Hey there, and welcome back. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here with me today. You know, it's Friday evening, that witching hour when the kids are bouncing off the walls and you're running on fumes and cold coffee. Sound familiar? That's actually the perfect time to pause together, because here's the truth: calm kids often start with one calm parent taking a single breath. So let's do this.

Go ahead and find a comfortable seat somewhere, even if it's just perched on the edge of your bed or leaning against the kitchen counter. You don't need perfect posture or silence. This is real life, and we're working with what we've got. Let your shoulders drop away from your ears, and just notice what it feels like to be in your body right now. No judgment, just noticing.

Now, place one hand on your heart and one on your belly. Breathe in through your nose for a count of four, and as you do, imagine breathing in calm like it's a soft blue light. Hold it for just a moment. Now exhale slowly through your mouth, and as you do, imagine releasing all that tension and frustration you've been carrying. Do that three more times at your own pace. In with the calm, out with the overwhelm.

Here's what I want you to try with your kids today, and this is the game changer. When you notice tension building, when voices are getting loud and patience is wearing thin, bring them into what I call the five senses anchor. Ask them to name five things they can see, four things they can touch, three they can hear, two they can smell, and one they can taste. It sounds simple because it is. What this does is it pulls their nervous system out of fight or flight mode and roots them in the present moment. You do it together. It takes two minutes, and it works like magic because kids feel seen and grounded instead of corrected.

Tonight, try this: before bedtime, sit with your child and do one round of slow breathing together. Make it a ritual. Tell them you're filling yourselves with calm. Kids respond to the poetry in that.

Thank you so much for spending this time with me on Mindful Parenting: Daily Tips for Raising Calm Kids. If this resonated with you, please subscribe so you don't miss tomorrow's practice. You're doing an amazing job, truly. I'll see you next time.

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