The Mindful Parent Coach

🚨 Meltdowns are tough—for kids and parents! But with the right tools, you can turn these overwhelming moments into opportunities for growth and connection. 🧘‍♀️💕
Here are 5 tips to help you manage meltdowns with calm and confidence:
1️⃣ Check Yourself – Your energy sets the tone. Take a deep breath before responding.
2️⃣ Acknowledge Their Feelings – Let them know they’re heard: “I see you’re really upset.”
3️⃣ Set Clear Boundaries – Children need us to hold boundaries, so they learn how to do the same.
4️⃣ Offer Choices – Offer choices they can actually make, if its not an option don’t offer it.
5️⃣ Use Distractions – Distract and redirect is simple and useful!
Remember, meltdowns are a sign of big emotions, not bad behavior. 🧡 The key is responding with empathy and calmness so your child learns emotional regulation over time.
What’s your go-to meltdown tip? Drop it below! 👇👇

Boundaries are a necessary part of parenting, but they don’t have to be harsh or controlling. Compassionate boundaries respect children’s feelings while ensuring limits are still maintained. Next time you face resistance, try acknowledging their emotions and offering choices that support the boundary!

Ready to dive deeper into compassionate parenting?
DM me for more tips or sign up for my upcoming parent workshops! 🌱❤️

Boundaries aren’t about control—they’re about creating an emotionally safe environment where children feel supported, secure, and loved. When we set boundaries with kindness and consistency, we teach our kids that limits exist not to restrict their freedom but to protect and nurture their well-being. ❤️⁣

⁣Remember, boundaries show our children how to navigate the world with respect for themselves and others. It’s about saying, “I love you enough to guide you.” 🌿⁣

⁣

Have you ever woke up in the morning and thought….💭
‘Hmmm, I wonder how I can tick off my boss today 🤔’

No? Me either!

So it’s odd that we often assume children would intentionally want to upset US. They really do want to get it right.

When we think it’s personal - it feels personal, and that’s when we can get caught in a power struggle.

It’s amazing what shifting your perspective can do!

Tag someone who you think would enjoy this post!

📣TEACHERS & PARENTS

🔄 Instead of saying ‘Good Job,’ try these alternatives to boost your students’ confidence and motivation!

We can reinforce positive behavior by offering specific feedback instead of generic praise. When we say ‘I noticed how you shared with your friend’ instead of just ‘Good job!’

We encourage self-reflection and growth. 📝

✏️5 QUESTIONS to ask your kids about the first day of school… and actually get them talking!

1. What was the best part of your first day?
2. Did you make any new friends today? What do you like about them?
3. Is there anything you're looking forward to learning more about this year?
4. Were you nervous or unsure at all? How did you handle those feelings?
5. Is there anything about your first day that made you feel excited, proud, or curious?

• I call these types of questions: “Curiosity Questions”. These are open-ended questions that typically cannot be answered with a simple yes or no.

• They promote meaningful connection and conversation with our kids, and lay the foundation for ongoing communication throughout the year. Most importantly, they help us to better understand our kids and their feelings.

• Be mindful that they just had a long day at school, and are going to need some time to settle into the routines both at school and at home - so bombarding them with questions as soon as they walk in the door may be overwhelming. You know your kids best, read their cues closely.

• I suggest having conversations with our kids while they are doing something else, like having a snack, drawing, or building with lego. (all great activities to help regulate after school)

• Engaging in their activity with them reduces the pressure of conversation, distracts them from any overwhelming/anxious feelings, and allows them to regulate and continue to regulate while talking.

• What is really cool about this is that when we provide a multi-sensory experience like lego (visual/tactile) it stimulates different parts of the brain which can actually make it easier for them to express themselves verbally!

Happy Back to School!!

✏️ What was your favorite part about back to school as a kid? {Ours is in the comments}

I hate to be the bearer of bad news..... but summer is almost over 😞

It's time to start talking about back to school - and with that comes:

🫠After-school Restraint Collapse, also known as after-school meltdown, is a common challenge for parents and kids!🫠

Stay tuned for tips on how to support your kids with this transition!

•

•

•

🫨UP-REGULATION vs DOWN-REGULATION🫠

What is up-regulation and down-regulation?

Up-regulation refers to increasing arousal and activation in your nervous system, while down-regulation means decreasing it.

When do we choose upregulation and when do we choose down-regulation?

When we see a child (or any person) who is in a state of Hyper-arousal (there is a lot of energy buzzing through their body, ready to be used for flight/fight. - yelling, screaming, crying - overstimulated) we want to DOWN-REGULATE them. This looks like: talking in a soft slow voice, deep breathing, limiting big body movements, deep pressure squeezes, swinging, balancing, visualization, peaceful music etc.

