Gemma Hartley

My husband and I have been together for 12 years, eight of them married, four of them teenaged.

Again and again I refuse to prioritize, refuse to let anything slide, at the expense of my physical and mental health.

If you were to walk into my house on any given day, you wouldn’t know that I am an efficient and organized person.

I’m not saying there is no joy to motherhood. I go through periods where I do feel like I’m at my parenting best. There are times when I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the amazing life and children I’ve been given. It can be so, so good. But what I’m saying is, it doesn’t always have to feel like that.

Becoming an adult didn’t magically open me up to their world and their psyche as I thought it would. Even having children of my own did little to unravel the mystery of my parents, because I wasn’t really interested in exploring honestly. I have always been concerned with who my parents were in relation to me, not who they were on their own.

You are a professional. You want to handle your business with a certain air of sophistication. You want to tell them "f*ck no," but want to do so graciously, tactfully — you are, after all, a wordsmith.

But how do I go about actually practicing mindfulness with my kids when I still can’t seem to get them to find their shoes in 30 minutes or less? To be honest, it’s not always easy. However, there are a few key things that I have found really helpful in getting my kids started on the path to a more mindful life.

My mother called me the morning after the

My six-year-old son got into the car after school and declared he only wanted to have one kid when he grew up.

I hate some of the things I see my friends and family post on Facebook.