AUTISM HEALTH
Ways to Use Mindful Parenting
to Overcome Frustration
and Stress
By Susan M. TAYLOR, JD
“Mindfulness is the process of actively noticing new things,” according to Ellen Langer,
who has researched mindfulness for four decades.[1] But, when it comes to parenting,
it is much more than that. Mindfulness is the capacity to be fully aware and present
in the moment.[2] Giving our children our full attention is one of the most important
things we can do as parents.
T
he sad reality is that most of us are constantly
multitasking and not really focusing on any-
thing. Our minds wander. We are preoccupied
with things that may never happen or worry
about what we cannot change in our past. This
causes us to feel stressed, depressed and utter-
ly exhausted—not a recipe for good parenting.[3]
We all strive for stability and peace. This is where
mindfulness comes in. The practice of mindfulness
40 | Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 71
has been shown to reduce stress, depression, and
aggression. [4]
Stress, it’s an affliction that most people have, and
some of us even pass it on to our children. Stress is
the wear and tear the body experiences in reaction
to everyday tensions and pressures, and it’s conta-
gious.[5] Dr. Caroline Bjonbeck, the owner of Bjon-
beck Holistic Medicine and Acupuncture, said, “When
parents become stressed, children become stressed.