Navigating the Autumn Shift

Late summer transitions can feel less like a fresh start and more like an immediate stress test. In this Season 5 premiere of Grounded and Soaring, host Terry Dubow welcomes Rochelle Domingo, Director of Education for Toddler and Primary at Marin Montessori School, to unpack why back-to-school season triggers such high anxiety for modern families—and how to find calm amid the chaos. In this episode, we cover: The "After-School Meltdown": Why young children save their hardest emotional releases for home and how to support them. The Prepared Environment at Home: Simple, actionable Montessori setups that take the friction out of morning routines. Protecting Unstructured Downtime: Why post-school "white space" and boredom are critical for cognitive recovery and deep focus ("flow"). Anchoring Through Discomfort: How to be the steady, calm presence your child needs during messy transitions. Learn more about our approach to early childhood education at groundedandsoaring.org.