152: Mindful Parenting in Stressful Times with Hunter Clarke-Fields

"When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there?"Thich Nhat HanhMindfulness is the ninja parenting skill we need!Holly Interviews Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE, about her new book, Raising Good Humans, released in December 2019. Hunter's hope is to bring attention to parenting and the necessary mindsets to parent in mindful ways.As a way through the boredom and frustration that can be part of raising children, Hunter explored ways to bring more mindfulness into her life. She shares her own challenges and how she found methods on practicing mindfulness lacked a link between mindfulness and communication. She created her own practices that included intertwining mindfulness and skillful communication.Our culture is so judgement based, and we tend to be very hard on ourselves. Yet the truth is that self compassion is far more effective. Research shows that not berating ourselves and changing our own inner dialogues ease parenting in so many ways.Remember that whatever is inside will come out when stressed. Creating a good relationship with ourselves is an essential step to creating positive parenting skills.For people who don't have kids, ways to support parents include being a good friend and keep your judgements in check - you never know what people are going through.Hunter shares that developing our own awareness is so needed. Seeing those things that cause us discomfort and using them to become more compassionate for others. As we create more peace for ourselves, it makes everything around us more peaceful. Check in with your intentions on mindfulness.Find out more about Hunter Clarke-Fields at https://www.mindfulmamamentor.com/. Get full access to Pathfinder at hollyduckworth.substack.com/subscribe