That Quiet Feeling You Keep Ignoring: Why Your Parental Intuition Matters

Have you ever had that small, uncomfortable thought that something isn’t quite right for your child… and then immediately talked yourself out of it?

Maybe someone reassured you.
Maybe you told yourself you were overthinking.
Maybe life was just too busy to sit with the feeling.

That quiet feeling is what I want to talk about today.

Because for many parents, especially at this time of year, that feeling doesn’t go away. It just gets pushed aside.

December Is Tiring, But It’s Also Reflective

By the time December rolls around, most parents are exhausted.
Everyone is tired. Kids are tired. You’re tired.

It’s not a great time to learn new things.
But it is a powerful time to reflect.

As the busyness slows down, many parents start to notice things they’ve been holding at bay all year:

• A sense that school has been harder than it should be

• Worries about learning, behaviour, emotions, or friendships

• A feeling that your child is coping, but only just

That quiet sense of “something isn’t quite right” often gets louder when everything else gets quieter.

Your Intuition Is Information, Not Overreacting

One of the most important things I want parents to hear is this:

Your intuition is information.

It’s not a weakness.
It’s not anxiety.
And it’s not something you need to squash down.

Parental intuition is often your brain picking up on patterns before you can fully explain them. It’s how you notice:

• Your child is working harder than their peers

• They’re masking at school and melting down at home

• They’re falling behind, socially or academically

• Their confidence is slowly eroding

When parents come to see me and say,
“I can’t put my finger on it, but something doesn’t feel right,”
there is almost always a reason underneath that feeling.

Why Parents Get Talked Out of Getting Support

There are two common ways parents end up ignoring their gut feeling.

The first is external reassurance.
Comments like:

• “He’s just a boy.”

• “She’s shy, she’ll grow out of it.”

• “That’s normal.”

• “Don’t worry, they’ll catch up.”

These comments are usually well-meaning. People are trying to comfort you.
But reassurance can sometimes stop parents from listening to what they already know.

The second is internal self-doubt.
Parents tell themselves:

• “I’m overreacting.”

• “I’m imagining it.”

• “Other kids have it worse.”

• “I should just wait and see.”

And so support gets delayed. Often until things feel much harder than they needed to be.

Trusting Your Gut Earlier Is Kinder

One of the biggest mindset shifts I encourage is this:

You don’t need to wait until things are ‘bad enough’.

There is no prize for struggling longer.

Getting support earlier can:

• Confirm that things are actually going okay

• Reassure you that you’re doing many things right

• Reduce anxiety and mental load

• Free up emotional energy to connect with your child

• Prevent small challenges from becoming big ones

Sometimes support doesn’t lead to a diagnosis or major intervention.
Sometimes it simply gives parents clarity and confidence.

And that alone can make a huge difference.

If You’re Wondering Whether You Need Help, That’s Often the Answer

One of the clearest signs that support might help is this:

If you’re wondering whether you need help, it’s usually the right time to ask.

You don’t need certainty.
You don’t need proof.
You don’t need everything to be falling apart.

You just need honesty with yourself and curiosity about what might help.

Listening earlier is one of the kindest things you can do for both yourself and your child.

Reflective Questions to Sit With

As things slow down, I want to leave you with a few gentle questions.
There’s no rush to answer them. Just notice what comes up.

• What has your gut been trying to tell you about your child that you’ve been pushing aside?

• When things are tough for your child, what do you sense might be underneath it?

• What has your gut been trying to tell you about you that you’ve been ignoring?

• If you’re feeling unsure about your parenting, what do you feel you might need right now?

• As you pause and reflect, what thoughts quietly pop into your mind?

You might also want to ask your co-parent:

• What have they been noticing?

• What’s been sitting in the background for them?

Often, when parents finally pause, the answers arrive gently but clearly.

Listening Is Not Overreacting

Especially for women, we are often taught to doubt our intuition.
To be logical. To be certain. To minimise.

But many gut feelings are accurate.
They are early signals.
They are pointing you toward support, not failure.

You don’t need to be sure.
You just need to be open to the idea that help could make things easier.

Gentle Support Can Make a Big Difference

Support doesn’t have to be big, intense, or overwhelming.

Sometimes small, timely support:

• Changes the trajectory for a child

• Reduces stress for parents

• Prevents burnout

• Makes the next phase feel more manageable

As the busyness quietens down, your intuition may feel louder.
That’s not something to fear.

It might be offering you exactly the guidance you need about where to go next.

And when you’re ready, support is there.