When we see a child in a state of Hypo-arousal, (low energy, a freeze response, may cause feelings of emotional numbness, emptiness, paralysis, sleepy, distracted, etc) we want to UP-REGULATE them. This looks like: utilizing big body movements (exercise/running stairs/jumping jacks), cold water, rapid breath work, red light green light, bike etc.

💫SAVE THE DATE💫

Our newest children’s book will be available for purchase on Amazon August 9, 2024!!

This book is so special to me, not only because I wrote it and what it is about - but because of the little boy who is telling the story. Some of you may have noticed that he looks a little familiar.

This little guy was specially created by combining two of my most favourite little boys. 🩶 I was blown away at how she could take photos of my kids, combine their features, and take their input (the gaps in between the teeth & homage to Adidas tracksuits were a must) into consideration to create our leading fella - T.J.

We cannot WAIT for you all to get your hands on this new book!

As always, I am so beyond grateful for the love and support this community continues to send our way. 🩶

✨Our Services✨

Click the link in our bio to book a session.
For more information on our services, please message us!

➕POSITIVE vs NEGATIVE➖

It’s really easy to find yourself shouting “NO RUNNING!” or “DON’T RUN”, I mean I can recall saying it at least once this week alone! Negative statements are often our default.

But here’s the thing, when we shift the way we communicate and offer clear instructions, we are more likely to get the outcome we want.

"Walking feet" is a positive and clear instruction that tells children what to do, rather than what not to do. It gives them a goal or a task rather than a restriction.

Do you find yourself using a lot of negative statements? Tell us below!

•

•

💫SAVE THE DATE💫

Our newest children's book will be available for purchase on Amazon August 8, 2024!!

This book is so special to me, not only because I wrote it and what it is about - but because of the little boy who is telling the story. Some of you may have noticed that he looks a little familiar.

This little guy was specially created by combining two of my most favourite little boys. 🩶 I was blown away at how she could take photos of my kids, combine their features, and take their input (the gaps in between the teeth & homage to Adidas tracksuits were a must) into consideration to create our leading fella - T.J.

We cannot WAIT for you all to get your hands on this new book!

As always, I am so beyond grateful for the love and support this community continues to send our way. 🩶

✨The Difference between discipline and punishment is simple✨

PUNISHMENT is something we do TO children, and DISCIPLINE is something we do WITH children.

It is US against the problem, always. 🩶

💡We want our kids to know HOW to think, not just WHAT to think.💡

And part of that is equipping them with the skills to solve problems!

•

•

•

We’ve been keeping a secret!!

And are so excited to share with you our newest children’s book: Mindful Monsters Feel Their Feelings!

Over the past (almost) year I have been working along side young Alberta artist Kaisa Verboom to bring you this beautiful new story!

Join T.J. as he learns to recognize his emotions by the physical sensations in his body, so he can better tame his inner emotion monsters!

We are so proud of this project, and thrilled for you all to finally see it!!

It is currently available for local (Calgary & Area) PRE-ORDER only.

Children need to be heard
Children need to feel seen
Children need to be validated
Children need to be loved unconditionally

Empathy is a powerful tool.

A decade of loving you 🩶

I was truly not prepared for the flood of emotion that came with my baby boy turning 10. We are officially all in the double digits. 🥹

Anyone who knows our little C 🐻 knows that he is a natural comedian, with a raw and quick witted sense of humour.

He is smart, kind, thoughtful and goes through life to the beat of his own drum with a level of determination and intensity I never expected.

He does absolutely everything at full speed - except turn off video games.

He has taught me to be in the moment and to not take myself or life so seriously.

I’m so lucky to be his Mom - even if he insists on calling me Jack-laaaaan, Bruh, or Motheeerrrr 😂

Happy 10th to my not so little baby boy.
Love you 100 Infinity 4 🩵❤️

#10

Well NYC🗽 , it’s been a slice 🍕

Thanks for all the adventure, good food, memories, endless laughs, and the best travel crew I could ever imagine!

Until next time……

Happy 7.

Hey, look at us….
Who woulda thought…. not me 🩶

✨NOW AVAILABLE ✨

Our Mend Your Mind Journal is now available on Amazon! With over 200 pages to colour as you work through your healing process!

This journal is sure to remind you of the colouring books you used as a child, with an added benefit of journaling.

Are you ready to MEND YOUR MIND?
Drop a ✨ in the comments for the link

Every action, every choice, every word stems from one primal need - safety. 🛡️ Understanding this truth can bring empathy and insight into our interactions.

As parents, we’re the guardians of our children’s sense of safety. If we do not have safety within our own bodies, our children do not have safety.

Their SURVIVAL is at risk!

So when they cry, tantrum etc our job isn’t just to discipline, but to understand the root cause — to look through the eyes of survival and ensure they feel safe, loved, and supported. 💖