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Pause Button: The Superpower for Raising Calm Kids

Pause Button: The Superpower for Raising Calm Kids

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 Hey there, and welcome. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here today. Sunday mornings can feel like that moment right before a pot of water boils over, can't they? The week ahead is already whispering in your ear, and the kids are running at full speed. So take a breath with me. We're going to spend the next few minutes together learning something that's going to make this entire week feel a little more manageable.

Let's start by finding a comfortable seat, somewhere you won't be interrupted for just a few minutes. If the kids are awake, that's okay, they can play nearby. This is your moment. Go ahead and settle in, feet flat on the ground if you can, shoulders dropping away from your ears. Notice what's touching the chair beneath you, the air on your skin. You're here, and that's enough.

Now, let's breathe. Not the shallow, anxious breathing we do when we're rushing. Real breathing. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four, letting your belly expand like you're filling it with calm. Hold it for just a beat. Now exhale through your mouth for a count of six, releasing it like a sigh. Do that again. In for four, out for six. One more time, and this time, as you breathe out, imagine releasing everything you're carrying right now. The expectations, the to-do lists, all of it. Let it drift away.

Here's the thing about raising calm kids: they catch our energy like a cold. When we're frantic, they absorb it. When we're grounded, they settle like leaves on still water. So here's what I want you to practice today. It's called the Pause Button, and you can do it anywhere, anytime, even with kids hanging on your legs. Throughout your day, especially in those moments when things start to escalate, when voices get louder or tempers flare, pause. Just for ten seconds. Place one hand on your heart, one on your belly, and take three slow breaths together. Not as punishment. As connection. Let your child feel your steadiness. They need to know their calm grown up is still there.

You can do this before breakfast, before homework happens, before bed. Three breaths. That's your superpower this week.

As you go about your day, remember that mindful parenting isn't about being perfect. It's about being present, even in the mess of it all. Your kids don't need a flawless parent. They need a real one, grounded and breathing.

Thank you so much for tuning in to Mindful Parenting: Daily Tips for Raising Calm Kids. I hope this practice serves you. Please subscribe so you don't miss a single episode. Take care of yourself, because when you do, everyone around you benefits. I'll see you tomorrow.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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