54. Teaching Kids Mindfulness Before They Need It, with Alia Sallam

55. The 'Just a Minute' Double Standard

There's a small thing many of us do without thinking - and once you notice it, you'll see it everywhere.  This episode looks at the gap between what we ask of our kids and what we offer back, and why that gap matters more than we might realise.  Nina shares two practical shifts to try - small changes that can make a real difference to the emotional atmosphere in your home. You’ll Learn * Why children's play is just as important as adult tasks * What "just a minute" feels like from your child's side * Two approaches to the connection gap at home  * Why a simple heads-up makes kids more cooperative Why This Episode Matters Most of us aren't doing this on purpose - we're just busy and moving fast. But noticing the double standard is the first step toward something different.  When children feel seen and respected in the small moments, everything tends to soften a little - there's more patience, more cooperation, and more connection on both sides.  These tiny moments shape the emotional atmosphere of a family more than we often realise. Small Shift for Big Impact Take a moment to reflect on this... What's one moment this week where you could pause before automatically saying "just a minute"?  Or maybe, what's one moment where you could offer your child a little more grace before asking them to stop what they're doing immediately?  Because sometimes the smallest shifts create the biggest changes in the feeling of a home. Take the Next Step If this episode resonated with you and you'd love more support navigating these everyday parenting moments with more connection, patience, and mutual respect - Nina offers a free 15-minute chat [https://www.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/free-chat] where you can talk about what's feeling hard in your family dynamic right now, and what support might look like for you.  Links and Resources * Listen to  * Episode 5 [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode5] - Can Connection Really Help Your Kids Listen Better?  * Episode 10 [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode10] - What Does Play Have to Do with Parenting?  * Book a free 15-min chat [https://www.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/free-chat] Let’s Connect Want more support? Follow Nina on Instagram, or sign up for tips and updates at mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au [http://mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/]. Have a question or parenting challenge you'd like addressed on the podcast? Send a DM or an email. * Follow Nina on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mindful_parenting_lifestyle/] * Website: mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au [http://mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/] * Email: nina@mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au [nina@mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au] About the Host/s Nina Visic is a mindful parenting coach and mum of three who helps overwhelmed parents find more calm and confidence in everyday family life. She believes that small, intentional shifts in the way we show up for our kids can change the entire emotional atmosphere of a home - not through perfection, but through awareness, connection, and a growing understanding of what our children actually need from us. She hosts Your Calm Parenting Path - a weekly podcast for parents who want to raise their kids with more patience, less stress, and a whole lot more joy. Each episode explores the small moments that shape family life, with real, practical ideas you can try straight away.

