Beyond ‘Mommy Juice’ – Finding Real Relief Through Breathwork
As I continue building the brand of HEN Mindfulness and creating in-person breathwork events, I’m often met with a familiar response when I share what I’m doing. People nod and say things like, “Just got my toddler to bed after a 3-hour bedtime saga. Pretty sure I need a PhD in breathwork now.” Or, “Nothing says ‘I could use some breathwork’ like realizing my only ‘me time’ today was hiding in the bathroom.”
Mom Rage We Meet Again…
This weekend was a tough one. My kids were whiny, my husband was grumpy, and I felt extra short on patience. The days dragged on, filled with battles with my son over everything from which shoes to wear to whether he’d come on a walk with me. I made a lot of food, washed a lot of dishes, and folded a mountain of laundry. I did my best to carve out moments of self-care—a morning hike with the dog, a final dip in the pool before the weather cools. But none of it worked. I was overwhelmed. By Sunday evening, after asking my kids for the hundredth time to get along, I hit a breaking point. The sounds and tension became too much, and I finally exploded. Yelling, crying—the whole adult meltdown.
Five Sacred Practices: How I Protect My Time as a Conscious Parent
This newsletter might need a new name: Conversations with Other Parents. Every time I have a meaningful chat, it sparks an idea I want to write about.
This weekend at the park, I was talking with another mom about motherhood and time. At one point, she said something like, “We had our time, and now we have kids—our time will come later.” I know a lot of parents feel this way.
Yes, things are different now. "Our time" has shifted in duration, frequency, and maybe even quality. But here's where I see it differently: I am deeply committed to making time for myself, even now.
A Man in A Women's World
I had lunch with a friend the other day, and we talked about my recent post on mindful awareness. We discussed how, at the end of a long day, walking into a home filled with family can sometimes feel overwhelming and even triggering. For me, it’s the shift from “work mode” to “mom mode,” with little hands grabbing at me, making their demands. My friend’s experience, while rooted in a similar emotion, was different. He’s a man, a father, and a husband, and his children are older—basically almost adults. For him, the transition was about navigating energy dynamics; his household, made up of his wife and two daughters, felt like walking into a wall of strong feminine energy.
It's Not Woo Woo - It's Science
For parents who rely on facts and science, this article is for you. These tools and practices are accessible to everyone, without needing any ties to spirituality, religion, or what some may call the "woo-woo." Research shows that breathwork isn't just a passing wellness trend—it’s a scientifically-backed method to reduce stress, boost mood, and support physical health. For parents, breathwork offers a practical way to regulate emotions, and when done with children, it can help the entire family stay centered amid the demands of daily life.
Awareness is the first step to being a mindful parent.
I want to start by saying that I was you, I am you, and I continue to be a human parent with all the emotions that come with it. What I can tell you is that when I began to engage in mindfulness practices (yes, I’ll explain that), became more embodied (don’t worry, I’ll break this down too), and learned to control my breath, a fundamental shift occurred. I re-calibrated how I reacted and how I felt about myself as a mother.
What's in a name: The Story Behind HEN Mindfulness
Hello and welcome to my first words on this Substack. I believe in starting at the beginning—with the origin, the why. I hope to create a small framework to give some insight into who I am and what my mission is.
First off, HEN stands for Hic Et Nunc, the literal Latin translation for "Here and Now." The importance of those words will come up again and again as we go through this journey together.