Mind Your Mind: Be a witness. Be in the now.

This June marks the second month of Mommy Mundo’s #MindYourMind campaign. We put focus on an important need of the ever-so-busy mommy mind– that during hectic days we seize moments to take a pause, take a deep breath and relax, and #BePresent for whatever is going on. 

Cooped up indoors during the pandemic, we’ve been given the opportunity to have more time with our kids. And if that’s not enough, there’s more free time to fill-up since most our children are on summer break. Days can easily get busy and chances are our daily routine makes it feel like we’re just on autopilot. 

#BePresent by taking yourself out of cruise control, getting in their space, and making the most of precious bonding times with children. They spell love as T-I-M-E and they crave our full attention. Whether it’s your infant’s crying, your daughter asking you to checkout her drawing, or your older son talking about his latest video game win, they want to be connected with us. And rightly so. The quality time they spend with us will have a positive effect on their well-being as they grow-up. 

This June, Mommy Mundo reminds moms to let go of perceptions of what quality time should be and simply #BePresent by enjoying the here and now. Any moment, no matter how short and simple, can be a memory that lasts a lifetime. 

Here and now

Given all the time our families spend together at home, is it still possible we’re not spending enough quality time with their kids?

It’s not the amount of time that makes moments special. We could be beside our kids the whole day, but if one is on a gadget and the other glued to the TV, then it’s quite possible you’re present and absent at the same time.

Moms have the purest intentions for their children. We give them all the love and support we can, we look after what’s best for them, and we constantly look for opportunities and activities where our kids can learn and have fun at the same time. There’s no official rulebook that tells parents how and for how long exactly this is done. All we need to do is live in the moment and be a witness to their beautiful journey of growing up. 

Although we do not have limitless hours a day to spend with them, we can be mindful of how we spend our time, making sure those minutes truly matter. Here are a few places to start:

1. Mind the details – We can fill their “love cup” and make them feel secure and assured through small but important things. Listen and really hear what they’re saying—no matter how short or long the conversation is. Be generous with hugs and kisses. Hold their hands and don’t be the first to let go. Invest in time to discover your child’s love language and express those daily. 

2. Take a pause, even when disciplining – Yes, discipline is an important job of each parent. In Mommy Mundo’s Into The Mom Mind Survey, 86% of mom respondents feel it’s their responsibility to discipline their child. And then interesting enough, 46% of respondents felt guilty after taking disciplinary action. Moms, let’s remove ourselves from high-anger, high-emotion moments before disciplining. And should you lose it, apologize, shake it off, and move on.

3. Put down your phone – Let’s be mindful about using our phones on our time, and not on our kids’ time. 

4. Schedule time each day for intentional play and bonding—In the same survey, 76% of all moms who participated said that they want to expose their kids to fun and spontaneous hobbies. Truly, moms want best for their kids, and thankfully, most of the time the best things don’t have to be complicated. Apart from games, you could use the time for a heart to heart talk while enjoying a mug of your favorite drink. 

5. Relax. Just as you carve out quality time each day with your kids, make sure you set aside time for yourself. Meditate, stretch, exercise to help you stay focused and calm. Children around anxious parents will be anxious themselves. 

Let go of mom guilt

Moms may have the patience and strength of a superhero, but we are not perfect. And it’s easy to fall into the trap of thoughts that we’re not doing enough for our kids– that we could be better in spending more time with them playing, laughing, and talking. When that feeling hits, brush it off. We can’t be everything to everyone all the time. 

This June, let’s get back to the basics by doing less and being together more. We don’t need to be stressed about spending quality time with our kids, instead we should inhale every moment and experience of being a mom. You’re more than enough. In fact, to your kids, you’re everything! 

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Are you looking to #MindYourMind and #BePresent this month? Access our downloadable worksheet to help you be in the now and be more intentional on spending quality time with your kids. Download it here.