The Witching Hour Survival Guide for Exhausted Parents

Somewhere between 5 and 7pm, kids get harder to manage right as parents have the least left to give. It's a well-known enough pattern that it's got its own name.

Kids are often genuinely more dysregulated at this time too — they've used up their own reserves at school or daycare, which compounds with a tired parent trying to manage dinner and bedtime at the same time.

A few things that help: having dinner prepped earlier in the day so it's not one more decision at 5pm, lowering expectations for the evening rather than fighting the mood, and — for a lot of parents — having a small, fast way to get a bit more caffeine without adding another coffee to the day.

Neuchu works for a lot of parents in this window because it's quick and doesn't need a kettle or a kitchen. You can find it here.

Back to blog