There is a simple self-compassion exercise by Dr. Kristin Neff that can produce profound insights for adults and kids alike. It's called "How Would You Treat a Friend?" Let’s try it now. Think about something you have been beating yourself up about lately. Maybe...
Whenever I read about a mindfulness-in-schools study that didn’t have the results researchers were hoping for, my heart sinks a little. I feel a mix of disappointment and confusion because I know mindfulness can be helpful, and we all want to support kids who are...
When kids build their worth on self-esteem, they ride the emotional yo-yo of social comparison. Self-compassion offers something steadier. Many well-meaning parents try to help their kids develop high self-esteem. But self-esteem can be a fickle friend. It's there for...
Recently, my 8th grade daughter had volleyball tryouts. Although she has bumped a volleyball back and forth during PE class, she's never actually had formal volleyball training. Nonetheless, she went to all three days of tryouts and gave it her best effort. On...
Hello friends, The other night I was driving out of town to pick up my daughter, and I was feeling upset. Events outside of my control were weighing heavily on my mind, so I turned on soothing music. But I knew I really needed to give myself compassion. I opened my...
Hello friends, I continue to feel grateful for the conversations unfolding around the Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Workbook for Kids series—conversations rooted in the real joys and struggles children face as they grow. My writing here will keep returning to those...
A reframe that can help parents support kids Hello friends, The other day I heard myself telling my 13-year-old that she “lacked motivation” to do something productive over break. And actually, this conversation didn’t begin over break. Uh-oh, I thought to myself,...
When you don’t know what to say Hello friends, A couple of weeks ago my husband lost his mom, and at first I wasn’t sure how to show up for him. You see, my husband has the chameleon feelings habit, which means he doesn’t like to talk about feelings. Most days, I know...
Habits that help when we're worried Hello friends, The other day my daughter, Maya, and I were waiting nervously in the waiting room of the oral surgeon’s office. We were frazzled from arriving late (more on that later), and Maya was fretting about the anesthesia that...
Hello friends, I just finished taking the six-week, self-paced Parent-Child Mindfulness and Self-Compassion class with my neighbor, Dee, and it feels both sweet and tender. I invited my nine-year-old neighbor to take the class with me for 2 reasons: She struggles with...