Mindful Moments Blog

Our Children May Be Self-Centered, But They Aren't Selfish

Mindful Moments Blog

Our Children May Be Self-Centered, But They Aren't Selfish

by Ashley Patek on Feb 21 2022
Every time our child snatches a toy or melts down or forgets to say “thank you,” we worry our children will grow to be disrespectful, which motivates us to teach the lesson. But when we understand brain development, we can approach these situations in ways that build the skills without shame. Here are 3 ways. 
7 Easy Ways To Have Hard Conversations With Your Child

Mindful Moments Blog

7 Easy Ways To Have Hard Conversations With Your Child

by Ashley Patek on Feb 20 2022
In having hard conversations with our kids - whether it be their untamed anger as a toddler, their heartbreak as a teen, or their transition from one gender to another - we strengthen our parent-child bond and equip them with resources for how to handle future situations. Here's how to do it. 
What To When Your Child Doesn't Want To Go To The Calming Corner

Mindful Moments Blog

5 Things To Do When Your Child Doesn't Want To Go To The Calming Corner

by Ashley Patek on Feb 14 2022
What do you do when your child is so deep into their meltdown that they do not want to go to their calm down space ... or even want you near them? Here is a parent's guide.
Feeling Emotions As An Adult When Taught Not To As A Child

Mindful Moments Blog

Feeling Emotions As An Adult When Taught Not To As A Child

by Ashley Patek on Feb 14 2022
When we learn to suppress unpleasant emotions as a child, we become adults whose conditioned self masquerades as our authentic self. This dampens our human experience (and affects our mental health and parenting). Here's how to break the cycle. 
Finding Freedom From Guilt To Reclaim Your Authentic Self

Mindful Moments Blog

Finding Freedom From Guilt To Reclaim Your Authentic Self

by Guest Author on Feb 14 2022
Motherhood can feel like the synonym of should. No matter what we do, there will always be someone to tell us we didn't do enough, or maybe that we did too much. Learn what your guilt is telling you, and how to move through it to find your authentic self! 
Positive Communication with Kids at Every Age

Mindful Moments Blog

Positive Communication with Kids at Every Age

by Rebecca Eanes on Feb 14 2022
These positive communication tips will create a family culture where children and adults alike are spoken to with respect and listened to with love. Children live what they learn at home, and all of their future relationships will benefit from having learned these important and positive skills early in life.
Strengthening Your Child's Emotional Intelligence Through Valentine's Day

Mindful Moments Blog

Strengthening Your Child's Emotional Intelligence Through Valentine's Day

by Ashley Patek on Feb 11 2022
Soon, all across the nation, children will partake in Valentine’s Day rituals such as sharing cards, treats, and friendly exchanges. For many children, this is a fun and exciting experience, however, for just as many, Valentine’s Day can be filled with stress, anxiety, and fear. Here are 4 ways to use social-emotional practices for all children this Valentine's Day.
Reclaiming Authenticity Through Self-Love

Mindful Moments Blog

Reclaiming Authenticity Through Self-Love

by Guest Author on Feb 07 2022
A mama shares a poem about shedding old narratives and expectations so that she can be her authentic self, and in doing so, her six-year-old son is empowered to do the same.
3 Successful And Unique Alternatives To Yelling For A More Peaceful Home

Mindful Moments Blog

3 Successful Alternatives To Yelling For A More Peaceful Home

by Ashley Patek on Feb 07 2022
One of the hardest parts of parenting is not the learning. It is the unlearning. When yelling is your natural impulse, these three tips can help you channel what you are feeling in a healthy, productive way. 
5 Ways To Do Self-Care For Busy Moms

Mindful Moments Blog

5 Ways To Do Self-Care For Busy Moms

by Rebecca Eanes on Feb 07 2022
For so long, us mothers have lived as if she who disappears the most, loves the most. We have been conditioned to prove our love by slowly ceasing to exist. But we don't have to. Here are 5 ways to nurture yourself in small, manageable ways. Because, mama, you matter, too.  
Is Rushing Academics Detrimental To The Developing Brain?

Mindful Moments Blog

Is Rushing Academics Detrimental To The Developing Brain?

by Ashley Patek on Feb 07 2022
How do children best learn, and what happens when academics are the focus of pre-school and kindergarten? This study gives us some pretty telling answers. 
Determination May Feel Unpleasant, And It's Useful

Mindful Moments Blog

Determination May Feel Unpleasant, And It's Useful

by Ashley Patek on Feb 02 2022
Determination isn't a bad emotion. It is an informative one. And while determination isn’t necessarily a pleasant sensation in the body, it is an important edge that brings about resilience and grit.
Building A Resilient Brain Through Spirituality

Mindful Moments Blog

Building A Resilient Brain Through Spirituality

by Ashley Patek on Jan 31 2022
So many of us are here, questioning if we are “too broken” and “not enough” while equal parts terrified that we will “ruin our children” while also desperately trying to do things differently than were done to us. Maybe this one thing is the answer to our mental health crisis.
6 Ways To Build Resilience In Your Child

Mindful Moments Blog

6 Ways To Build Resilience In Your Child

by Ashley Patek on Jan 31 2022
Often, our parental instincts encourage us to rescue our kids from unpleasant emotions or hijack their experiences to keep them safe. And while we cannot protect them from experiencing stress and distress, we can lean into our love to help them develop skills to handle these challenging moments.
How Mindfulness Helped Me Focus My ADHD

Mindful Moments Blog

How Mindfulness Helped Me Focus My ADHD

by Ashley Patek on Jan 31 2022
I was diagnosed with ADHD at six-years-old. I was given medication that helped my teacher teach me and other students be around me, but it didn't help me learn skills to regulate my emotions. From a child who had a difficult time with emotions, to now working with similar kiddos, here’s what I can tell you. 
20 Parenting Phrases to Use in a Pinch

Mindful Moments Blog

20 Parenting Phrases to Use in a Pinch

by Rebecca Eanes on Jan 31 2022
These tried and true phrases will help you respond to your child in a way that keeps the peace, shows empathy, holds boundaries and brings calm to the situation. Test out a few and use the ones that feel right when you need to.
Wholeheartedly Accepting and Supporting Neurodiverse Families

Mindful Moments Blog

Wholeheartedly Accepting and Supporting Neurodiverse Families

by Ashley Patek on Jan 27 2022
What is neurodiversity and how do we move from awareness to acceptance to advocating for in small everyday moments?
3 Powerful Ways Parents Can Break The Cycle Of Emotional Wounding

Mindful Moments Blog

3 Powerful Ways Parents Can Break The Cycle Of Emotional Wounding

by Guest Author on Jan 27 2022
Want to react to your children less with yelling, lecturing, and punitive measures - to parent differently than you were parented? This is how we break the cycle.
This is the One Thing All Children Need

Mindful Moments Blog

This is the One Thing All Children Need

by Rebecca Eanes on Jan 27 2022
Can you guess what it is?
Helping Your Highly Sensitive Child Gain Confidence

Mindful Moments Blog

Helping Your Highly Sensitive Child Gain Confidence

by Rebecca Eanes on Jan 17 2022
When our children are highly sensitive, rejection and criticism hurt more deeply. They get embarrassed easily and have strong emotional reactions, which can make them the target for bullying. Here are 5 tools to boost your child's confidence.