Good Inside with Dr. Becky When Our Nervous Systems Hijack Our Parenting
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Oct 7, 2025 Discover the fascinating interplay between a parent's nervous system and their reactions. Dr. Becky explores why moments of yelling aren't reflections of poor parenting but responses to overwhelm. Learn how past experiences can trigger defense mechanisms, shaping interactions with children. Excitingly, she emphasizes that it's never too late to reconnect after a disagreement. Plus, enjoy techniques to pause, reset, and acknowledge your protective instincts while recognizing that those moments don't define your parenting identity.
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Hot Wheels Crash Then Try Again
- Becky describes helping her child build a loopiest Hot Wheels track that crashed, followed by a calm retry and resilience talk.
- She uses the play example to illustrate trying, failing, and growing through perseverance.
Repeating The Parent You Wanted To Avoid
- A mom described yelling back when her daughter screamed "I hate you" and then freezing, eating cereal, and scrolling to cope.
- She recognized she mirrored her own mother's cold, punishing silence and cried when she realized the cycle continued.
Repair Over Punishment After Yelling
- After a yelling moment, prioritize repair and connection rather than punishment or insisting the child apologize first.
- Use the post-yell moment for connection to begin breaking cycles.
