Episode 26

Episode 26 - Jingle Bells & Big Emotions: A Foster Parent’s Holiday Survival Guide

Published on: 18th November, 2025

The holidays can be magical… and they can also be really hard — especially for kids who carry deep histories, big questions, or painful memories. In this episode, Jason and Whitney get honest (and hilarious) about what it really looks like to navigate Thanksgiving and Christmas with foster and adoptive children.

From unexpected triggers (yes, even turkey and side dishes), to family dynamics, to overstimulation, to kids suddenly melting down in the middle of the “perfect” holiday moment — this episode is packed with real stories, practical strategies, and a whole lot of grace.

Whether you’re a new foster parent, a seasoned adoptive parent, or just someone trying to love kids well during the holidays, this conversation will encourage you, equip you, and remind you: you’re not alone, and you’re doing holy work.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

  • Why holidays can trigger big emotions in foster and adoptive kids
  • How smells, sounds, family traditions, and even snow can bring up unexpected memories
  • Real-life stories from our home (including plate-throwing, pajama-dress snow adventures, and our hatred for the elf)
  • How to honor your kids’ past traditions while building healthy new ones
  • Prepping foster kids — and prepping extended family — for holiday gatherings
  • Balancing grace and boundaries
  • Practical ways to build in quiet moments when the overstimulation hits
  • Gift ideas, coordinating with bio parents, and navigating DCS resources
  • Why flexibility over tradition is the motto for surviving the holidays
  • How the hope of Jesus reframes the entire season for our families

Practical Tips You’ll Walk Away With:

  • How to reduce sensory overload
  • Scripts and ideas for preparing kids ahead of time
  • Ways to talk to extended family before a holiday gathering
  • Trauma-informed gift-giving ideas
  • How to create space, margin, and “trauma room” during busy days
  • What boundaries matter most — and which traditions can bend
  • How to keep Christ at the center of the holiday mess

Connect With Us - We’d love to support you on your foster care or adoption journey!

• Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

• Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

• Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

• Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

• Support the show: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

• Music Credit: "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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About the Podcast

Dream Small Podcast
The Dream Small Podcast is a foster care and adoption podcast hosted by Jason and Whitney Small, foster and adoptive parents who have welcomed more than 14 children into their home and adopted three. Through honest conversations and real life stories, the podcast encourages foster parents, adoptive families, and those considering foster care.

Each episode explores the realities of foster care, adoption, and parenting children from hard places, offering practical encouragement and hope for families navigating the foster care journey. Jason and Whitney share lessons from their own experience, faith, and conversations around trauma informed parenting, family life, and supporting vulnerable children.

Whether you are a current foster parent, an adoptive parent, considering becoming a foster parent, or someone who supports foster families, the Dream Small Podcast exists to encourage and equip you along the way.

Jason and Whitney believe that changing a child’s life rarely happens through big moments. More often, it happens through small, faithful acts of love lived out every day.

If you're thinking about becoming a foster parent or walking the foster care journey, this podcast will help you navigate the challenges, celebrate the wins, and stay encouraged along the way.
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