Mindful Moments Blog

5 Signs Of Toxic Discipline And What To Do If You're Using It

by Ashley Patek

Do you use toxic discipline when raising your child? Here are 5 signs that you may. Learn how your childhood influenced your parenting and gain tips for healing both the relationship you have with yourself and the one you share with your child.

Mindful Moments Blog

How To Create A Calm Down Space Your Kids Won't Fight About

by Ashley Patek

We share tips on setting up your Calming Corner for more than one child so it doesn't become another thing on the list of things they argue over.

Mindful Moments Blog

Consequences For When My Child Misbehaves

by Ashley Patek

We all want to raise kind and empathetic humans. And when our children fail to pick up their toys, do their homework, or listen to our requests, our instinct is to issue a consequence. But what type of consequences work?

Mindful Moments Blog

There Is No Such Thing As A Bad Child

by Guest Author

As a mother and trauma therapist, I can sniff out social trauma from a mile away.

Mindful Moments Blog

Our Kids Are Listening Even When They Don't Seem Like It

by Ashley Patek

I was starting to lose hope that my three-year-old was actually absorbing anything when I talked to him about emotions or attempted to elicit empathy after he hit or kicked another in a fit of rage. But then this happened, and I realized he had been listening after all.

Mindful Moments Blog

Parenting Still Takes a Village, Here’s 5 Fresh Reasons Why

by Ashley Patek

When we realize one truth - that we don’t have to do it all, all of the time, we buttress our child’s social and emotional development right alongside our own.

Mindful Moments Blog

Parenting A Sensitive And Strong-Willed Child

by Ashley Patek

Raising a strong-willed child? You're not alone. Gain access to tools that help you validate the emotions fueling their meltdown, plus tangible tips to redirect hitting, kicking, spitting, power struggles, and other challenging behaviors.

Mindful Moments Blog

Slowing Down

by Suzanne Tucker

If we are always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one we are in? Join Selina as she leads a mindful moment to help us slow down and enjoy where we are.

Using Social Stories To Nurture Connection During Home Visits

Mindful Moments Blog

Creating Safe Spaces and Nurturing Connection Using Social Stories and More

by Ashley Patek

Home visits can play an important role in alleviating the intergenerational transmission of trauma by helping parents and caregivers build positive and healthy attachments with their children. And, in using social stories for home visits, children can better navigate challenging situations. Here's how. Plus FREE Scripted Social Stories Printable.

Mindful Moments Blog

3 Steps For Managing Parenting Stress This Holiday Season

by Ashley Patek

Parenting during the holidays feels tough because it is tough. Here are 3 tips to get you through with less stress and more joy.

Mindful Moments Blog

I Am Perfect Just The Way I Am

by Alex Petrou

Feelings Friday #20: I am perfect just the way I am. A tribute to the late Fred Rogers, soft focus and the SnuggleBuddies gang. xo

Mindful Moments Blog

Helping Children Embrace Mistakes For A Growth Mindset

by Ashley Patek

Whether your kiddo strikes out at baseball, colors out of the lines, or gets a grade lower than they wanted, parents have a beautiful opportunity to honor big feelings and offer tools to help them accept and maybe even celebrate it. Here are 8 ways.

Mindful Moments Blog

Getting Your Child To Listen Without Commands And Demands

by Ashley Patek

Want your child to listen without having to nag, command or demand? Follow these 5 tips.

Mindful Moments Blog

An Open Letter To My Child's Teacher

by Ashley Patek

For months, every morning, I sent my child off to school to be in your care. I entrusted you with my heart as he walked into your classroom. I handed him off to you, woman to woman, knowing that for the next several hours, it would be you that he looked up to, watched, and absorbed. Now, here we are, in this unusual time of staying home. He no longer takes a seat in your classroom, yet he is still in your class.

Mindful Moments Blog

Ask Andrew: Finding Your People

by Andrew Patterson

Andrew answers today's question: My 14 year-old daughter with autism doesn’t get invited to things and gets mad at her 6 year-old sister because of jealousy, I think. What can I do to help her with this?

Mindful Moments Blog

Parenting Toddlers, Tweens, and Teens Using Time-Ins

by Ashley Patek

Crystal is a mama with a household of toddlers, tweens, and teens where uncontrollable sobbing and outbursts were a daily occurrence, and not just from her three-year-old.

Mindful Moments Blog

Pretending To Be Calm Is Not Helping Our Children

by Rebecca Eanes

Many of us believe that if we can remain calm no matter what and teach our children to do the same then we have successfully mastered self-regulation. But true regulation has nothing to do with achieving a certain state. It's in noticing and responding to whatever emotion you are feeling.

Mindful Moments Blog

I Trust The World and Let Love In.

by Alex Petrou

This week's video mantra is a powerful one, all about what happens in our bodies when we feel SAFE and what happens when we help children feel safe in the world as well. Feeling safe...this is where true learning begins.

Mindful Moments Blog

I Share My Ideas and My Feelings

by Alex Petrou

Join me as we bring this in, break it down and help this mantra of the week live into our every day life. This one's for you if you've even had a child say something hard to hear to you like, "I wish my baby brother was never born!!!" Ghaaa...yes, we are strong enough to hear even this --- let's talk about it.

Mindful Moments Blog

Parenting DUI's Affect A Child's Self-Worth

by Ashley Patek

In all of our loving intent, we sometimes commit parenting DUI's, which can send our children into a protective response. Here are 3 ways to break the cycle, not only for your child but for your inner child, too.

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