Dylan Dreyer Reveals Her Biggest Parenting Trigger. Big Little Feelings Has 1 Simple Trick

May 22, 2026 - 00:54

The TODAY co-host got real about a daily struggle that pushes her to the edge during a recent episode of her podcast, "The Parent Chat." Speaking with parenting experts Deena Margolin and Kristin Gallant, Dreyer admitted that the constant cycle of getting her kids out the door in the morning is what sets her off more than anything else. The chaos of lost shoes, unfinished breakfast, and last-minute requests often leaves her feeling overwhelmed before the day has even started.

Margolin and Gallant, who run the popular parenting account Big Little Feelings, offered a straightforward trick to defuse the tension. Instead of barking orders or repeating herself, Dreyer was encouraged to use a single, calm phrase that acknowledges the child's feelings while still setting a firm boundary. The trick is to say something like, "I hear you want to stay home, but we are leaving in five minutes." This simple shift, they explained, stops the power struggle before it begins by validating the child's emotions without giving in to the delay.

Dreyer found the advice refreshingly practical, noting that it gives her a script to follow when her patience runs thin. The conversation highlighted how even small changes in wording can prevent a morning meltdown from turning into a full-blown family crisis. For parents who feel like they are constantly repeating themselves, the experts emphasized that a calm, connected statement often works better than a raised voice.