Ever feel like your kids have “hit their limit”?

In the summer, it happens a lot. You go out to the park, spend time at the beach, stay out a little later than usual… and then it’s bath time—and they’re already on the edge.

What does “on the edge” look like?

😫 Tears over everything:

No time for TV.

No chance to play.

No to… whatever they suddenly want.

And if you’ve got twins—multiply the drama by two, because they’re each upset about something different.

Then comes the line that really gets you:

“This was the worst day ever!”

And that’s the last straw—especially if you stayed out late for them, tried to give them more fun, maybe even stopped for a popsicle on the way home.

You think:“How dare they say that? After everything I did?”

And suddenly, the inner voice says:

“That’s it—I’m not making that effort again.”

That feeling? That’s the sting of hurt and disappointment.

Because it feels like they just don’t appreciate what we’ve done.

But—what if we saw it a little differently?

Try reminding yourself:

🌀 They’re just maxed out.

🛏 They need sleep.

🧼 But first… they still have to bathe, get dressed, brush their teeth.

💢 It’s hard for them.

And those harsh words? That meltdown?

It’s all part of the struggle—they’re not trying to hurt us.

Now imagine:If your child were sick—how would you respond?

When my child isn’t feeling well, suddenly all my empathy shows up.

I’m calm. I’m patient. I know how to soothe and support.

So maybe, when they’re on the edge like this, what they need is the same energy:

Not punishment. Not frustration.

Just a moment of us seeing the truth—they’re done.

And if we respond from that place, the whole evening can feel different.

What about you?

What do you do when your kids reach their limit?

How do you stay calm when they fall apart?