MINNEAPOLIS — All parents experience stress, whether they have had a rough day at work, an unexpected bill, a toddler in a tantrum at the grocery store, or an adolescent pushing back.
How adults deal with that stress can have a significant effect on their well-being and their effectiveness as parents.
Research shows mindfulness can help parents stay calm and respond in more intentional ways.
“Mindfulness is moment-to-moment awareness, non-judgmental attention to senses and cues, and a sense of curiosity about what is happening around us and within us. Since we cannot change what we cannot see, mindfulness helps us see what is happening so we can take steps to change it or respond to it more effectively,” said Dr. Erin Erickson, a local family nurse practitioner, parenting coach, and maternal child health specialist.
Health experts say stress is a physiological response that begins in the brain. Stress can both help us and harm us.
“When we are stressed, we have decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This part of the brain is involved in executive function, which includes our ability to manage emotions and control our behaviors. Mindfulness allows us to recognize when we are experiencing stress, so we can take steps to minimize its effect. As parents, this recognition can allow us to respond versus react to stressful situations,” said Dr. Erickson, co-host of the weekly podcast Mom Enough. Erickson shares some practical tips to help parents get started with mindfulness.
FOUR WAYS PARENTS CAN BECOME 'MINDFUL'
• Be Present
• Notice Stress
• Take Steps to Reduce Stress
• Decide how to respond