Surviving More Than One Kind of Storm

What My Hurricane Experience Taught Me About Feeding Challenges

Well, here we are, just one week after Hurricane Milton tore through Florida. In my area, we were very fortunate to avoid major physical damage, but the devastation just to our north is heartbreaking. Although we didn’t experience much destruction firsthand, our electrical grid was severely impacted. I’m cautiously optimistic that the power surges and outages have finally been resolved. Being out of work for over a week added another layer of stress, with lost income and mounting financial pressure. Hurricanes bring immediate costs and long-term strain, with skyrocketing insurance rates and supply shortages. The physical recovery may have been quick, but the emotional and financial toll is far reaching. 

Coming through the storm left me physically okay, but the emotional exhaustion—wow. The prep, the sleepless nights, the constant worrying about what *might* happen—it was like being in survival mode while still trying to keep everything together. And it hit me: this feels a lot like what so many of you incredible parents are going through with your kids' feeding challenges.

Just like with the storm, there’s an enormous amount of emotional energy wrapped up in feeding challenges—prepping meals, managing meltdowns, staying up late wondering if things will ever get easier. It can feel like you’re stuck in a cycle of worry, trying to make it through each day while battling the stress and frustration. It’s hard, and sometimes it feels like you’re walking this road completely alone.

During the hurricane, I had friends and family checking in, but when you’re dealing with something as personal and exhausting as problem feeding, that support doesn’t always come. It’s isolating, and it can feel like no one else understands just how heavy the emotional toll is.

The storm threw off everything—routines, sleep, even the simplest day-to-day tasks. And as a parent navigating feeding challenges, I know you get that feeling too. Schedules get upended by stress, trying new approaches, and the sheer emotional energy it takes to just get through a meal. There’s this constant sense of being off-balance, unsure of when—or if—things will ever calm down.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re in the middle of a storm with no end in sight when it comes to feeding your child, I see you. The exhaustion, the uncertainty, the endless cycle of trying and waiting—it’s heavy, and it’s hard. But you are not alone in this.

Just like the storm passed eventually, there’s hope on the other side of the feeding journey too. It might take time, and the road may feel long, but there *are* calmer days ahead. Little by little, progress is possible, even when it doesn’t always feel like it.

Are you ready for the calm after the storm?

If you’ve been navigating a similar storm and you’re ready for support that helps bring some calm to your family’s feeding journey, let’s talk. I offer feeding coaching packages designed to help you navigate the ups and downs, and to create peaceful mealtimes that work for your family.

Sign up for the feeding package that best suits your needs and let’s find the way forward together. You don’t have to walk this journey alone.