafty cart” or tinker box using items from your recycling (cardboard, packaging, ribbons) plus basics like scissors, glue, tape and a few favourite materials. Make it easy to access, low-stakes, and let your child lead.

Take the Next Step
Join Nina for the Calm Summer Blueprint Masterclass on 3 December - your go-to session for planning a summer that feels lighter, calmer, and more connected.
Early-bird tickets available until 27 November.
Register here.
And don't forget - if you’re in Perth, explore The Colour Club Studios’ term classes and school holiday workshops for your kids. They look amazing!

Links and Resources 
Check out upcoming programs and classes on The Colour Club Studioswebsite.
Follow The Colour Club Studios on Instagram
Craft tools and ideas discussed: crafty pod/pop-up craft space, IKEA tray tables, sticker books and basic supplies from Daiso, Officeworks and Kmart

Register for Your Calm Summer Blueprint  

Let’s Connect
Follow Nina on Instagram
Website: mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au
Email: [email protected]
 
About the Hosts
Nina Visic is a mindful parenting coach and mum of three, helping parents move from overwhelmed and reactive to calm and connected. Through her podcast and coaching, she shares practical, gentle tools that fit real family life, encouraging parents to embrace small shifts, curiosity, and imperfection along the way.

Jess Gannaway is a mum of two and the founder of The Colour Club Studios in Belmont, WA. With a background in design and a passion for challenging perfectionism, she creates warm, low-pressure spaces where children can explore, experiment, and grow through process-led arts and crafts — without needing perfect outcomes.