Today was one of those days that motherhood gently and not so gently places in front of you. A day with big emotions, little voices, unexpected tantrums, and a mirror that reflects parts of you that are still learning.
Day 61 wasn’t about perfect parenting. It was about awareness, reaction, guilt, and a softer choice.
When Little Emotions Feel Very Big
Children don’t hide their feelings. When they’re tired, overwhelmed, hungry, or simply unable to express what’s inside, it comes out as tantrums. Loud cries. Resistance. Meltdowns over small things.
Today, their behaviour affected me more than I expected. Not because they were wrong but because I was already stretched.
How Their Behaviour Touched My Inner World
I noticed my body tense. My patience thin. My thoughts speeding up.
I reacted instead of responding. My voice changed. My calm slipped.
And once the moment passed, guilt arrived.
That familiar voice: I should’ve been calmer.
They’re just kids.
Why did I react like that?
The Pause That Changed the Moment
Later, in a quiet moment, mindfulness returned me to truth:
Children are not trying to give us a hard time. They are having a hard time.
And so are we.
Instead of replaying the moment with self-judgment, I chose a gentler lens.
Choosing to Listen Instead of Fix
Today taught me that listening is often more powerful than correcting.
Not rushing to silence the tantrum. Not needing to control the emotion. Just being present.
When I softened: • their energy softened
• my body relaxed
• the moment passed
Tantrums don’t need fixing. They need space.
Finding Me-Time in the Middle of Motherhood
Me-time didn’t come as hours of silence. It came in small pockets:
• a deep breath in the kitchen
• a quiet cup of tea
• a few mindful breaths while they played
• choosing not to replay guilt before sleep
Even five conscious minutes can bring you back to yourself.
Letting Go of Guilt
Guilt keeps us stuck in the past. Presence brings us back to love.
Instead of carrying the weight of reaction, I chose to let it go. I apologised where needed. I hugged longer. I forgave myself.
What Day 61 Taught Me
• My child’s emotions are not a reflection of my failure
• My reactions are signals, not flaws
• I can choose awareness even after reacting
• Listening heals faster than controlling
• I deserve compassion too
A Gentle Reminder to Myself (and You)
You are allowed to feel overwhelmed. You are allowed to need space. You are allowed to choose again.
Mindfulness in parenting isn’t about staying calm all the time. It’s about returning to love again and again.
Day 61 reminds me:
✨ I can hold my child’s emotions without losing myself.
✨ I can listen, breathe, and let go.
✨ I am learning just like they are.
This moment passed. This lesson stayed. And today, that was enough. 🤍🌱
Unfiltered thoughts by Anu 