Mindful Moments Blog
Mindful Moments Blog
by Rebecca Eanes
Are you feeling overwhelmed by parenting lately? Perhaps a bit lost? It’s no secret that this parenting gig is tricky. Here are some reasons why you may benefit from a parenting coach.
Mindful Moments Blog
Your Child's Emotions Need Support, Not Solutions
by Ashley Patek
When we attempt to fix our children’s emotions and problems, we move out of connection and into control. The focus shifts from them to us. Instead, we can sit with them in the hard stuff, offering support, not solutions. Here's how.
Mindful Moments Blog
The Battle Between Positive and Negative Reinforcement
by Traci Esposito
We parents have long searched for a solution when it comes to behavior modification, asking ourselves, which is more effective, positive or negative reinforcement? We have the scoop here.
Mindful Moments Blog
The Battle Between Positive and Negative Reinforcement
by Traci Esposito
We parents have long searched for a solution when it comes to behavior modification, asking ourselves, which is more effective, positive or negative reinforcement? We have the scoop here.
Mindful Moments Blog
by Guest Author
Self-care looks different for everyone. And it’s certainly not just one big thing you do because someone else tells you it will be therapeutic. Instead, we can put small systems in place that make nurturing our own well-being too small and too easy to fail, and here's how.
Mindful Moments Blog
Growing a Growth Mindset: The Big Life Journal
by Alex Petrou
Parenting is hard.
I am 17 years into the raising of humans, and of this one thing I am absolutely certain. I will NEVER get it "right". The good news is this: getting it "right" is no longer my goal.
GROWING A GROWTH MINDSET
Today I had the pleasure of chatting with mom and co-creator of the Big Life Journal Alexandra Eidens. Listen in as we talk about the gift of "doing it wrong" and the difference this 'lil journal is having for children ages 6-7 and up.
Help launch the book and get in on a special discounted rate HERE by supporting the Big Life Journal's crowdfunding campaign.
Want some extra help in letting go of "right" and finding more joy and less stress in parenting? Check out this free one hour webinar called Parenting From Your Center (When You Are Pissed Off).
EMBRACING OUR MISTAKES
It is SO not about being perfect.
The truth is, we can have a powerful, positive impact on our children when we embrace our limitations (and our children's!) and practice parenting from a growth mindset.
Join me and thousands of other parents in the Generation Mindful community as we move past the many pitfalls that come with having a fixed mindset.
Take the free webinar. Order yourself a Big Life Journal. Say "no" to mama/papa guilt and "yes" to being enough.
xo
Suzanne Tucker, Founder of Generation Mindful, has helped thousands connect on a deeper level to themselves and their families. As a physical therapist with a focus on attachment, and parent educator, Suzanne offers Infant Massage and Positive Parenting classes, and private parenting support.
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Generation Mindful creates tools, toys, and programs that nurture emotional intelligence through play and positive discipline. Join us and receive joy in your inbox each week.
Mindful Moments Blog
20 Ways to Speak Your Child’s Love Language
by Rebecca Eanes
What love language does your child speak and how can you speak it so they feel deeply valued and loved?
Mindful Moments Blog
by Ashley Patek
Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33, Dulci navigated treatment, working full time, and parenting her son. This is what she says others need to know, and it could save a life.
Mindful Moments Blog
Helping Kids Process Their Emotions Free From Shame
by Alex Petrou
If you’ve ever caught yourself wanting to tell an emotional child to just stop, (so basically, if you are a human being) here are three things to keep in mind that will help you help kids process their emotions free from shame.
Mindful Moments Blog
The Ultimate Guide To Building A Calming Corner And Using Time-Ins At Home
by Ashley Patek
How do you say goodbye to time-outs and introduce time-ins? This is the ultimate guide on the do's and don'ts for building and using a Calming Corner.
Mindful Moments Blog
Do You Have the Courage to Imperfect?
by Rebecca Eanes
Embracing your imperfect self, your imperfect children, and your imperfect life is an uncomfortable, vulnerable step to take. Here are some tips for making it happen.
Mindful Moments Blog
When Your Toddler Won't Stop Crying!
by Ashley Patek
Why is your toddler crying and what can you do? Here is a parent's guide for making it through, helping your child co-regulate and process her emotions.
Mindful Moments Blog
9 Mantras I Use When Low On Patience With My Kids
by Ashley Patek
Mantras can change the wiring of our brain and create a new lens to see ourselves, our kids, and the world at large. Here are 9 parenting mantras I use when low on patience with my kids.
