What does it mean to be mindful? For me, being mindful is about having a certain level of awareness of things in your life such as your emotions, thoughts, dreams, triggers, expectations, boundaries, etc. Through awareness, you get to learn who you are as an individual and as parents, we get to raise our munchkins in that awareness so they can reach their highest potential and transform the world. So I came up with 7 ways to help you raise your munchkin mindfully:

1. Affirmations. The most powerful thing a person can say is “I am…” Whatever words come after that will shape your entire reality therefore, it is important to feed your mind with things you want to be. Come up with 5-7 “I am…” statements with your munchkin and commit to saying them every morning. Some examples of affirmations that I say with my munchkin are: “I am enough.” “I love myself unconditionally.” “I am smart.” “
2. Practicing gratitude. Gratitude allows us to feel genuine joy for all that we are blessed with. It allows us to feel happier, sleep better and have a fresh perspective on the world. Who wouldn’t want that for themselves, let alone their precious munchkin! One way to feel gratitude is to start a gratitude journal with your munchkin and list 3-5 things (each) that you are grateful for each day. If you aren’t the type to journal or write, pick a regular every day thing to remind you to be grateful when you see/do it. For example, every time you flip a light switch, say a few words in gratitude or say it before you eat dinner.
3. Teach them to keep their word. Integrity of self is so important! This will allow your munchkin to trust and believe in their self. A healthy self-image is vital to finding peace within and it starts with keeping your word. Once they have unshakable faith and trust within, the world is truly their oyster.  
4. Allow them to express every emotion fully. Let your munchkin know it is okay to feel their emotions. Do not try to dismiss them away. It may seem very second nature to tell your munchkin “You don’t hate the new baby.” This sounds very hurtful on the surface but by acknowledging their emotions and letting them feel it, they begin to see that emotions come and go. Healthy expression of emotion is vital in all relationships, especially the one with yourself, so allow them to feel.
5. Express your emotions to them. Munchkins lead by example. The more you show up vulnerably, the more they will. Even when you are struggling or not in the best of moods, you get to powerfully show your munchkin that vulnerability is not a weakness. You also get to teach them that they aren’t their emotions. Meaning yes may feel them but you don’t get to become them.  
6. Allow them to choose things in their life. Some parents believe that it is their job to make decisions for their munchkin. For the most part this is true, but there is always a healthy balance. Certain choices like if they bathe before or after dinner or whether they want to share their toys, are things your munchkin is 100% capable of choosing and by allowing them to make choices over things in their lives, they begin to see that they matter. Their voice matters. Imagine a world if every munchkin grew up knowing just that!!
7. PLAY!!! Yes have fun with your munchkin. Sometimes we can take ourselves so seriously that we teach our children that fun isn’t available to us. Show them your playful side. I don’t mean just playing board games and/or taking them to the jungle gym at the park. Get playful and show them your inner munchkin. Try fun science experiments with them. Make up different personalities and have each one interact with your munchkin in that way only. For instance, create a goofy clean up character with a funny accent that you use whenever you want to get them to clean. Things like that show them that you’re human and allows them to keep that playful spirit throughout life.

While this list is far from exhaustive, each suggestion here on its own is enough to have you and your munchkin’s life shift to a life of mindfulness. It will allow you and your munchkin to access a level of happiness and fulfillment that wasn’t available before.