Hi Everyone, my name is Angela and I am here to share with you the importance of mindful parenting, the struggles and the positive outcomes. I decided to start blogging because there is only so much you can say on social media platforms.
Parenting is such a journey and it is much easier when you have a community to support one another. My mindful parenting journey began toward the end of COVID (I hate saying it), I found myself becoming so impatient and ultimately what I viewed as a MONSTER. This was the start of my own healing journey and a study into mindfulness and parenting.
I am here to endure the journey with you and provide support however I can.
Parenting goes through seasons, ages and stages, it is constanly a learning process and every child is different. No parent does it perfectly, there is no such thing!
Many of us parenting young children and teenagers are still working on breaking negative cultural cycles and we are doing that while trying to be a more positive parent in a new world.
What is mindfulness?
Being mindful refers to the practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judgment or distraction. It involves paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment with openness and curiosity.
Mindfulness is often cultivated through meditation, breathing techniques and journaling that help you develop awareness and acceptance of the present moment. It can lead to greater clarity, emotional balance, and a deeper understanding of oneself and others. Mindfulness is increasingly recognized for its benefits in reducing stress, improving concentration, and enhancing overall well-being.
Being mindful doesn't happen over night, it is a process and a lifestyle that takes practice. It is totally worth the efforts, you become more at peace. Now to put it into practice as a parent definitely takes work.
Mindful Parenting
Being a mindful parent requires a shift in ones mindset. It takes a lot of self-reflection and questioning, such as, why you respond to behaviours exihibited by your children the way you do? It requires us to slow down, be present and think before we react.
A child's behaviour is a form of communication, children do not always know how to verbally communicate their feelings and why they are feeling the way they do. We often forget to see our children as human beings, who deserve the same respect as we do.
As parents we need to slow down and really see and hear what our children need. It is beyond hard, we have a million things to do and society pressures us to have a clean home, our kids in a tone of extra-curricular activities, attend all these events, take our children to fun attractions and the list goes on. Sometimes, we just need to sit still watch a movies, ask questions and let the conversation flow.
Mindfulness Tips
To be a mindful parent we need to be aware of our own feelings, reactions, and triggers.
Learn to self-regulate, so you can help co-regulate and teach self-regulation to your child.
Create intentional connections with your child
Try to learn the links between events or situations and your child's behaviour
Understanding ways to support both your nervous system and your child's
Self-care is important for you to be able to achieve wellness and mindful parenting, make 20-30 minutes a day for you to do something that makes you feel good
Be flexible with the ideas you have about how things are supposed to be
When nervous systems are activated reduce the demands, corrections and responsibilities for the day
Self-Reflection
If you always had someone correcting you, telling you how to be better, dress better, act better, try harder, be more like so and so, would you;
Feel confident about who you are?
Like this person?
Feel connected to this person?
Enjoy being around this person?
Being more mindful creates a safe space for your children, to truly express themselves, share with you and ask you for support. Everyone I have encountered always wants to be more positive, have a calm home environment, feel lighter and at peace. We all deserve to feel happy, calm, safe and at peace. Life is way to short to be on edge all the time.
Let's come together and help bring peace into one another's life. We can support one another at our different stages in our parenting and mindful journey.
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