Mindful Moments Blog
Ask Andrew: Understanding Neurodiversity
by Guest Author
Hi! I’m Andrew from Generation Mindful's newest recurring weekly feature, Ask Andrew. I’ll be taking any and all questions regarding the autism spectrum with particular emphasis on childhood development as an authentic autistic adult. Today Andrew answers: What do you wish your classmates had understood about you/did differently?
Mindful Moments Blog
One Simple Question I Ask Myself To Keep From Yelling At My Child
by Ashley Patek
This mama was able to respond instead of reacting in the face of her son's big tantrum by asking this one simple question.
Mindful Moments Blog
by Ashley Patek
This mama uses a poem to capture her experience of telling her son about his sister ... "What happened, mama? Why didn’t she come home? ... Her body laid so still at birth, I said, But her soul knew where to go."
Mindful Moments Blog
The Connecting Magic of Family Traditions and Rituals
by Rebecca Eanes
I grew up in poverty. We did not take beach vacations. I never saw Disney World or even so much as visited a museum. But every summer, we took a one-day trip to a rinky-dink amusement park in the hills of West Virginia. It was our “big trip” of the season, and I was always incredibly excited for it. As a child, the only thing that mattered to me was spending time as a family having fun. Recently, I took my own children to that same tiny park, and so the tradition lives on.
What’s the Purpose of Traditions?
Family traditions don’t have to be big to be bold. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the smallest repeated gestures to the grand celebrations. Any activity that your family does ritualistically can be considered tradition. Often, they start rather unintentionally as families naturally discover what they enjoy doing together and repeat those experiences.
Other traditions are set with intention, either because they’ve been passed down from generation to generation or because we want to purposefully create a sense of togetherness and unity within our family systems.
They can be used to create structure and a sense of safety, two things that all children benefit from. Traditions can reflect your family values, such as donating toys or volunteering regularly. Or they can ensure that we slow down and spend time together in an otherwise busy and buzzing life. They are a way of staying connected.
Family traditions hold a special place in our hearts, creating fond memories that are borne out of every board game, road trip, or celebration. They give us a shared identity and strengthen our bonds. They nurture feelings of belonging, and there is even some suggestion that family traditions promote better emotional adjustment.
Dr. Steven Wolin, a psychiatrist at the George Washington University, says, “If you grow up in a family with strong rituals, you’re more likely to be resilient as an adult. We know that either way, there are strong benefits to feeling emotionally connected to our loved ones.
The Culture of Busyness is Wreaking Havoc on Family Systems
We are living in times where parents are working longer, kids are schooling longer, and everyone is glued to their devices when not working or schooling. It seems that every moment of every day is being gobbled up and we are just too distracted to notice. Perhaps we need traditions and rituals now more than ever.
Traditions have the power to bring us back to one another. Whether that is around the campfire or the Monopoly board, we are offered a chance to come face to face with those we love. In doing so, we are reminded that time is short and that children do not stay children for long. Traditions are a way for us to celebrate one another and this wild and beautiful life.
10 Traditions to Start with Your Family
1. Take a picture in the same place every year on the first day of school. You won’t believe how much bigger they will look than last year.
2. Go on monthly Mommy/Daddy dates. These are a great way for children to get the one-on-one attention they crave.
3. Create a time capsule every year, either on a child’s birthday or perhaps New Year’s Eve.
4. Create a family fight song. You can use a well-known tune as a foundation and change the words to suit your family. Use it as a cheer when a family member accomplishes something or as a pep rally to help pump someone up for a big day!
5. Create seasonal traditions like visiting a pumpkin patch every fall and snow tubing every winter.
6. Keep a weekly game night, movie night, or some other family activity that you enjoy.
7. Make up handshakes, code words, or special symbols that only have meaning for your family.
8. Have the same breakfast on a holiday morning, such as pancakes with sprinkles on Christmas or shaped into a bunny face on Easter.
9. Hold weekly family meetings and ask everyone to share one thing they appreciate about a member of the family.
10. Start a tradition where everyone donates an unwanted item every time they receive a new gift. This helps keep down clutter and teaches responsibility!
Mindful Moments Blog
Holiday Survival Guide For Parents: Managing Your Child's Meltdowns
by Ashley Patek
Here are some reasons why toddlers meltdown more during the holiday season followed by some easy tips to help regulate their environment and their moods.
