It’s 7AM, he’s awake and calling my name. All I want to do is sleep. I feel exhausted.
I dropped him off at school two hours ago and I’m already getting a call saying he doesn’t feel well but I have a huge presentation at work today. I feel guilty.
We’ve been playing “cars” for nearly an hour while the laundry needs to be folded, dinner needs to be started and I really could use some coffee. I feel overwhelmed.
It’s naptime but he refuses to go down without a fight. I feel defeated.
Women, especially moms, are emotional beings. We feel probably more than 50 different emotions throughout a regular day; anywhere from happiness, to exhaustion and everything in between. While we’re no strangers to dealing with our little ones’ emotions, it’s important that we’re mindful of our own. The practice of mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now. Being in the moment. Stepping away from the iPhone, email or TV and simply enjoying life. Mindfulness is learning to let go of the small things that don’t matter and focus in on the things that do; to us; to the kids.
And if there’s one thing our kids teach us it’s to enjoy these moments because they mean the world to them. Soon they won’t be so little, they won’t need our help and they won’t want to spend every moment of everyday with us. We should enjoy the memories we’re making, no matter how big or small, and snuggle those babes tight. The work can wait. The chores can wait.
Wondering how you can be more mindful in your daily life? How to be a more mindful mom? Try these ideas and see if you find yourself in a calmer, more mindful state, especially when it comes to taking care of your kids:
Take a break from technology
Emails, texts, phone calls, app notifications. They never seem to go away… unless the phone gets shut off or put away for a while. Start small and keep it out of sight for 20 minutes during dinner and eventually you’ll be able to take a whole night off of your tech addiction.
Work on one task at a time
There’s literally nothing more unmindful than attempting to work on several things at once. Set a timer to 10 minutes and give that task your undivided attention. If, at the end of that 10 minutes, you’re not done, set it aside and come back to it later. This will give you a clear deadline and allow you to put all of your focus on that one thing.
Breathe
Deep belly breathing is said to reduce stress by calming the nervous system and relaxing the body. Engage your diaphragm rather than taking short, shallow breaths where your shoulders tend to rise. If you find yourself getting the hang of diaphragmatic breathing, pair that with meditation for an even deeper state of mindfulness.
Be creative
If you’re like me you really don’t have an artist bone in your body, but creativity is so much more than creating music or a painting. It’s the ability to let loose and allow life to happen. Grab some of your kid’s colored pencils and work on an adult coloring book, or attempt to bake one of those Pinterest creations you’re been eyeing for months.
Allow yourself to feel
Life isn’t always cupcakes and rainbows. Whatever you’re feeling, allow it to be, but don’t harp on the negatives or pretend to be happy all of the time. Give yourself grace and use your feelings as a way to develop a deeper mind-body connection. Let your feelings improve your being.
I’m watching Paw Patrol while The Bachelor records on the DVR and he leans over to give me a hug. I feel loved.
How to be a Mindful Mom
