Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1535219
P A R E N T H O O D C A N F E E L relentless. Between toddler tantrums, the endless negotiations, and just trying to get everyone where they need to be on time (mostly), it can feel like you're constantly running on fumes. Some days, you wake up already exhausted, and by the time you finally get a second to yourself, you're too drained to even enjoy it. That's where mindfulness can help. Being mindful involves doing small, inten- tional things that help you stay present, relieve stress, and not completely lose your mind when your kid inexplicably puts peanut butter in their hair. Again, it's about learning how to pause before you snap. It's about finding moments of calm in the middle of the chaos. We'll be the first to admit that mindfulness as a parent is so much easier said than done. So, let's dig into what mindfulness actually looks like for parents and how you can grab a mindful moment here and there. We're hoping this makes it a bit easier to survive your messiest days. What is mindfulness for parents? Taking care of a child tends to involve a constant stream of distractions, interruptions and meltdowns (sometimes ours, sometimes theirs). This also makes it a great lesson in the importance of mindfulness or living in the moment. Being mindful basically just means paying attention, on purpose, to the present moment without judgment. You're not silently berating yourself for yelling at your kid to stop jumping off the couch or feeling self-conscious about the fact that they just dumped out their water bottle on the ground. You're just focusing on the present, and letting it pass. All you have to do to parent mindfully is to pause, breathe and take notice of what's happening inside you and around you. This can make you less reactionary, and help you be fully pres- ent with your kids while also accepting that parenting, in general, is going to be complicated and imperfect. What are quick mindfulness techniques I can do as a busy parent? Usually, the best mindfulness tech- niques are the ones that you can squeeze in on the fly. Here are three methods you can do while you're still in the midst of the madness: • One deep breath trick: Inhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, and then exhale for six seconds. This can be a helpful mini-reset button when you feel like you're about to lose it. • The mindful pause: Try just two seconds of stillness before you react. This can give your brain a chance to respond intentionally instead of just saying something you might regret. • The five senses reset: Quickly notice what you see, hear, feel, smell and taste. This can help to bring you out of stress mode and back into the present. Get Calm Sign up for your free CTA Calm subscription at CTAMemberBenefits.org/Calm. Questions? Call 650-552-5200 or email MemberBenefits@cta.org. Find moments of calm in the middle of the chaos From the Calm blog Mindfulness F O R P A R E N T S 53 M AY 2 0 2 5 O