54. Teaching Kids Mindfulness Before They Need It, with Alia Sallam

If you want your kids to grow up knowing how to calm themselves, this one is for you. Alia Sallam shares why teaching mindfulness for kids works best as a natural part of family life. Alia is the creator of Little Seeds of Mindfulness, a book series for children ages 2-9 that makes mindfulness a shared family experience rather than just a lesson. She also walks us through a simple 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise that you can try with your family right now.   You'll Learn * Why so many adults lack even the simplest stress regulation tools * The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise to try with your family today * Why children absorb what parents do, not just what they say * How to make mindfulness a natural part of everyday family life   Why This Episode Matters When we grew up without these tools, we found them the hard way as adults. This episode is about making sure our kids don't have to. So much of what we work on as adults - learning to pause, regulate our emotions, notice what we're feeling - is really just unlearning.  Alia talks about what changes for children who grow up with these tools already in place, and how even the smallest everyday moments can start to shift that for your family.    Small Shift for Big Impact Alia's small shift: just notice. When you're overwhelmed, pause and notice what's happening - what you feel, what's around you. No fixing needed. That one shift takes you from being inside the stress to observing it.   Take the Next Step Try the 5-4-3-2-1 exercise together today: 5 things you see, 4 you touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste. Grounding for everyone - and doing it together is half the benefit.    Links and Resources * Follow Alia on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/littleseedsofmindfulness/]or Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581342704196] * Visit Alia's website - littleseedsofmindfulness.com [https://littleseedsofmindfulness.com/] * Book a free chat with Nina here [https://www.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/free-chat] * Listen to related episodes: * Episode 3 [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode3] - Is This the Most Underrated Parenting Tool? * Episode 44 [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode44] - Awareness in Parenting (Part 1: Understanding Your Reactions) Let's Connect Want more support? Follow Nina on Instagram, or sign up for tips and updates at mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au.   Have a question or parenting challenge you'd like addressed on the podcast? Send a DM or an email.    * Follow Nina on Instagram  * Website: mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au  * Email: nina@mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au   About the Host/s Nina Visic is a mindful parenting coach and Head and Heart Mindfulness instructor, helping overwhelmed parents move from reactive to calm, confident and connected.  She is the host of Your Calm Parenting Path, a weekly podcast for parents who want to raise their children with more patience, less stress and a whole lot more joy. Nina works with parents one-on-one and through group programs, online courses and free resources. Alia Sallam is a meditation guide and mindfulness coach, and the creator of Little Seeds of Mindfulness - a book series helping children ages 2-9 build emotional awareness and calm from the ground up.  Her first volume in the Feelings and Emotions collection is available now, with 22 collections planned across two age groups. She believes mindfulness works best when children grow up living it, not just learning it.

53. 'I'm a Terrible Mum': The Inner Voice After We Lose It

Have you ever lost your patience and then spent the rest of the night lying awake, replaying the moment on a loop? In this episode, Nina explores the inner voice that shows up after hard parenting moments - the guilt, shame, and private fear that one bad reaction might define your child's entire experience of you.  Through personal reflection and the Buddhist parable of the two arrows, this episode offers an honest, compassionate look at why parents turn difficult moments into evidence they're failing - and how to find a way out of that cycle. Your worst parenting moment is not the full story of who you are. You’ll Learn * The difference between guilt and shame after a hard moment  * Why shame keeps us stuck in the very cycle we're trying to break  * What the Buddhist "two arrows" parable teaches us about self-criticism  * Why self-compassion isn't letting yourself off the hook  * What attachment research tells us about imperfect parents  * How the RAIN meditation (Ep. 25) helps when guilt feels really sticky Why This Episode Matters Parents don't just need strategies for staying calm - they need support for what happens emotionally afterwards. This episode addresses the private 2am spiral so many parents carry alone, and offers a gentler way to move through hard moments without dismissing repair or accountability. Small Shift for Big Impact After your next hard parenting moment, notice the very first thing you say to yourself. Then ask: "Would I speak to another overwhelmed parent this way?" If the answer is no - soften it, just slightly. Not because the moment didn't matter. But because you matter too. Take the Next Step If this episode resonated with you, Nina is offering free 30-minute connection calls for parents carrying guilt or shame around hard parenting moments. A gentle space to unpack what happened and move forward with more compassion and confidence. Book your free call here: https://www.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/service-page/free-30-minute-pow-wow Links and Resources * Book your free 30 minute call [https://www.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/service-page/free-30-minute-pow-wow] * Learn more with past episodes * Episode 20 [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode20] - What If You Could Finally Let Go of Mum Guilt? with Dr Camille Guillerey * Episode 23 [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode23] - What Is Self-Compassion in Parenting, Really? * Episode 25 [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode25] - Are You Getting Stuck in Your Own Big Feelings? (RAIN meditation) * Episode 42 [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode42] - So You Yelled… Now What? | How to Repair After Yelling Let’s Connect Want more support? Follow Nina on Instagram, or sign up for tips and updates at mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au [http://mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/]. Have a question or parenting challenge you'd like addressed on the podcast? Send a DM or an email. * Follow Nina on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mindful_parenting_lifestyle/] * Website: mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au [http://mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/] * Email: nina@mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au [nina@mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au] About the Host Nina is a mindful parenting coach, mum of three, and the host of Your Calm Parenting Path - a podcast helping parents go from overwhelmed and reactive to calm, confident, and connected with their kids.  Through mindful parenting, emotional regulation, and practical mindset shifts, Nina supports parents to reduce yelling, navigate triggers with more awareness, and build calmer, more connected family relationships. Because small shifts really do make a big impact.

