My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts:

“Mama!” Laundry needs doing. How far can we hike with three kids? What’s for dinner? “Play with me!” Dishes are piling up. Self-care? Why do humans have fingernails? Is there time to shower?! More laundry. My business—how can I run it? Brush teeth. “Read to me!” Could we live in Europe with the kids? “Snuggle me.” My arm’s falling asleep.

I pause. Take a deep breath in. Feel the air fill my lungs. Exhale slowly. Repeat. The mental chatter begins to fade.

“Mama, I love you.”

I open my eyes, newly present. “I love you too, buddy. What was the best part of your day?”

“Playing in the tide pools at the beach.”

“That was super fun! Did you see when I almost walked into a tide pool deeper than my waist?”

“NO?! REALLY?!”

It’s amazing how simply tuning into something your body is already doing—breathing—can dramatically shift your state of mind. From chaos to calm, from distracted to engaged, all in a few conscious breaths. This is one of many tools we will be exploring in our time together in WILD MOTHERING. It’s all about your presence, and how to flow with the river of life.