April and Spring Break always get me! The kids get time off, yay, but wait now I have to figure out how to navigate, entertain, and connect while still tending to all the typical responsibilities of any given week! Sounds like a big April fools joke to me! Lol
Yes, I appreciate spaciousness and not having to do school and activity drops offs. But having long days with just me and the kids unfortunately doesn’t always sound easy or relaxing!
So in order to try to practice some mindful parenting, the hubby and I each gave each other a solo vacation day. It’s so important as a parent to not underestimate the importance of self-care! Self-care means taking care of ourselves so that we can take care of others. If we are burnt out and pushed to our max, then fun family time will absolutely never be fun. And if we are wanting to parent our children in a more mindful, calm way, we have to choose to be aware of and regulate our own emotions. Only then can we help them learn how to regulate theirs. Yes, we must be the calm in their storm!
So in an attempt to be mindful in this full April, we each got our day off. Mine included a quiet day at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Spa with a girlfriend, and daddy’s included surfing with friends. After, we achieved some self-care, then we were able to come together as a family and have a super sweet time and yes, even relaxing time!
PARENTS
Even if you can’t escape for the day, developing your own nurturing self-care routine can help you reset: breathe, bathe, nourish, move and sleep. Even a daily chat with a good friend can fill your cup!
FAMILY
My favorite mindfulness activity is actually taking a bath with my kiddos. Yep, taking a bath and then when we are there we do a 3 sense mindfulness activity.
We take 5 slow breaths together and then I ask:
1. What are three things you can hear?
2. What are three things you can see?
3. What are three things you can feel?
This activity is always super nourishing to us, it helps us connect to each other, the moment and definitely relax as a family!
COMMUNITY Metta Yoga San Rafael Spring Renewal Body Roll Workshop with Michele Klink mettayogastudio.com
Wee Yogis
Mommy & Baby Yoga and Music pod classes
Mindful Mama Barre pod classes weeyogis.com
Yoga Mama Co-up
Weekly Live stream Classes for Mama Pods yogamamacoop.com
