The 10-Minute Habit That Saved This Overwhelmed Mom's Sanity
It's 9 PM.
Kids are finally asleep after three stories, two cups of water, and one meltdown (theirs, not mine... okay, maybe both).
You're exhausted. But your mind? Still racing through tomorrow's to-do list, worrying about whether your quirky kid made friends at recess, and replaying that moment you snapped at bedtime.
Sound familiar?
Here's what changed everything for me: meditation.
I know, I know. You're thinking, "Great, another thing to add to my never-ending list." But hear me out.
From Chaos to Calm (Even with Kids Climbing on Me)
When anxiety hits…I breathe.
It’s my reset button.
Meditation has become my secret weapon in this beautiful chaos called motherhood. It gave me something I never had before: stillness within my own body.
As someone whose mind runs faster than a toddler chasing the dog, meditation was my emergency brake.
Breathwork became my reset button. When life feels like it's spinning out of control - which, let's be real, happens daily - I focus on my breath.
Feeling spent after a long day? I breathe. Anxiety spiraling about why my kids won’t eat their dinner? I breathe. Overwhelmed by the mental load? I breathe.
It's my superpower for healing myself when I'm anxious, sad, or completely disconnected from who I used to be before kids.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Starting
I'll be honest - it was weird at first.
Really weird.
Picture this: sitting still with my eyes closed, listening to my breath go in and out, while my brain bounced around like a pinball machine.
It felt chaotic.
Because there I was, alone with my thoughts and feelings. And sometimes? I didn't like what showed up.
The mom guilt. The worries about being enough. The fear that I was somehow messing up my kids.
But here's what nobody tells you: that discomfort is where the magic happens.
How Meditation Healed This Mama
Meditation became my healing space. Not just for my mind, but my whole self:
My mind found focus and clarity (goodbye, mom brain fog!) My body started healing from the inside out My spirit got renewed daily
My healing journey started in November 2024, and I haven't missed a day since. Even when I don’t “feel” like it…
The Game-Changer: Sleep Meditation
My favorite time to meditate?
Right at bedtime.
This was a total game-changer for my sleep. I used to lie awake at 2 AM, brain spinning with worries about whether my son's social struggles were normal, or if I'd said the right thing to his teacher.
Then I'd wake up feeling like I'd been hit by a truck full of Legos.
Sleep meditation gave me back the rest I desperately needed. Now I actually sleep through the night (revolutionary, I know).🤪
My Go-To App That Actually Works
I use Insight Timer - and no, they're not paying me to say this!
They have hundreds of thousands of meditations to choose from. Guided ones when you need hand-holding. Soothing music when you just need to zone out. Even masterclasses for when you want to level up.
Plus, you can just set a timer and do your own thing. Perfect for us busy moms who need flexibility.
What Meditation Taught This Mama
The lessons have been life-changing:
Compassion (for myself AND my family)
Kindness when things don't go as planned
Stillness in the middle of dinnertime dilemmas
Releasing fears about not being the "perfect" mom
Letting go of those limiting beliefs about what motherhood "should" look like
Your Turn, Mama!
So here's my question for you: Have you given yourself permission to pause today?
Even for 10 minutes?
Your kids need a calm, centered mama more than they need a perfect one. And you deserve that inner peace just as much as they do.
What's one small moment today where you could try focusing on your breath? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!
Want more real talk about motherhood and self-care? Come hang out with me on Instagram where I share real moments of parenting, wellness tips that actually work, and honest conversations about raising quirky kids.
Think of it as your daily dose of "you're not alone in this" with practical ways to nurture yourself that fit real life. I love connecting with fellow mamas - come say hi!
Do you struggle with a picky eater?
Struggling with a picky eater? As a mom of 4, here are my tips!
At some point as a parent or caregiver, we have dealt with our child(ren) giving us the gears (or even some tears) about eating their meals. Whether it is eating their vegetables at dinner or refusing to sit down at breakfast because in a rush they need to go to the washroom. Kids can be relentless and frustrating when it comes to meal times.
I can recall my own children at dinnertime sitting at the table. They make faces or push the food around on their plate and give a thousand reasons NOT to eat their dinner. In a perfect world, I would have preferred that my children (all 4 of them) ate their delicious and nourishing food that I slaved to cook for them every single night, BUT we don’t live in a perfect world so I choose to pick my battles with them. Dinnertime became more of a hostage situation than a lovely meal enjoyed with loved ones! LOL!
So if this sounds familiar, I got you…
Here are my tips around picky eaters.
Involve your kids in deciding what is for dinner. If they get to choose, then they will be more likely to eat what is staring at them on their plate.
