Day 6: Being Mindful

NMindfulness: Allowing an emotion to take hold and pass without acting on it. - Benedict Carey

Anger is a part of all relationships. Acting on it mindlessly, with words or actions, is what cpmpromises our parenting. - Dr. Markham

I like how Dr. M approaches anger in her regulating your emotions section. Getting angry is a part of life and actually a good indicator that something is wrong or not working for us. But to be a good parent and role model we have to teach ourselves how to identify when we get triggered and stop ourselves.Then we arent controlled by fight or flight reactions...instead we have the choice to return ourselves to equalibrium.
She goes into specific strategies as well...all insightful and useful.
1. Heal your own wounds
Im not going to get dramatic dont worry,  i had a good childhood. But everyone has painful memories from growing up. And they come from all aspects of growing up and different relationships.
Dr. M suggests making peace with your past. I agree and already have done quite alot of thinking on this topic.  I have learned it is the only way to be present for my children. But the past still can well up when your child finds a trigger, things you dont even remember until your child brings it to the surface.
The important thing to remember is be conscious of what exactly is causing the anger...dont bring baggage to your relationship with your child.
We all had a good day today...very full. The girls did well at church, only one visit to the crying room for maggie. Charlotte is liquid mercury so just keeping her in the same pew is awesome! Lots of snacks! She likes the singing :)
Brunch at Backdoor Bistro in Vacaville. While we waited for food Charlotte and I toured the neighboring laundromat...fun! Lots of doors, spinning clothes, and change machines! I loved laundromats as a kid!Food was awesome...mmm...kobe beef burger...fingerly potates with a pesto dipping sauce.
Finished the day up with a trip to the "wood park" in Winters to play with Charlotte's friend Addie and crash the birthday party happening there. A bounce house?! No way Charlotte was going to settle for swings.  The party throwers were gracious...Charlotte introduces me to lots of new people! Then over to the 4H meeting in town to say hi to the lambs and Henry the goat.
Then yatta yatta...dinner...bath...toast and milk...crash in bed for Chich...and tomorrow a new day! I should get my rest!
The photo today is from this morning..sweet maggie still sleeping...i got up for my coffee...