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Welcome to Tricycle Day. We're the psychedelics newsletter that ate a crayon and turned out just fine. 🖍️ 

You love your kids. You’d also kill for one (1) uninterrupted Saturday where you don’t have to worry about anyone but yourself.

Two things can be true.

But if you want to journey with psilocybin, you gotta iron a few things out first. And no, we’re not talking about that god-forsaken laundry pile.

For today’s newsletter, we asked our network of licensed psilocybin facilitators: What should parents of young kids consider before trying psychedelics?

Here’s how they think about it.

We’re on a mission to help us many people as possible access safe and transformative psychedelic healing.

And we’re not dummies. We know cost is a major barrier.

That’s what led us to launching Althea's Pick. It was, and still is, our most affordable way to have a legal psilocybin experience with a licensed facilitator.

It’s become so popular that we now run multiple dates every month in both Oregon and Colorado.

And since most participants travel from out of state to join us, now we can help with that too. If you need assistance with flights, lodging, or logistics, just ask.

Let’s begin with the (hopefully) obvious. Before you exit this plane of consciousness, it's your responsibility to make sure an adult is watching your children. Lora Benson stresses this step isn’t a nice-to-have: “Structuring robust childcare, professional integration, and a low-demand environment is essential harm reduction for the whole family.”

It’s not just for the kiddos. Nicole Ehrbar says the peace of mind will benefit you, too: “Knowing your kids are safely cared for lets you be present for your own experience, rather than holding logistics in the back of your mind.”

Whether you hire a babysitter or coordinate with your partner, what matters is that you’re fully off duty. Clayton Ickes knows the stakes: “It's important to give yourself time and space away from responsibilities so that you're not called to show up in a big way or, spirit forbid, in an emergency while under the influence.”

Parents are slammed, we know. But it’s equally important to plan for the days after the journey. Monica Ramunda suggests easing back in: “Ideally, parents should avoid immediately returning to full caregiving responsibilities so they have space to process the experience.”

Lora explains why: “A journey doesn't end when the medicine wears off; the nervous system remains neuroplastic and emotionally tender for days or weeks afterward. Returning straight from a deep ego-dissolving state into morning chaos, parental demands, or mental load without a buffer can cause emotional dysregulation.” 

So don’t be a tough guy. As Kate Schroeder calls out, your own read on the situation can be unreliable: “Even if you feel physically ‘back,’ your mind and nervous system may still be processing what emerged.” The safest assumption is that you're still in it.

If you’re still deciding whether to go for it, it always helps to get clear on your ‘why.’ Terry Turner asks parents to “double down on their motivation for taking psychedelics at this stage in the life of their families.” Wanting relief is a valid reason, but it isn’t the same as being ready. 

Masha Steiner-Renoir has a short list of reasons to wait: “If you’re experiencing significant sleep deprivation, postpartum changes, overwhelming stress, or a major life crisis, it may be wise to first build greater stability.” 

That said, waiting has a cost of its own. Not to apply undue pressure, but Mikki Vogt is right about kids being sponges: “Children often inherit what remains unhealed; not because we intend to pass it on, but because our nervous systems shape the environments they grow up within.” That’s why she sees healing yourself as “a profoundly loving act of parenting.”

If you’ve been wanting to expand your practice to offer microdosing, Mycology Psychology's 12-week practitioner training is worth a look. They’re holding an info session on August 25th, and early bird tuition is open through August 31st.

There is a “walk before you run” option here. That’d be microdosing.

Frankly, microdosing is a nice on-ramp for anyone dipping their toes into psilocybin for the first time.

But the appeal for parents specifically is that a microdose doesn’t require taking a day off from life. By definition, we’re talking about a dose that doesn’t impair your functioning. In fact, you might feel more present, more grounded, and less likely to snap when someone dumps a bowl of Cheerios on the cat for the second time this week.

So if disappearing for a day of self-care isn’t in the cards in this season of life, you could try a lil' micro. (All the cool moms are doing it.)

Who knows? Might even make the 15th rewatch of Paw Patrol slightly more interesting than the 14th.

Reply to this email to shoot your shot. If it’s a juicy one, we may select it for a future issue.

That’s all for today, Cyclists! Whenever you’re ready, here’s how we can help.

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DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. The use, possession, and distribution of psychedelic drugs are illegal in most countries and may result in criminal prosecution.