RISE Behavioral Consulting, LLC

It was never really about the sweater.

Earlier this year, Brittany shared a story about one of her sons having a complete meltdown over being given the “wrong” sweater.

While the sweater may have been the trigger, the real lesson was about something much bigger: disappointment, frustration, communication, and the boundaries we choose to hold as parents.

As parents, we’re often faced with a choice between making the problem disappear and helping our children learn a skill they’ll need for life.

Read Brittany’s article below about why sometimes the hardest parenting moments can become the most valuable teaching moments.

The other morning, one of our almost 5-year-old sons was cold and wanted to wear a sweater to school.

No problem—I ran upstairs and grabbed one for him.

Wrong move.

Apparently, it needed to be the gray one. The fuzzier one. The specific one. And when I came back down with a blue sweater instead, it was like I had completely ruined his morning.

He started yelling. Screaming. Melting down.

And in that moment, I had a choice.

I could go back upstairs, grab the gray sweater, and make it all stop. It would have taken 30 seconds. The tears would have dried instantly. The morning would have moved on like nothing happened.

But I knew something bigger was happening.

Because once the yelling started, the gray sweater wasn’t the issue anymore.

The issue was how he was handling frustration.

So I held the boundary.

Not because I didn’t want to help him—but because I do.

Because giving in at that moment wouldn’t have taught him how to handle being disappointed. It wouldn’t have helped him learn that yelling at someone isn’t how you get what you want. It would have just made the meltdown disappear … for now.

So we went through it.

The tears. The anger. The frustration.

And it wasn’t easy. It would have been so much quicker (and quieter) to just fix it for him.

But parenting isn’t always about ending the meltdown as fast as possible. Sometimes it’s about what comes after.

Later, when things were calm, we talked about it. About how if he had said, “Mom, I was really hoping for the gray one—can I grab that instead?” the answer would have been yes.

In our house, communication is always honored.

But disrespect isn’t.

And that’s the part that only gets learned if we’re willing to go through the hard moment—not around it.

This post was written by Brittany Taussig. Visit Brittany:
On FB Brittany Taussig or RISE Behavioral Consulting, LLC
You can also find her on IG .behavioral.consulting

DAC 2026 — Happening Tomorrow!!!

We’re so excited for the Disability Awareness Convention taking place tomorrow — Sunday, February 22nd from 12–5 PM at the Marriott St. Louis West!

Check out all of the amazing experiences, resources, and activities in store — from adaptive gaming and live dance to info sessions, service dog showcases, quiet spaces, raffles, family portraits, and so much more.

This event is for everyone — whether you’re looking for support, community connection, education, or just a fun day celebrating inclusion.

For more details visit: https://thearyafoundation.org/dac2026

Come out, explore, and be part of an incredible community event!

We love the support from our amazing community partner Enchanted Playroom❤️❤️

Today I'd love to shine a light on a valuable resource for parents and caregivers here in St. Charles County - RISE Behavioral Consulting, LLC!

If you’ve ever wondered *why* your child does what they do (spoiler: behavior is communication!), RISE helps families interpret those behaviors and build real strategies for confidence, connection, and success. From individualized sessions to parent coaching and parent-child work, their approach is rooted in understanding, compassion, and evidence-based behavior analysis.

What makes them stand out:
• They look beyond labels - helping all children, neurotypical or not - by digging into the “why” behind behavior.
• Sessions can help kids with emotional regulation, anxiety, social skills, and more.
• Parents get practical tools and coaching to make progress stick.

Whether you’re navigating big emotions, daily routines, or just want to feel more confident in your parenting toolkit, this team is here to help.

👉 Learn more at: risebehavioralconsulting.com