#sensory-regulation

#sensory-regulation

Touch fatigue, or what many parents call being "touched out," happens when your body and brain have reached their limit on physical contact. From the moment you wake up, little hands tug at you, babies nurse, toddlers climb into your lap, and someone always needs something from you. By evening, even a loving hug can feel like one more demand on a system that's already running on fumes.

It was Mother's Day and things had gone poorly. I was (am) a single mom, with four kids, and felt very alone. We had gone to brunch, and as usual I'd had to pick the place, make the arrangements, and of course, pay. When my kids get together (even now, as adults), bickering and conflict are not uncommon. I'm supposed to be grateful for their "candor" around me because it means they feel safe, but I was seriously indulging in a pity party instead.