The simple pleasure of living in the moment

Yet with all that he hears, it’s still been a battle to get him to listen. When I sat down and thought about it though, I realised I wasn’t modelling the behaviour I wanted him to adopt. I saw flashbacks of myself sending a hurried text message, putting away dishes, chatting with hubby. You know how it is, I was in the room but I wasn’t always present.

Some people go to great lengths to become more mindful.

You can literally be left alone with nothing but your own thoughts in a darkened, skintemperature saltwater flotation tank.

Personally, I find just spending five minutes washing my face after I’ve put the kids to bed a relaxing enough treat. Heck, 10 minutes spent doing dishes on my own is an act of meditation these days.

Remaining ‘‘in the moment’’ when the kids are up and demanding my attention is another story.

I’ve started focusing on slow parenting. Running along the mindfulness vein, the movement focuses on dropping a weekly activity or two to free up more time for meaningful moments and conversation with your kids.

As I’ve begun to do this, I’ve observed how baking together has a calming effect on my son and I both.

This week we found ourselves with a free morning and nothing pressing to do. We baked pikelets. That afternoon I sent my son to kindy happy, relaxed and with a full lunchbox and tummy.

However much we pull back, it’s granted there will always be days where we still need to rush.

But when I’m feeling burnt out, I won’t attribute it to a lack of full-body massages and saltwater floating. Though I’m sure it would help.

First I’ll take it as an indicator that I need to slow down my pace and join my son as he ponders over a worm on the ground.

Then I’ll endeavour to get up earlier tomorrow.

Heck, 10 minutes spent doing dishes on my own is an act of meditation these days.