Homebodies, adventure-seekers, arm-chair warriors: What shall we do this weekend?

Ceara Deno, MD • October 26, 2023
Schedule A Free Call

The weekend is coming: shall we go out or stay in?

The weekend is coming.  And for sensitive families, it brings tough questions.


  • Shall we go out or stay in? 
  • Shall we make plans or leave the day free? 
  • Shall we spend time together or alone? 


Finding answers that meet everyone’s needs is not always easy.  The “Sweet Spot," where everyone’s needs for stimulation and downtime are met, can be hard!  Really, really hard. 

​

What if my need for stimulation and excitement competes with your need for downtime and rest? When we stay home, I get cabin-fever, feel restless, start to climb the walls. But when we go out, you feel depleted, irritable, exhausted.

​
How do we meet everyone’s needs? How do we find the balance where everyone’s nervous system is functioning optimally? 


Here are tips to meet everyone’s needs this weekend: ​
​

1.) Sleep more:

  • Sleep increases tolerance for stress
  • This means when you’ve slept enough, you tolerate activities that would otherwise be too stressful
  • Sleep also makes us calmer and more patient when things are hard

​

2.) Be kinder to yourself, ask for more support, and lower the demands on yourself:

  • Social support increases our ability to tolerate stress
  • Being met with compassion when we struggle helps us do hard things
  • In order to be met with compassion, we first need to practice voicing our feelings and needs
  • Practice saying: “I find this kind of activity hard, and it would support me if….” 
  • Give yourself permission to take breaks, ask for help, do half as much--without beating yourself up
  • Simply sharing out loud that something is hard with someone supportive, and asking for support, can increase your tolerance for stress 

​

3.) Move more:

  • Moving more is a powerful way to increase stress tolerance and relieve tension
  • Without adequate movement, our nervous system goes into fight/flight/freeze
  • Move alone or with your family
  • Everything counts--pillow fights, walks in the woods, shooting hoops

​
*******

​

Sensitive families, I’ll be thinking of you this weekend.  I hope you find a “Sweet Spot” where everyone’s needs for stimulation and downtime are met.  And if you struggle, I hope you meet yourself with kindness, compassion, and extra support.


You deserve it.  Whether you go out or not. 


Looking for more support to help your sensitive family thrive??  Schedule a free call with me by clicking HERE.   

​

Parenting Highly Sensitive Kids: Why Everything Feels Like a Big Deal (and What Actually Helps)

By Ceara Deno, MD • April 14, 2026
Parenting a highly sensitive child who overreacts to small things? Learn what’s really going on beneath the meltdowns—and what actually helps you respond with confidence and calm.

Feeling Stuck in Your Parenting? How Small Steps Create Big Change

By Ceara Deno, MD • March 30, 2026
Overwhelmed by your child’s behavior? Learn how small, manageable parenting shifts can help you get unstuck, reduce guilt, and build lasting change.

Maybe Now Isn’t The Right Time--Or Is It?

By Ceara Deno, MD • March 23, 2026
Feeling overwhelmed parenting a highly sensitive child? Learn why waiting to get support can keep you stuck—and how getting help now can bring more calm and connection.

What Your Child Says vs. What They Actually Mean

By Ceara Deno, MD • March 16, 2026
When kids say hurtful things like “I hate you,” they may be expressing overwhelm, shame, or disappointment. Learn how to hear the feelings beneath hurtful, angry words.

Why Your Child’s Anger Might Actually Be a Good Sign

By Ceara Deno, MD • March 10, 2026
Many parents worry about their child’s anger. Learn why anger can actually serve an important purpose for highly sensitive kids and what it may be telling you.

Is it ADHD or High Sensitivity?

By Ceara Deno, MD • March 2, 2026
Is your child highly sensitive, have ADHD, or both? Learn how to understand big emotions, power struggles, and overwhelm, and discover a relational approach to support your child’s nervous system.

A Lesson Courtesy of Donald Duck 😃

By Ceara Deno, MD • February 26, 2026
Discover why play isn’t just for kids. Learn how adults can benefit from small, joyful, and playful moments — with your kids or on your own — to boost connection, laughter, and well-being.

Tracking Glimmers: The Brain Science Behind Noticing What’s Going Right

By Ceara Deno, MD • February 11, 2026
Feeling stuck in parenting challenges? See how noticing tiny moments of connection — or ‘glimmers’ — can transform your relationship with your child.

When Challenging Kids Become Understandable Again

By Ceara Deno, MD • February 4, 2026
A powerful parenting reframe for challenging kids: how seeing your child as having a hard time—not giving one—can change connection and behavior.

Where the Shift Actually Starts With Sensitive, Strong-Willed Kids

By Ceara Deno, MD • January 27, 2026
Discover why real change with sensitive, strong-willed kids starts in the parent—not the child. Learn how steadiness, not control, breaks power struggles and helps your child thrive.
More Posts