No, I didn’t escape to a cozy cabin in the woods to write this book. I wrote it with one functional hand, while mediating twin brawls over who got the blue crayon, dodging flying LEGOs, and yelling “don’t eat that!” at a naughty dog. Glamorous, I know.

Why This Book Had to Be Written

The Day the Emotions Got Loud wasn’t born in peace and quiet—it was forged in the fire of twin tantrums, homeschooling chaos, and the emotional rollercoaster that is raising twin six-year-olds (one with autism, one with ADHD, both with opinions about EVERYTHING).

I didn’t set out to become an author. I set out to survive the Tuesday meltdown.

But somewhere between the spilled gluten-free flour and the 47th reminder to “use your words,” I realized something:

Our kids need help understanding their BIG feelings.

And frankly? So do we.

Meet Juna: The Squishy Star of the Show

Juna is my magical, soft, wildly expressive creature whose emotions literally change her shape and color. She’s curious, she’s loud, she’s overwhelmed—SAME, GIRL. SAME.

Juna was created to be a mirror for kids who feel all the things, all at once, and don’t know what to do with it. She’s not perfect, and she doesn’t have it all figured out—but she learns to listen to her feelings instead of running from them.

(Meanwhile, I’m still over here trying to do the same. Growth, right?)

Writing It in the Chaos

This book wasn’t written in uninterrupted, inspirational chunks of time. It was written:

*While refereeing arguments about who stole whose imaginary friend *With one hand in a brace In the glow of my phone at 2am because that’s when my brain actually works *Between chicken feedings, curriculum planning, and crying in the laundry room

Was it ideal? No. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

Why This Story Matters (and Not Just to Me)

I wrote this book for my boys, because their feelings are big and real and deserve to be seen.

But I also wrote it for your kid.

The one who goes from zero to meltdown in five seconds flat.

The one who feels so deeply they don’t have the words.

And the grown-up who loves them and is trying (bless your heart) to help them through it.

Because when emotions get loud, we don’t need to shush them.

We need to say, “Hey, I hear you. Let’s figure this out together.”

Want to meet Juna and bring her into your home or classroom?

[Click here to grab your copy of The Day the Emotions Got Loud!]

Thanks in advance for supporting a fellow chaos coordinator.