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As a mother of a neurodivergent son with chronic ear infections, looking back … the holidays were stressful! My son ALWAYS had a brewing ear infection which made his ability to cope with travel, adjust to new rules as a houseguest, and manage overstimulation a recipe for conflict. As a teacher, my schedule was disrupted for conferences, celebrations, and performances. My students were dysregulated by changes to their routine and additional stressors at home. You can cultivate mindful awareness by acknowledging the temporary nature of the season. Give yourself and the children in your life grace. Stay focused on the memories you want to build. Put your relationships first. Children benefit greatly from learning flexibility to adapt to changes. The practice of non-judgmental acceptance will help ease your anxiety and strengthen your capacity to provide support and guidance during stressful times. To help you cultivate non-judgmental acceptance during this season, I would like to offer some practices from my Mindful Caregiving Framework. As a subscriber to my newsletter, you can access the resource here: Practicing Non-Judgmental Acceptance I encourage you to share the resource with family and friends. I will leave you with a mantra that I developed while on retreat last month. It’s a simple reminder: You must care for yourself, so you can mindfully care for others. Wishing you a heartwarming holiday season!
🩵 Maureen
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