Keep Simple Things Simple

Dylan Field quotes a principle that every overwhelmed parent needs: "Keep the simple things simple. Make the complex things possible."

Bedtime is a simple thing. Brush teeth, read book, lights out. That's it. You don't need a sensory wind-down station, aromatherapy, meditation app, gratitude journal, and weighted blanket ritual. You need consistency.

But complex things - teaching your kid to handle disappointment, building their emotional vocabulary, helping them navigate friendships - those deserve the complexity. Those need nuance and patience and multiple approaches.

"It's really easy to make the simple things complex," Dylan warns. We do it all the time. We turn breakfast into a battleground. We turn getting dressed into a negotiation summit.

Before adding another step to any routine, ask: is this simple thing that I'm making complex? Or is this genuinely complex and deserves the effort?

Usually it's the first one.