Hey there, friend. Welcome back. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here for Mindful Parenting today. It's a Wednesday morning, and I'm guessing you might be in that place where the coffee's still brewing, the kids are already in full volume, and you're wondering how you're going to make it through lunch without losing your mind. Am I close? If so, you're exactly where you need to be right now.

Before we dive in, I want you to find a spot where you can sit comfortably for the next few minutes. This might be in your kitchen, in your car before the school run, or even in the bathroom if that's your sanctuary. Nowhere is too small or too strange. This time is yours.

Now, let's settle in together. Place your feet flat on the ground if you can, and notice where your body meets whatever's supporting you right now. Feel that contact. It's like you're plugging into the earth. Take a deep breath in through your nose, and let it out slowly through your mouth. Do that one more time, and this time, imagine that breath carrying away a little bit of the morning chaos. Good.

Here's what I want you to try today, and it's something I call the Five Senses Pause. When your kids are wound up, when you feel that irritation rising in your chest like a thermometer about to burst, this is your anchor. Take just one conscious breath, and then notice five things you can see. Not judge. Just see. Maybe it's the way light hits a wall. Maybe it's your child's ear. Just name them quietly to yourself. Then four things you can physically feel. Your shirt on your skin. The chair beneath you. The temperature of the air. Three things you can hear, even if it's just the sound of your own breath or distant traffic. Two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This takes less than a minute, and it does something magical. It pulls you right out of that reactive fight-or-flight mode and anchors you in the present moment where everything is actually okay right now.

When you notice your nervous system starting to tighten up today, when your child is pushing your buttons or the day feels overwhelming, pause. Use those five senses. You're teaching your kids the greatest gift when they see you do this. You're showing them that adults can pause too.

Thank you so much for joining 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've got this. I believe in you.

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