Hi collaborator,

I had the most amazing co-regulation experience the other day!

I was in the kitchen cleaning dishes when Muggins barked an alarm. I walked over to the window to see what was out there. A big mean FedEx truck was parked across the street.  

As Muggins grumbled about it, I wondered whether I should go get some treats to practice our usual calming strategies. I talked to Muggins as I thought about this, telling them that the neighbors were getting a package, while noting that they were pausing between barks and remaining with all feet on the floor.

Together, we watched the delivery person get back into the truck and gradually Muggins’s voice became quiet. I continued to reassure them by narrating what was happening The truck drove off, and that was that.

The amazing thing about co-regulation is that it doesn’t just help us build neural networks to navigate big reactions more easily. It also helps strengthen our relationships so that we feel safer just being near each other.