Parenting Through the Holidays: How Alumni Families can Support Connection, Structure, and Well-Being
The holiday season often brings a mix of joy, anticipation, and — for many families — heightened emotions or stress. After months of routine, school, and structure, students return home for winter break carrying excitement and energy, alongside complex feelings and habits they are still learning to navigate.
For parents of adolescents and young adults who have participated in therapeutic wilderness work, this time of year can be a meaningful opportunity to reconnect and reaffirm growth. It can also surface old patterns, expectations, and pressures.
With intention and care, holidays can become a space for continued healing, skill-building, and family connection.
Below are supportive practices to help guide your family through the season with steadiness, grace, and warmth.
1. Honor Transitions
Time away from school or routine can feel liberating for some and overwhelming for others. Shifts in sleep, social time, and activity levels can affect mood and energy.
Try incorporating:
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Brief daily or weekly family check-ins
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Collaborative planning for expectations (chores, social plans, curfew, screen time)
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Conversations about needs, boundaries, and stress points
Naming needs early reduces friction later and teaches young people how to self-advocate.
2. Lead With Curiosity
Family dynamics often reflect long-standing patterns. When tension arises, curiosity creates connection, while control can create distance.
You might say:
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“What feels challenging right now?”
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“How can I be helpful in this moment?”
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“What would help us reset together?”
Inviting dialogue supports emotional regulation and problem-solving — core skills students practice in the field.
3. Maintain Routines and Boundaries
The holidays offer room for rest and flexibility, yet consistent structure helps everyone stay grounded.
Consider maintaining:
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Sleep routines
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Meal rhythms
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Time outside or daily movement
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Personal responsibilities
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Therapeutic or mindfulness practices
Boundaries are not about restriction; they provide safety, clarity, and predictable scaffolding for healthy independence.
4. Bring Nature Into the Season
Nature remains one of the most powerful regulators of nervous systems — for teens and adults alike. You do not have to replicate the wilderness to reconnect with it.
Simple practices can include:
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Morning walks or hikes
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Family time by a fire or outdoor patio heater
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A gratitude moment outdoors before holiday meals
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Stargazing on clear winter nights
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Gathering natural elements (pinecones, greenery) for décor or mindfulness activities
Nature supports calm, perspective, and shared presence.
5. Practice Grace and Repair
Even in the most loving families, stressful moments happen. Holidays can amplify emotions, expectations, and memories.
Rather than aiming for perfection, focus on:
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Pausing when emotions rise
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Returning to connection after conflict
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Expressing appreciation regularly
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Acknowledging effort and growth (yours and theirs)
Repair — not avoiding conflict — builds trust and resilience over time.
A Final Encouragement
Your family has already done hard, meaningful work. Growth does not end when wilderness does. It evolves at home, during holidays, and in everyday moments. This season is not about flawless execution. It is about practicing presence, choosing connection, and navigating challenges with the tools you continue to build together.
From all of us at Blue Ridge, we wish you warmth, rest, and rich moments of connection this holiday season.
About Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness
Located in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Georgia, Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness is the leading nature-based therapy program to integrate a family systems approach, whole body health and wellness, and holistic, assessment driven, clinical treatment for troubled youth with anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges.