Everything about our lives today distract us from what is really important—connecting with our inner cores so we can better connect with others, especially our children. A less distracted parent is a better model for calmer more focused children. When parents are rushed and anxious, children feel stressed and resistant.

Here are a few thoughts to get you grounded:

1 – Be more, teach less. Don’t try to teach your children lessons all the time. That only leads to franticness and worry. Children learn best from modeling and in those precious moments when they feel connected to their parents, which happens during “just being” time.

2 – Accept the child you have. “If only…”, “Why me?”, and “He never…” can fill your days and keep you disconnected from your children—and your lives. Pay attention to who your child is and what she is attempting to say instead of wishing she were different.

3 – Practice mindfulness. You don’t have to sit and meditate to be in the moment. Simply focus on the dish you are washing, the floor you are