The October Overwhelm: How to Stay Grounded When Every Weekend Is a Fall Festival

There’s something magical about October, the crisp air, the smell of cinnamon candles, the promise of cozy sweaters and pumpkin everything.

But if you’re a parent, you also know this truth: October is the month when every single weekend seems booked solid with something.

Fall festivals. Pumpkin patches. Costume parades. School spirit weeks. Trunk-or-treats. Neighborhood hayrides. Apple picking. Pumpkin carving. Bonfires. Fundraisers. Oh, and don’t forget the family photo session in the pumpkin field at 4 p.m. sharp (because we will get one good picture this year, even if someone’s crying).

By the second weekend, it’s less “spooky season” and more “schedule season.”

And it’s easy to feel like you’re losing your grounding, emotionally, mentally, and sometimes literally when you trip over a pile of costumes in the hallway.

So let’s slow down for a moment and talk about how to stay grounded during the October overwhelm.

1. Accept That You Can’t Do It All, and That’s Not a Failure

You don’t have to attend every pumpkin patch, bake every themed treat, or create the most elaborate trunk for the school Trunk-or-Treat. (Pinterest is not your boss.)

As both a counselor and a mom, I’ve seen how this time of year can trigger that sneaky “mom guilt”, the feeling that we’re not doing enough to make memories.

But here’s the truth: kids remember the laughter, not the logistics.

Pick the events that fill your family’s cup, not just your camera roll.

If the thought of another fall festival makes your eye twitch, it’s okay to skip it and stay home for a pumpkin movie night in pajamas. That counts as memory-making, too.

2. Use Sensory Grounding Techniques (Yes, Even at the Pumpkin Patch)

When you start to feel overstimulated, maybe from crowds, noise, or just the “rush” of doing all the things, try a simple sensory reset:

• Touch: Hold something grounding like a smooth pumpkin stem or a warm cup of cider.

• Sight: Focus on one color in your surroundings (the orange of pumpkins, the gold in the leaves).

• Sound: Tune into a small, peaceful sound, leaves crunching, a child’s laughter.

• Smell: Take in that crisp fall air. Breathe slowly, deeply.

• Taste: Let that first bite of caramel apple be a mindful one.

This technique works for kids, too, it helps calm their nervous systems when overstimulated by lights, sounds, and sugar highs.

3. Build in Buffer Days (Because Rest Is Not Lazy)

You know what’s scarier than a haunted house?

A calendar with no white space.

If every weekend is jam-packed, intentionally block off one day or even one evening as a “nothing” day. No errands, no events, no expectations.

Let your kids play freely. Let yourself rest without guilt.

Burnout in October is real, for both kids and adults. A calm weekend at home can reset everyone’s emotional regulation (and make the next event more enjoyable).

4. Create Small Anchors of Routine

Even when weekends are chaotic, grounding routines can bring stability.

Maybe it’s a cozy Saturday morning ritual, pancakes, cartoons, and no rushing.

Or a Sunday evening wind-down, candles, journaling, hot cocoa, and gratitude reflections.

When life feels full of “special events,” routine moments are what help kids (and parents) feel safe and centered.

5. Remember What This Season Is Really About

October doesn’t need to be a checklist. It’s an invitation, to connect, play, laugh, and notice beauty in small moments.

When I catch myself rushing through the fun, I pause and ask: “If my kids remember one thing about this season, what do I want it to be?”

Usually, it’s not the perfect costume or the picture-perfect hayride. It’s the giggles, the sticky caramel hands, the spontaneous dance parties in the kitchen.

So here’s your permission slip to slow down, skip a few events, and savor the magic in between.

Because when you’re grounded, your whole family feels it too.

Counselor’s Takeaway

Overstimulation and seasonal chaos can throw off emotional regulation for both kids and adults. Build in intentional sensory resets, simple routines, and downtime. You’ll model emotional balance, the best fall tradition of all.