Here are my very favorite tips for being a more mindful parent. Really, they are just reminders of what we already know and who we want to be as parents.
I have found the question "What do you need?" to be especially powerful. It takes the responsibility of making things right (or solving the problem) away from me and lets the person, often my daughter, who is suffering name what is true for her in the moment. It could be a drink, a hug, time alone... it doesn't really matter. She gets to figure out what it is that she needs to feel better. I find this question to be particularly helpful with my sweet husband as well.
Slow it down: Stop. Feel your feet on the ground. Take a deep breath.
Be gentle with yourself: Lighten up. Find the humor. Offer kindness to yourself. Often.
Practice letting go: Of your assumptions of how things should be. Of your stories about what is going to happen in the future.
Take care of others: Be kind to people, especially those in your family. Practice asking, “What do you need?”
My plan is to write a separate post for each one. Look below for the post on slowing things down. And let me know if you try out the "What do you need?" question or what you think in the comments.
I have found the question "What do you need?" to be especially powerful. It takes the responsibility of making things right (or solving the problem) away from me and lets the person, often my daughter, who is suffering name what is true for her in the moment. It could be a drink, a hug, time alone... it doesn't really matter. She gets to figure out what it is that she needs to feel better. I find this question to be particularly helpful with my sweet husband as well.
Slow it down: Stop. Feel your feet on the ground. Take a deep breath.
Be gentle with yourself: Lighten up. Find the humor. Offer kindness to yourself. Often.
Practice letting go: Of your assumptions of how things should be. Of your stories about what is going to happen in the future.
Take care of others: Be kind to people, especially those in your family. Practice asking, “What do you need?”
My plan is to write a separate post for each one. Look below for the post on slowing things down. And let me know if you try out the "What do you need?" question or what you think in the comments.
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