As parents, we have no doubt observed our children (of all ages) experiencing big feelings. Big feelings are bound to happen, and big feelings are tough! I have been thinking about parent mindfulness a lot these days. The act of being mindful of ourselves as caregivers and being aware of what is going on in our bodies helps us be the calm, secure presence our kids need when big feelings come up for them. It is important to know what is going on in our own bodies and care for ourselves to meet the needs of our kids.

Most visits to a medical doctor involve a similar sequence of events; the patient presents their
symptoms and the provider goes through a mental checklist and/or administers a series of tests
until they eventually deduce the reason for the patient’s ailment – a broken bone, an ear
infection, a ruptured appendix, etc.