The following article made my heart skip a beat.
I seldom copy and paste someone else’s thoughts and highlight it in one of my posts, but here’s an article that is so profound, documented, and well written that if I tried to improve it I’d mess it up. Read and learn.
“The best thing about Disney isn’t the rides or the castles. It’s their rule of hugging.
When a child hugs Mickey, Elsa, or Goofy, the character never lets go first.
Not after 30 seconds. Not after 5 minutes.
The child decides when the hug ends.
Walt Disney himself explained: “You never know how much that child may need that hug.”
Science shows he was right. Sustained hugs release oxytocin, the bonding hormone, that lowers cortisol levels by up to 30%.
Quick squeezes barely register. It takes 8–20 seconds of steady contact to activate the vagus nerve, slow the heartbeat, and flood the body with calm.
For kids, this isn’t just “neediness.” It’s calibration.
Their bodies are downloading safety signals, second by second, until the nervous system resets. Each hug lays down neural pathways for trust.
Over time, children whose comfort needs are met show stronger emotional regulation and healthier stress responses
When the child decides when the hug ends, they also learn autonomy. Their body. Their choice. Their timing. Connection and agency, woven together.
Try the Disney rule at home: when your child hugs you, don’t let go first.
Wait. Let them choose.
The message is powerful: I’ll stay as long as you need.
Connection isn’t built when you let go. It’s built when you wait.”
From the website @readysetparent to parent smarter, not harder.
Travel with Friends 2026 trip to the Iberian Peninsula
Click below for a brochure about the trip.
Iberian-Peninsula-2026-Final Brochure
Two Travel with Friends Information Meetings
In person – Join me Wednesday, November 5, 2025 from 6:00-6:30pm in the choir room at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco Texas.
On Zoom – Join me for a Zoom meeting on Thursday, November 20, 2025 from 7:00-8:00pm. If you want to join this Zoom meeting, email me at djmcminn@msn.com and I’ll send you a link. You can download Zoom for free. You can also participate via a conference call using your mobile phone.
At both meetings, we’ll discuss the itinerary, accommodations, and ports of call. The Q&A will answer all your questions.
If you have any questions, email me at djmcminn@msn.com or call me at 214.783.4414