Offer a variety of healthy foods for mealtime and snacks. This will encourage them to explore new foods and discover their likes and dislikes.
Give them small portions of each food at dinnertime. This way they don’t feel overwhelmed or discouraged if they don’t eat all their food. Sometimes I was dishing out seconds (only if they really liked it).
Serve meal times at the same time everyday. I found it helpful especially once my kids could tell time, they knew dinner was ready around 6pm. Kids thrive on routine and so do their bellies! (I understand that sometimes this is not realistic, we have busy lives and half the time we are running kids all over town to get to their activities, however if you are able to plan a consistent dinnertime schedule 3-4 nights a week…I call that a win for you! 🙂
Provide them with at least one food at every meal that you know they will eat. So if that means giving your daughter strawberries everyday, so be it! Yes, there are lots of other delicious fruits out there but if she loves strawberries then give her the strawberries. In my experience, eventually they get tired of eating the same thing over and over. At that point, it’s an opportunity to introduce something new.
Set an example. Most children will follow in your footsteps if they see you eating healthy and nourishing foods. I believe it is important to discuss the difference between a treat ( that is eaten occasionally) and meals that will provide you with the proper fuel for your body.
Bring them grocery shopping. I used to have my kids pick out one vegetable and one fruit. This is providing them the confidence to make healthy food choices as they grow up.
I hope these suggestions help you, like I said at the beginning, I decided to choose my battles around food. Being a parent or caregiver is not easy, there was no instruction manual that came with each kid. But what I do know is this… kids will eat if they are hungry and be stubborn when you try to convince them otherwise.
All we can do is consistently show up with positive support and allow them to embrace what they like and respect what they dislike.
Check out my book “Don’t All Cats Eat Chicken?” An empowering children’s book that shows how to be your true, authentic, awesome self. Featuring 2 cats with unique tastes... Find out what it means to embrace differences and have the courage to show your genuine self.
It is available now at Amazon.
How to encourage individuality in kids
Encouraging our kids to find their own individuality helps them feel confident and it boosts their self- esteem.
Encouraging our kids to find their own individuality helps them feel confident and it boosts their self- esteem. When given the freedom to find out what they like and don’t like, we see from an early age their little personalities and character develop. Traits like kindness and respect, curiosity and creativity will be carried into their grown-up life.
Here are 5 ways to encourage individuality in children:
Providing a variety of extracurricular activities such as sports, arts and clubs. By introducing activities like ballet or soccer or piano lessons, you are opening their minds to new possibilities. From there, they will let you know if they enjoy it or not! Visiting museums or going to the theatre or even signing up for a junior cooking class can provide meaningful exploration. It gives them the opportunity to learn and develop their particular set of skills and talents and discover who they are.
2. As your child grows, so will their interests. It is our job to support and be present for them with the things that they love. You might not be a fan of Super Mario Bros or Barbie or understand the humor in Diary of a Wimpy Kid BUT your kids love it! So if it’s something that brings them joy, we should acknowledge it. They are going through self-discovery right now, which is key for their development. Hey, you never know, you might get enjoyment from reading a Diary of a Wimpy Kid to your little one!
3. Show enthusiasm; when they are passionate or proud of something. By showing that you care means a lot to them, it helps them feel self-assured and certain. It gives them an identity that they are looking for and knowing that there are adults who are backing what they love.
4. Having open communication with your child is important. Talking to your kids about everything and anything, even at an early age, lets them know they can talk to you about anything. Humans are social beings and we are created for connection on a scientific level. We rely on our interpersonal skills and teaching these skills to our youngsters will guide them to know how to connect with oneself and with the world.
5. Be there when they go through changes. One day it's Paw Patrol, the next it's Bey Blades or ice skating to martial arts. As they develop into their teens, changes come fast and hard. They start exploring different types of clothes and changing their appearance or pursuing different interests. It’s those transitions that they are learning to become themselves and embracing who they are and that’s perfectly normal.
As parents and caregivers, it’s important to support and strengthen their dreams. It is those dreams that create who they will become. We shouldn’t downplay what their ambitions are. Maybe they dream of being a doctor or a race car driver or maybe their dream is being a toy tester! Rest assured that encouraging your child to believe that they are capable of anything is a positive message that allows them to embrace who they are, to stand out from the crowd and be their authentic self. Regardless of what the rest of the world might say!
In my book “Don’t All Cats Eat Chicken?” Cooper and Chloe demonstrate what it means to be an individual and embrace who they are. Grab your copy today and share this delightful story with your kids.