Mindfulness for Moms: How I Learned to Love Our Crazy Mornings

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This morning, as I lay in bed practicing my usual gratitude ritual, I reflected on how often I take these small, peaceful moments for granted. The comfort of my Target sheets, the breath in my lungs, the stillness before the day begins—these are the anchors of my mindful parenting journey.

The Power of Mindfulness in Motherhood

It’s Friday morning.

I woke up in my bed and, like I do most mornings, I gave myself a few quiet moments before moving. I placed a hand on my chest, felt my breath, and practiced my usual morning gratitude routine. These few minutes help me feel grounded and present before the day begins.

I whispered thanks for the roof over my head, the comfort of my bed, the softness of the sheets I picked out at Target. I was grateful for my glasses on the nightstand. For the fact that I could see. For the ease of my breath. For the simple, profound gift of awareness—of waking up safe, warm, and well.

Gratitude Meets the Reality of the Morning Rush

And then—life. My 8-year-old daughter barged in with her usual honesty and urgency:

“Mom, you need to get up. We have to go!”

I felt my body tense. I was annoyed. Annoyed that I had to get up before I was ready. Annoyed that my quiet moment was being interrupted.

But I took a breath. I closed my eyes. I paused.

And in that pause, something shifted. I remembered the version of me who once prayed for this life—the one who longed to be home in the mornings, driving her kids to school, hearing their wild little stories, and being there for the moments that matter.

Choosing Presence Over Frustration

So I flung off the comforter and got up. I hugged my daughter—who, in full honesty, was probably a little annoyed she had to parent me out of bed. I made a joke, kissed her forehead, and we both brushed our teeth side by side while she told me bizarre playground tales I didn’t fully understand, but listened to anyway.

We got into the car and, to my surprise, she told me it was my turn to pick the music.

This rarely happens.

She usually has her playlist ready before we’ve even reached the car. But today was different. Something about that morning felt slower, softer, more connected.

And it all started because I paused.

Because I took a single, intentional breath.

Why Mindful Parenting Matters

That one breath changed the entire course of our morning. And honestly, maybe hers too.

This is the kind of moment I write about. The moments that feel like nothing on the outside, but shift everything on the inside. These are the moments that define mindful parenting. Not the perfect routines or the curated schedules—but the breath, the pause, the presence.

So if you’re a mom, or a parent, or simply a human trying to keep it all together, remember this:
You can change the tone of your day in just one breath.

And sometimes, that’s more than enough.

In Power, In Purpose, On My Terms ✨ Luisa Anderson