by Lauren Simon 

Mindfulness allows us to engage with the present moment; not only as a meditative practice, but as a way of being. Research suggests that mindfulness can impact us both individually and in our relationships with others. 

For parents, it’s important to know how to bring this present moment awareness to their role. 

Simone Marie in PsychCentral shares that mindful parenting involves focusing on the “here and now”, with the parents and their children at the center. The core features of mindful parenting include self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy and active listening. According to Ashley Marcin in Healthline, compassion and non-judgmental acceptance are also key to the practice. 

Marcin adds that this parenting approach sets the tone for how we respond to our children’s behavior, rather than react. Active listening and acceptance of others’ feelings and perspectives are mindfulness fundamentals that can strengthen these family relationships. 

This can positively influence the behavior of children and encourage them to similarly engage with this mindset, according to Marie. Academic success, increased mental wellness and ability to cultivate healthy relationships are possible benefits of the approach. 

Wellness content creators, such as Natalie Franćeska, have explored what it means to parent from the heart space and how this enriches our interactions with our children. The heart space, when mindfully tapped into, is one of love, compassion and acceptance of oneself and others. This profound connection allows us to foster balanced give-take relationships with others, too. 

Our relationship to the heart space is also foundational to social-emotional learning as children learn to understand their own emotions and socialize with others. 

The founder of mindfulness-based stress reduction Jon Kabat-Zinn acknowledges the challenges of mindful parenting alongside its impactful benefits. 

Surely, the practice can be easier said than done; a welcoming attitude of acceptance can be difficult to find in our most heated moments. 

Marcin considers these moments that parents may know all too well—being frustrated that the baby isn’t sleeping or that the child doesn’t want to eat dinner or the parent is overcome with a wave of embarrassment when the toddler throws a tantrum at the store. 

However, these instances of intense emotion can unfold differently. Jill Ceder with The Gottman Institute’s publication talks about how we can respond, rather than react: 

Notice what feelings arise when experiencing a difficult moment between us and our children. Accept these emotions in total awareness, without either rejecting or attaching ourselves to them. 

Pause as we experience emotions rather than immediately acting upon them. We are better prepared psychologically and physiologically to respond to challenges when we center our mind, body and breath in the present moment. 

Listen to our children’s perspective and their experience of the situation. Although we may disagree with their behaviors in some circumstances, how we regulate our emotions as parents may set the example for how our children self-regulate. 

We might also follow “STOP” in our approach to mindful parenting: 

• Stop. 
• Take deep breaths. 
• Observe our thoughts, emotions and sensations. 
• Proceed in responding to the behavior of our children. 

Lauren Simon is a freelance writer with a passion for holistic health and a contributor to Natural Awakenings.