Samantha Cieslinski, WIllow Cieslinski

Tiny Takes, Big Feelings

Kids EN ↓ 6 episodes

What happens when you ask a 5-year-old to explain life? Tiny Takes, Big Feelings is a short-form podcast where real conversations with my daughter turn into surprisingly honest, funny, and sometimes eye-opening moments about how kids see the world. Each episode is under 15 minutes and starts with her unfiltered take—on things like stress, rules, love, friendship, and what moms actually do all day—followed by a quick, real-life reflection from me as a mom trying to figure it out alongside her. It’s not scripted. It’s not perfect. It’s just real conversations that make you laugh, think, and mayb...

Author

Samantha Cieslinski, WIllow Cieslinski

Episodes

Summer Bucket Lists, Mom Guilt & Making Memories 28.06.2026 13:33

Summer Bucket Lists, Mom Guilt & Making Memories Pinterest makes summer look magical. Reality looks a little different. In this episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings , Samantha sits down with five-year-old Willow to chat through their family's actual 2026 summer bucket list—from beach sunrises and backyard movie nights to Disneyland, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, paddleboarding, and simple neighborhood...

Teaching Kids About Joy: How to Raise Happier, More Resilient Children | Tiny Takes, Big Feelings 11.06.2026 17:04

Teaching Kids About Joy: How to Raise Happier, More Resilient Children What does joy actually feel like for a child? In this heartwarming episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings , Samantha and her daughter Willow explore one of the most important emotions kids can experience: joy . From warm hugs and favorite songs to surprise marshmallows and cozy pajamas, Willow shares what joy looks like through a...

How to Handle Grumpy Kids Without Power Struggles | Tiny Takes, Big Feelings 20.05.2026 17:03

Why do kids get SO grumpy over the tiniest things? Scratchy socks. The wrong cup. Being told to hurry up. A broken granola bar. In this episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings , Samantha and her 5.5-year-old co-host Willow dive into the surprisingly real science behind grumpy moods — and why being “grumpy” is usually about overwhelm, hunger, exhaustion, or sensory overload… not just “bad behavior.” To...

Why Kids Get So Excited | Parenting Big Emotions in Children 13.05.2026 14:31

What does excitement actually feel like for kids? In this episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings, Samantha and 5-year-old Willow dive into the BIG feeling of excitement — from birthday countdowns and Disney rides to excitement crashes, “loud tired,” and why waiting feels impossible for little kids. Willow shares the most excited she’s ever been (her birthday nail salon party), why anticipation “hurts...

How to Help Kids with Nervous Feelings (Without Saying “You’re Fine”) 05.05.2026 9:38

What does “nervous” actually feel like for kids—and what are they really trying to tell us? In this episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings , Samantha and her daughter Willow talk through one of the most common childhood emotions: nervousness. From first-day-of-school worries to swim class fears and telling the truth after doing something wrong, this conversation breaks down what nervous feelings look...

Tiny Takes, Big Feelings: Teaching Kids Pride (Without Pressure) 26.04.2026 11:46

Being a kid is a big job — and helping them navigate big feelings? Even bigger. In the very first episode of Tiny Takes, Big Feelings , Samantha sits down with her 5-year-old daughter, Willow, for a real, unfiltered conversation about what it means to feel proud . This isn’t about trophies, perfection, or doing things “the best.” It’s about effort, progress, and helping kids recognize their own gr...