Mindful Moments Blog

A child writing for Santa this Christmas

I Didn't Make My Kids Sit On Santa's Lap And They Are Better For It

by Ashley Patek

Children are wired to seek approval from their caregivers because it is how they are designed to survive. How we respond as parents to our children’s intuition and their bids to voice their consent greatly impacts their ability to speak their truth, set boundaries, and trust who they are. Read more.

To My Children

by Ashley Patek

To my children, without you ... Our house would be clean and organized yet there would be no handprints on the glass to remind me of your littleness.

The Day My Son Told Me "Mad is Bad"

by Ashley Patek

When our children believe that unpleasant emotions are "bad", they become unsafe to feel those emotions. However all emotions are sacred and useful. Here's why. Read more.

Dear Daughter: A Spoken Word Poem

by Alex Petrou

Grab your tissues. This heartfelt video captures the love and prayers one father carries for his unborn child: "The pain and the pleasure, they are buried treasure. Get your hands dirty..." - Kurt Peloquin

A mother kneels and holds her young child’s hands against a colorful abstract background.

How To Make A DIY Calming Corner

by Alex Petrou

After a failed DIY Pinterest-inspired Calming Corner, this mama turned to Generation Mindful's Time-In-Toolkit to save her time, money, and sanity while creating a space for her tantruming three-year-old to explore her feelings.

Social-Emotional Learning Starts At Home

by Ashley Patek

Students who are self-aware and able to understand their emotions have a greater ability to relate to others, make decisions, and excel academically. Here is how to help your child develop social-emotional skills at home.

To the Single Mamas and Papas During the Coronavirus

by Ashley Patek

Parenthood is hard, especially during these unique times of social distancing, quarantine, forced homeschooling, wiping down our groceries, etc. To our single parent friends, we see you, we celebrate you, and we have got your back!

Parent Children, Not Labels

by Viki de Lieme

It happens subconsciously, but it happens. Our brain judges and labels every input we receive. And since parenting offers us a constant and endless stream of input, at some point, we stop parenting young human beings and start parenting labels instead. Here's how to break the cycle.

Celebrating The Birth Of A Mother

by Guest Author

Motherhood seemed to come so easy to everyone around me, yet here I was, barely keeping it together. One mom shares how she was re-born after having children.

Montessori Parenting Techniques for Teaching Emotional Intelligence

by Guest Author

What is so special about the montessori parenting style? Learn how Montessori parenting can instill emotional intelligence in your children.

Play Is More Than Just Fun at Philadelphia's Children's Museum

by Ashley Patek

In collaboration with Generation Mindful, Philadelphia's Please Touch Children's Museum takes a bold step forward in creating a world where all children are able to exercise creativity, compassion, confidence, and social-emotional skills as it opens its new exhibit XOXO: The Exhibit About Love And Forgiveness.

On Peace Tents, Healing the Generations and Motherhood

by Alex Petrou

Every child wants to know, do you see my light even when I’m not shining it?

Don’t Take Your Child's Behavior Personally

by Guest Author

Have you ever been on the receiving end of your child’s angry outburst? It’s hard not to take it personally. But as it turns out, it’s not a result of poor parenting or a sign that your child is on the wrong track. It’s all due to your child’s developing brain.

6 Meaningful Holiday Gifts For 2021

by Ashley Patek

Rather than storing unnoticed toys in the closet this year, give the children on your list meaningful memories instead. Here are six connection-based gift ideas for ages two and up that we love for the holidays and all year long.

5 False Toddler Myths

by Rebecca Eanes

Toddlerhood is a precious time. We do our kids and ourselves a great injustice by assigning negative intent to their developmentally normal behaviors. Instead of going to war, let’s spend these quickly-passing years seeking to understand our little ones and rewrite the narrative on common myths.

4 Effective Ways To Break The Generational Cycle Of Yelling

by Ashley Patek

I yell. I was yelled at. My guess is, my parents were yelled at too. Poor emotional regulation - and its wounding - has been handed down from one generation to another. Here are 4 effective ways to break the cycle so that our children don't have to carry that shame. It stops with us.