This morning I read a post from the lovely Tracey over at Mummy Shire that really resonated with me. It was all about being more mindful with our children and laid down a challenge.

If you have read this blog for any amount of time you will have heard me mention that I recently started practising mindfulness meditation and how it has really helped me. Last month my practice slipped a bit and I have made a commitment in my Monthly Bucket List May 2017 post to get back into making it part of my daily routine. I am also wanting to find ways to incorporate mindfulness into other areas of my life and this challenge seemed like the perfect opportunity.

A Month of Mindful Mothering: can you take on the challenge? Click through to find out more ...

What Is The Challenge?

The challenge itself was actually set up by Your Family under the hashtag #YFMomsChallenge and Tracey heard about it through Jacqui at One Messy Mama (you’ve got the love the way this blogging community works). Here is what it says on the Your Family website:

Can you take the #MindfulMothering Challenge? #YFMomsChallenge

We’ve set a tiny challenge for each day, a single thought or prompt that’ll have a big impact over the next 31 days. You’ll learn a lot about them, and talk more about the important things in their world and yours. Join us on our journey to more mindful mothering… https://svensktapotek.net/kopa-sythroid/

  1. Ask: what have you been thinking about lately?
  2. Tell your child: I’m glad you are my son/daughter.
  3. Go 24 hours without raising your voice.
  4. Limit your screen time and use these minutes/hours to read to your child, talk to them.
  5. Have a staring contest with your child.
  6. Ask: what is your favourite joke?
  7. Ask: what makes you afraid?
  8. Remember yourself at their age. Think about what you enjoyed and valued about your own mom.
  9. Teach your child a new skill.
  10. Practice listening to your child without interrupting.
  11. Ask your child’s opinion on something that’s important to the family.
  12. Make or buy them their favourite snack.
  13. Ask: what’s your lucky number, and why?
  14. Watch them while they are asleep.
  15. Ask: when last did you cry, and why?
  16. Ask: where would you visit if you could go anywhere?
  17. Rub their shoulders or give them a hug. Say: I remember when you used to fit in my arms.
  18. Ask: what is your earliest memory?
  19. Think of the best mother you know. Model her most admirable quality today.
  20. Picture how you’d like your children to remember you. Is your behaviour moving you towards or away from that image?
  21. Swap their evening story for a joke book. Laughing together is a great way to bond.
  22. Watch their favourite program with them. Give it your undivided attention.
  23. Say: I’ve learnt the most amazing things from you.
  24. Ask: what’s been the best day of your life so far?
  25. Ask: what’s the best thing that’s happened to you this week?
  26. Bake something with your child. Use the time for casual chatter.
  27. Play your child a song that reminds you of him/her.
  28. Start a family scrapbook, or spend time looking at their baby albums together.
  29. Tell them something you are grateful for today, and ask them to share something of their own.
  30. Ask: which 5 words would your friends use to describe you?
  31. Avoid the N word: explore different ways to say no.

I really like the idea of asking all these different questions and connecting with my children on a different level, although I do think days 3 and 31 will be the hardest!

How Can I Take Part?

Any way you like.

My plan is to print out the list then put it in my diary like a bookmark, moving it along each day and ticking them off as I complete them. You could blog about it, keep it private, write it in your diary, stick it up on your fridge, whatever works for you. Mummy Shire is tweeting/blogging about it using #MindfulMothering so you could use this and/or #YFMomsChallenge. I will probably use both.

Will you take the challenge with us?

One Messy Mama
3 Little Buttons
Tammymum
You Baby Me Mummy

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30 thoughts on “A Month of Mindful Mothering: Can You Take On The Challenge?