52. Parenting with more Self Compassion, with Dr Jen Ferris

Parenting can feel incredibly heavy sometimes - especially when we’re carrying guilt, self-doubt, and the pressure to “get it right.” In this episode, Nina is joined by Dr. Jen Ferris to talk about what self-compassion really looks like in everyday parenting and why learning to be a little kinder to ourselves can have such a powerful impact on family life. Dr. Jen shares her own parenting experiences, the challenges that led her to explore self-compassion more deeply, and practical ways parents can begin supporting themselves through the hard moments. You’ll Learn * What self-compassion actually means in parenting  * Why so many parents struggle with guilt and self-criticism  * How self-compassion can help reduce reactivity and overwhelm  * Why being kinder to yourself benefits your children too  * Small ways to start practicing self-compassion every day Why This Episode Matters So many parents feel like they should be coping better than they are. This conversation is an important reminder that parenting is hard, that you’re not alone, and that supporting yourself matters too. Self-compassion for parents isn’t about lowering your standards - it’s about creating enough space to keep showing up with care and connection, even on difficult days. Small Shift for Big Impact Jen’s small shift for this week is to practise putting your hand on your heart, taking a couple of deep breaths, and asking yourself, “What do I need right now?” Try it first in a calm moment, when things aren’t stressful. This helps it become more familiar, so it’s easier to access when parenting feels overwhelming. Then, when a hard moment does come, you have a gentle way to reconnect with yourself and respond with a little more care.   Take the Next Step If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to invite you to connect with me over on Instagram or join my mailing list for more mindful parenting support and practical tools.   Links and Resources * Grab Dr. Jen Ferris’ book: Parenting with Self-Compassion [https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/WOdebP]  (please note this is an affiliate link) * Visit Dr Jen’s website [https://www.drjenferris.com/home]  * Check out Dr Jen’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drjenferris/] or Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/drjenferris] Page * Related Podcast Episodes * Episode 19. [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode19] Are You Drowning in the Parenting Juggle?  * Episode 20. [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode20] What If You Could Let Go of Mum Guilt? with Dr Camille Guillerey  * Episode 23. [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode23] What is self compassion, really?  * Episode 27. [https://podcast.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/episode27] Are you feeling the invisible weights of motherhood? Let’s Connect Want more support? Follow Nina on Instagram, or sign up for tips and updates at mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au [http://mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/]. Have a question or parenting challenge you'd like addressed on the podcast? Send a DM or an email. * Follow Nina on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mindful_parenting_lifestyle/] * Website: mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au [http://mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/] * Email: nina@mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au [nina@mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au] About the Hosts Nina is a mindful parenting coach, educator, and mum passionate about helping overwhelmed parents move from reactive parenting to calmer, more connected family relationships. Through practical strategies, mindfulness, and compassionate support, she helps parents break generational patterns and create the kind of home life they truly want for their families. On Your Calm Parenting Path, Nina shares relatable stories, expert conversations, and simple tools that help parents feel more confident and less alone in the everyday challenges of raising children. Her approach is warm, realistic, and grounded in the belief that small shifts can create a big impact.   Dr. Jen Ferris is a writer, former child development professor, and mum of two teenagers. Through her work, she explores the very real pressures parents face and the emotional load that can come with trying to “get parenting right” all the time. After experiencing her own struggles with overwhelm, guilt, and self-doubt in motherhood, Jen became passionate about helping parents approach themselves with more compassion and understanding. Her book, Parenting with Self-Compassion, offers practical, gentle support for parents who want to care for their children without losing themselves in the process.

