By Arvinder Kaur Sodhi
The school year has begun. Backpacks are zipped, schedules packed, and classrooms full of energy. But beneath the excitement, many parents quietly carry a heavy truth: raising kids today feels stressful, and sometimes that stress feels unavoidable.
Between work demands, rising costs, and the pace of life, parents often wonder if they’re doing enough. The guilt creeps in: Am I passing my stress on to my child? The answer is yes, children do feel our stress. But here’s the hope: what they need most from us is not perfection.
They need presence.
They need calm.
They need adults who show them how to feel safe in their own bodies.
When a child feels regulated, their brain opens to learn. When a parent is steady, their child feels secure. And when a teacher is supported, the classroom becomes a place of growth, not tension.
Why ACEs Matter
Decades of research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), things like family stress, instability, or trauma, show that they shape a child’s long-term health and success. Left unaddressed, ACEs increase the risks of anxiety, depression, and even chronic disease.
But healing is possible. Regulation is the antidote. Simple tools like deep breathing, EFT tapping, or mindful movement help children (and adults) calm their nervous systems. Imagine if these practices were taught in schools the same way we teach ABCs. By high school, resilience would be second nature.
What Parents Can Do
Parents don’t need more to-do lists, they need practical tools. Start here:
Model calm. Even one deep breath together can shift the moment.
Bring wellness into routines. Short pauses at home make a difference.
Advocate in schools. Wellness is not an “extra,” it’s the foundation for learning.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present.
An Invitation to Learn More
This fall, parents and educators have the chance to go deeper at the Community Evolution Summit: The Antidotes to ACEs. It’s a gathering focused on practical ways to break cycles of stress and build resilience together.
Saturday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Northland Church, Longwood.
Register free at acesmatter.org/aass2025
Join us for workshops, conversations, and real-world tools to help your children and yourself thrive in a stressed-out world.
About the Author:
Arvinder Kaur Sodhi is a speaker, writer and founder of withGratus, a community initiative rooted in healing, storytelling, and resilience. A mother of two teenagers, she has served as a private preschool owner, youth program coordinator, and advocate for wellness in education. She believes early regulation is the foundation for lifelong resilience.
