Mindful Moments Blog

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.
Our Kids Trigger Us To Heal Us

Mindful Moments Blog

Our Kids Trigger Us To Heal Us

by Ashley Patek on Jan 31 2022
This mom couldn't understand why she was so triggered by her sons' sibling rivalry. But following the thread, she found her pain point. It had less to do with her sons' behavior and more to do with her own pain - the pain of losing her brother years ago.
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?
20 Ways to Speak Your Child’s Love Language

Mindful Moments Blog

20 Ways to Speak Your Child’s Love Language

by Rebecca Eanes on Jan 24 2022
What love language does your child speak and how can you speak it so they feel deeply valued and loved?
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. 
Breaking the cycle: Punitive Punishment to Restorative Discipline

Mindful Moments Blog

Breaking The Cycle: A Shift from Punitive to Positive Parenting

by Ashley Patek on Jan 17 2022
A shift from punitive punishment to positive parenting. One mama shares her story of breaking the generational cycle of spanking to connection-based childrearing.
The Harm Of Forcing Manners On Our Children (And What To Do Instead)

Mindful Moments Blog

The Harm Of Forcing Manners On Our Children (And What To Do Instead)

by Ashley Patek on Jan 17 2022
If we want to step away from punitive measures and towards a deep understanding of manners, and an internal motivation to practice them, it stops with “say the magic word” or “say you are sorry” or “what do you say???” And it starts with these 5 tools. 
I Am Not An Angry Mom. I'm An Overwhelmed, Single Mom. Now What?

Mindful Moments Blog

I Am Not An Angry Mom. I'm An Overwhelmed, Single Mom. Now What?

by Ashley Patek on Jan 17 2022
Being able to take a break is a privilege. Having mental health resources is a privilege. Having options is a privilege. Not all of us have it. So what do we do when there is no one to pass the baton to?
6 Ways To Successfully Co-Parent With Your Ex

Mindful Moments Blog

6 Ways To Successfully Co-Parent With Your Ex

by Ashley Patek on Jan 10 2022
How do we co-parent with our ex when we have differing views and parenting philosophies, and how do we keep our kids from being in the middle?
Your Child’s Happiness Isn’t Your Job 

Mindful Moments Blog

Your Child’s Happiness Isn’t Your Job 

by Rebecca Eanes on Jan 10 2022
We cannot make our children happy, but we can teach them how to make themselves happy, because ultimately, happiness is an inside job. Here are five tools to help children find their own happiness. 
Helping Kids Process Their Emotions Free From Shame

Mindful Moments Blog

Helping Kids Process Their Emotions Free From Shame

by Alex Petrou on Jan 10 2022
If you’ve ever caught yourself wanting to tell an emotional child to just stop, (so basically, if you are a human being) here are three things to keep in mind that will help you help kids process their emotions free from shame.   
Three Words Our Kids Need To Hear

Mindful Moments Blog

Three Words Our Kids Need To Hear

by Ashley Patek on Jan 03 2022
Looking to decrease power struggles, meltdowns, and "defiance"? These are the three words that your child needs to hear.
I'm Not An Angry Mom. I'm An Overwhelmed Mom.

Mindful Moments Blog

I Am Not An Angry Mom. I'm An Overwhelmed Mom.

by Ashley Patek on Jan 03 2022
We aren’t angry parents. We are just parents with unmet needs, lagging skills, and lots of overwhelm - both sensorially and emotionally. Here is the one real solution.