  1. I’m not a mom, but I’m rooting for you all! #DreamTeam
    Heather Keet recently posted…I may never get out of bed again…My Profile

    Posted on 2 May, 2017 at 6:32 am
    1. Thank you x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:56 pm
  2. honestly a checks and balance check list is such a great idea. Thanks for linking up to #globalblogging
    kristin mccarthy recently posted…Great Neighbors Are Real Estate GoldMy Profile

    Posted on 2 May, 2017 at 5:14 pm
    1. Thank you x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:56 pm
  3. This is such a great idea. Good luck #globalblogging

    Posted on 2 May, 2017 at 9:01 pm
    1. Thank you x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:56 pm
  4. This is such a lovely idea… Good luck with the challenge!
    Jade @ Captured By Jade recently posted…10 Spring Scavenger Hunt PrintablesMy Profile

    Posted on 3 May, 2017 at 7:34 am
    1. Thank you x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:55 pm
  5. Oh what a totally fabulous list. I adore this focus on mindfulness. I’m using aspects of it more and more and have to admit that it really helps. I look forward tio hearing how your month goes #FamilyFun
    justsayingmum recently posted…What Will Those Teen Boys Be Like?My Profile

    Posted on 4 May, 2017 at 2:51 pm
    1. Thank you, it really does x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:55 pm
  6. I love this idea. Peachy doesn’t really talk yet so we can’t do many of these, but as soon as she figures that out, we’re going to give this a try. #DreamTeam

    Posted on 4 May, 2017 at 3:14 pm
    1. She won’t be far off I’m sure, she’s growing up so fast x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:54 pm
  7. Oh yes, I saw this challenge. It sounds really interesting. I’d like to do it when my daughter is older and able to talk! I think we’d learn a lot from it! Thanks for linking to #GlobalBlogging

    Posted on 4 May, 2017 at 4:36 pm
    1. It’s a great challenge isn’t it x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:53 pm
  8. Oh I absolutely love this. I have been practicing mindfullness for years but I have never thought to do this. I think mine are a little young for all of these but I can certainly apply and adapt some to our lives. Fab idea I will print it off too and give it a go! Thank you for sharing at #familyfun
    Tammymum recently posted…FamilyFun…Week 33My Profile

    Posted on 4 May, 2017 at 7:49 pm
    1. Thank you, it’s a great way of stopping and really paying attention and listening to your kids x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:53 pm
  9. Ooh I’d clicked to read this one via your bucket list post and loved it! Fab to see that you’ve linked it too. It’s such a brilliant idea and the ideas are all perfectly simple but really powerful I would imagine! Good luck lovely. I’ll try and keep up too! Thanks for sharing with #DreamTeam x
    Rhyming with Wine recently posted…The Stat Race.My Profile

    Posted on 4 May, 2017 at 8:38 pm
    1. Aww, thank you. Some days are easier than others but it’s all a step in the right direction x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:51 pm
  10. Oh, I really like this. I have adopted children so connecting and getting to know them is even more important for us, I will attempt this challenge 🙂 Thanks! #TheListLInky
    Feeling Mum Yet recently posted…My child might look normal, but…My Profile

    Posted on 5 May, 2017 at 11:14 am
    1. Thank you. It’s definitely a great way of connecting, good luck with the challenge x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:50 pm
  11. This is something I’d like to try one day.#DreamTeam
    Helena recently posted…Photography, Capsule Wardrobes and Hubby’s Birthday #LittleLovesMy Profile

    Posted on 5 May, 2017 at 9:56 pm
    1. Good luck when you do, some days are definitely easier than others x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:50 pm
  12. Love this idea, so many things on the list that would really help with connection. Thank you #familyfun

    Posted on 6 May, 2017 at 8:16 pm
    1. Thank you x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:49 pm
  13. Hey – thanks so much for the mention, that’s super kind!
    How’s it going, one week in?
    My week has been insightful and left me smiling. The children are so funny and of course one question always leads onto another…!
    Will share next week
    #MindfulMothering

    Posted on 7 May, 2017 at 12:29 am
    1. Pleasure, thank you for sharing the idea. It’s going well so far, although I didn’t manage the no raised voices one, not with my toddler anyway! It’s helping me stop and listen to them more and be more focused x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:48 pm
  14. Ah this is a great idea – I’ll join in from today! #TheListLinky

    Posted on 10 May, 2017 at 4:27 pm
    1. Yay, good luck with it x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:46 pm
  15. Going 24 hours without raising my voice is a tough one!! #familyfunlinky
    Crummy Mummy recently posted…How to create a wildlife-friendly gardenMy Profile

    Posted on 10 May, 2017 at 7:36 pm
    1. Ha ha, I haven’t managed that one yet x

      Posted on 12 May, 2017 at 12:46 pm