Nature provides a rich environment without being over-stimulating – freeing us from screens and advertising
Finding your way to a calmer, happier family and self could be easier than you might think – no silence or chanting required, says author Amber Hatch
What is mindfulness"
When we are mindful, we experience life as it is actually happening. We can watch where our thoughts are going, rather than be swept along with them. We are also more aware of our feelings, whether they are joy, sadness, contentedness or anger. And when we are being mindful, it is easier to choose whether or not to act on those feelings.
How can it help us parent"
Parents often need to learn new techniques to rise to new challenges of family life, and this is especially true in the first few years. Among other things, mindfulness can help us to stay calm in a crisis; feel more connected to our children; be patient; throw ourselves into an activity; not say something we might regret and keep a sense of perspective. Being around children is like living with the volume turned up. Everything is more extreme and children can court the full range of human emotions each and every day. Parents may be vomited on, screamed at, poked in the eye, woken up several times in the night; they will have to tear apart children who are trying to bite each other; they will hear ?I want that lolly? 27 times; they will be humiliated in the supermarket; they will hear ?I hate you? and ?I love you? in t...