MINDFUL PARENTING
MINDFULNESS
MATTERS!
by: MICHELLE GALE
It was just a matter of time before parents — who
are already often riddled with guilt for one reason or
serious data collected on my personal experience here,
I also know I’m not alone in this dilemma. I’ve worked
and spoken with parents from all around the country
mindful parenting.
As we move through the ever-accelerating demands
and complexities of contemporary life and work we ask
ourselves, how do we parent mindfully? How can we live
in a way that is meaningfully connected to ourselves
and our children? Life is messy, but it’s exactly within
growth.
No one can argue at this point that meditation and
living a mindful life is good for us. Study after study has
proven this to be true. For those of us who practice
more pleasant human beings who thrive better when
tell you when I’ve been missing my daily dose because I
will be much more cranky and impatient.
Here’s the problem: even when I’m doing all the things
I know are good for me — such as waking up early
and getting my meditation out of the way, practicing
presence when around my children, taking a pause
when I’m triggered and weaving mindfulness practices
into most of my day — I still manage to do things you
example, just recently, I bribed my 10-year-old with the
his visit day at a new school. On another occasion when
my son was doing a ton of whining and crying I raised my
me that he has a right to his sadness.)
In terms of my own mindful self-care, I slip up, too. I
ate half a bag of BBQ potato chips when I was stressed
them mindfully. In fact, I barely remember what they
tasted like. I drove across town having no memory of
how I got there. And you know what? This all just means
I’m a human being. I can be mindful and mindless all in
the same day! So, what’s a parent who cares so much
about their inner awakening to do?
Lighten up, for one. And next, we can weave some selfcompassion
practices into our days. My guess is that if
I do) about living a life where you meet each moment
as fully as possible. It’s time for us to meet our cruddy
behavior just as fully as our mindful behavior. Let’s lean
and give ourselves a break. Let’s take that breath we
know we need and begin again, always just begin again.
Mindful Parenting Educator Michelle Gale, MA, is a former
head of learning and leadership development for Twitter
connecting with themselves. She is the author of the book
“Mindful Parenting in a Messy World,” an Amazon bestseller.
Learn more at www.beamindfulparent.com and connect with
her at michelle@michellegale.com.
2018. February - 8 - vervemagazines.com
/www.beamindfulparent.com
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