22 NOV 2024 · Here's the script for Mindful Parenting: Daily Tips for Raising Calm Kids:
[Warm, inviting tone]
Hello there, wonderful parent. Welcome to today's practice. I know this morning might feel like you're already juggling a thousand things - maybe there's lunches to pack, homework to check, and what feels like a million tiny negotiations before everyone heads out the door. [PAUSE]
Let's take a moment just for you. Wherever you are - kitchen counter, living room, maybe even sitting in your car - find a comfortable seated position. Allow your spine to be gentle but strong, like a tree rooting itself while still swaying softly in the breeze. [PAUSE]
Take a deep breath in... and out. [PAUSE]
Today, we're exploring a practice I call the "Emotional Weather Report" - a mindful technique to help both you and your children navigate big feelings with compassion and clarity.
Imagine emotions like clouds passing through the sky of your mind. Some are fluffy and light, some are dark and heavy. But here's the important thing: they're all just passing through. They don't define you or your child. They simply... are. [PAUSE]
Let's practice. Close your eyes if it feels comfortable. Breathe naturally. [PAUSE]
Picture your child's emotional landscape. When they're frustrated, angry, or overwhelmed, instead of trying to fix or change their feeling, simply notice it. Say internally, "I see you're feeling stormy right now." [PAUSE]
This isn't about minimizing their experience, but creating spaciousness. You're teaching them that all emotions are welcome, that they're safe to feel whatever they're feeling. [PAUSE]
Imagine yourself as a calm, steady lighthouse. The emotional waves might crash around you, but you remain centered, compassionate, unshaken. [PAUSE]
Take another deep breath. Feel the gentle rise and fall of your chest. [PAUSE]
As you move through your day, when big emotions surface - yours or your child's - pause. Take a breath. Offer internal kindness. "This feeling is hard right now, and it's okay." [PAUSE]
Your homework: Once today, when emotions run high, use the "Emotional Weather Report." Acknowledge the feeling without judgment. Watch how this simple act of mindful witnessing can transform the moment. [PAUSE]
You're doing beautiful, important work. Breathe. Trust yourself.
Namaste.
[End of practice]