51. How Worth Shapes the Way We Parent, with Nellie Harden

Why do we react in ways we don’t want to as parents, even when we’re trying so hard to stay calm? In this episode of Your Calm Parenting Path, Nina is joined by writer, speaker and family life advocate Nellie Harden for a thoughtful conversation about parenting stress, emotional regulation, self-worth and the deeper layers underneath parenting reactions. Nellie shares openly about her upbringing, becoming a mother to four daughters, and how parenting became part of her own healing journey. Together, Nina and Nellie explore how stress responses, childhood experiences and a sense of worth can shape the way parents show up within their families. This conversation is honest, compassionate and deeply reassuring for parents who are trying to break old patterns and build calmer, more connected relationships with their children. You’ll Learn * Why parenting and healing often happen side-by-side  * Why self-awareness matters so much in family relationships  * How to take inventory of what you want to bring into your parenting - and what you want to leave behind  * The five components of worth and how they shape family connection and communication  * Ways to build emotional safety and stronger relationships at home  * How understanding worth, identity and belonging can support both parents and children  * Practical ways to respond more thoughtfully instead of reacting automatically Why This Episode Matters Many parents are carrying stress, pressure and old patterns into their parenting without even realising it. This episode offers a compassionate reminder that parenting is deeply human, and that awareness can help create meaningful change over time. Nina and Nellie explore how understanding worth - both in ourselves and our children - can shape calmer, more connected family relationships.   Small Shift for Big Impact Nellie reminds parents that it’s never too late for repair, connection and change within family relationships. She also shares how important the first 18 years are, as this is the greatest window parents have to shape connection, trust and leadership within the home. She encourages parents to intentionally create one-on-one time with each child each week. Even small pockets of focused connection can help children feel seen, valued and secure. She also suggested reflecting on the following questions: * How do I feel seen?  * How do I feel heard?  * When do I feel invisible?  * When do I feel silenced?  * What do I want to leave behind in my parenting?  * What do I want to bring forward into my family relationships?  Nellie also spoke about how past trauma and difficult experiences can continue to sit alongside us throughout life. Rather than pretending they never happened, she shared the importance of acknowledging them, being aware of them, and recognising that they do not have to direct the way we parent or live today. Take the Next Step If this episode resonated with you, Nina’s free guide So You Yelled, Now What? [https://www.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/5-little-secrets-org] is a gentle next step for parents wanting to move through guilt and reconnect after difficult parenting moments. You can also explore one-on-one coaching and mindful parenting support through Mindful Parenting Lifestyle. Links and Resources * Connect with Nellie Harden on her website [https://www.nellieharden.com/].  * Download Nina’s free guide: So You Yelled, Now What? [https://www.mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/5-little-secrets-org]  Let’s Connect Want more support? Follow Nina on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mindful_parenting_lifestyle/], or sign up for tips and updates at mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au [http://mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au/].   Have a question or parenting challenge you'd like addressed on the podcast? Send a DM or an email - nina@mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au [nina@mindfulparentinglifestyle.com.au]   About the Host/s Nina Visic Nina Visic is a certified Mindful Parenting Coach, Head and Heart Mindfulness Instructor, podcaster and mum to three boys. Through Mindful Parenting Lifestyle, she supports overwhelmed parents to move from reactive and stressed to calm, connected and confident using mindfulness, emotional regulation and practical parenting strategies. Her approach is warm, compassionate and grounded in real family life. Nellie Harden Nellie Harden is a speaker, author and family life and leadership coach who is passionate about helping families build strong foundations of worth, identity and connection. As a mum of four daughters, she brings both personal experience and practical insight to conversations around parenting, emotional wellbeing and family relationships. Her work focuses on empowering families to create healthy, connected homes where both parents and children can thrive.