Last week, Tammy talked about calmness—and I loved that, because it matters so much as a purposeful parent.
Calm isn’t always easy, but it can be practiced.
Today, I want to talk about the little habits that help keep our emotions light by growing our mindfulness muscle.
For me this summer, it started with our 12-year-old furry boy, Max. He’s always been super active, but a few months ago I started noticing him slow down. It made me feel helpless and sad watching him go through the aches and changes that come with aging.
So I started paying closer attention. After some research (and a lot of love), I switched him from kibbles to homemade meals—simple stuff like chicken, sweet potatoes, and greens. And wow, what a difference! He’s had fewer joint pains, way less gas, and even started being playful again. 😉
Small shifts really can change everything.
Same goes for parenting.
Finding ways to create harmony with our relationships to use our voices wisely. Like putting sunscreen by the door so no one forgets. Storing fruit at eye level in the fridge where kids see it first. Or leaving kind notes and reminders in the bathroom mirror.
Then do the same for yourself too like carving out weekly ME time or sending birthday messages to keep your important connections warm. (Thank you, Facebook birthday widget!)
None of it is fancy. Just tiny things that help life flow a little better.
Let’s get into it.
Play Your Way to Calm
"My 6-year-old son won’t stop asking me the same thing over and over—like when we’ll play a game or go to the park. It drives me nuts! How do I help him feel heard without repeating myself 20 times?" - Christine H.
One thing I’ve learned as a parent—especially when my kids were little—is that gamifying our daily interactions can totally transform frustrating moments into light, connecting ones.
When my son kept asking, “Can we play that game yet?”, I’d hand him a sticky note and say, “Write it down and I’ll wear it right here so you know I won’t forget.” He loved sticking it on my shirt, and I’d tell him, “If you ask again, I might (peel it off my shirt) accidentally forget!” 😄
That one little change turned nagging into something playful—and gave him visual reassurance that I remembered.
Why gamifying works:
‣ Kids feel more in control without being controlling
‣ It diffuses power struggles with play instead of pushback
‣ It builds emotional regulation in a way that feels safe and fun
‣ And honestly? It helps us stay calm too
But be patient with yourself because it takes time. These little tools don’t always come naturally in the moment (especially when you’re tired or stressed). That’s why we practice building mindful habits.
🌱 Try these Tiny Habit Recipes for mindfulness:
After my child keeps asking the same question,
I will give them a sticky note to write it down and stick it on me.
After I notice my child resisting a transition,
I will pause to think of a fun or playful way to shift gears.
After I see my child getting overwhelmed,
I will invite them to take one deep breath with me and smile
There are so many little ways to turn everyday moments into a game. Challenge yourself to try one, then celebrate it, even if it’s small. ("Hey, I did it!") Before you know it, you’ll be coming up with playful tricks on the fly that build connection and grow your child’s mindfulness muscle.
Have a parenting challenge you'd love some fresh insight on? Email your question my way—I’d love to help!
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How perfect that International Self-Care Day is coming up this Thursday 7/24 right as we’ve been talking about mindfulness all month.
It’s a good reminder that self-care doesn’t have to be anything huge. Sometimes it’s just a deep breath, a quiet moment, or choosing to pause instead of push through.
I’m also really thankful for our friends at Meru Health, a mental wellness app that gives you real-time support like personalized therapy tools, biofeedback techniques, and unlimited chat with licensed therapists, no waiting required. It’s fully covered by Aetna, Cigna, and a few others, so you might already have access without even knowing it. Check here to see if you’re covered.
If you need a little calm today, here’s something that helped me: John Legend’s version of Three Little Birds. It’s soft and simple, and the lyrics hit different when you really listen.
Take care of yourself this week. You’re worth it. 💛
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