Welcome to Mindful Mother!

Mothering calls for many talents such as balancing self-care with "other-care," and organizing multiple schedules. Life doesn't always go the way we plan, and raising children is often not what we expected or how we'd like it to be. We can surely benefit from practicing accepting and living with the way things are.  Whether we approve or not, life will continue to change in unpredictable ways!

The practice of "everyday mindfulness" can be a great help to mothers of children of all ages. If you are pregnant, or a new mom, this practice will certainly assist you as you embark on this path.  Our children our excellent teachers.  My hope is that here you will find a place to explore what the practice of everyday mindfulness offers:

• living consciously, rather than on "auto pilot"
• being with what already is, to balance efforts to control life
• treating ourselves in a gentler way as we mother our children imperfectly

It is the nature of the mind to THINK. That's what it does. The heart beats, the intestines digest, the mind thinks; it's that simple. Mindfulness is not about stopping thinking. We cannot stop the mind from doing what it does. However, we can change how we relate to our minds.

Mindfulness practice is paying attention, in the present, on purpose, without judgment.  Perhaps you have been introduced to mindfulness.  I have heard people say, "I know, I should be more mindful."  I cringe when I hear that mindfulness is one more thing people are using to "should" on themselves, so to speak.  It is not my intention to hold up mindfulness as the latest thing towards which we "should be" aspiring, or doing, to be "good."  Mindfulness is also talked about as if you when you are "being mindful" you are, "enjoying the moment."  This is not necessarily true. 

This website is dedicated to women who want to cultivate acceptance and compassion in their lives. It can be an especially useful tool if you have struggled with depression, postpartum depression, anxiety, PMS, perfectionism, chronic self-criticism, eating disorders, and/or addiction.  This is not a treatment for any of those.  It is an ancient practice that Western science is now demonstrating to be a valuable tool in promoting physical and mental health.  While most of us do pretty well at making things happen ("doing"), sometimes what is called for is simply "being" with what is.

May you find this helpful on your mothering journey. Send me your thoughts, comments, or questions.  I'd love to hear from you.

Warmly,

Elizabeth Torres