Episode 18 | Why I Decided to Parent Mindfully | Marisa Raymond
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Welcome to The Eleshia Lifestyle Podcast
Parenting is one of the most rewarding experiences in life, but it can also be exhausting. Between work, family responsibilities and the everyday demands of caring for children, it can be difficult to slow down, stay calm and give everyone the attention they need.
So, what does it mean to parent mindfully? And how can we create a family environment where everyone feels respected, understood and heard?
In this episode, Eleshia Harris is joined by Marisa Raymond, a parenting coach, yoga teacher and board-certified genetic counsellor, to explore how mindfulness can transform family relationships.
Eleshia shares why mindful parenting is important to her as a mother and carer, while Marisa explains how her personal and professional experiences led her to develop her Mindful Family approach.
Together, they explore how to manage everyday family chaos, communicate more effectively with children, establish boundaries and create meaningful connections without expecting ourselves to be perfect parents.
This is a conversation about becoming more intentional in how we show up for our families, recognising that children are learning from what we do as well as what we say, and understanding that small changes can have a lasting impact.
In This Episode
Eleshia and Marisa discuss:
What mindful parenting means and why it matters.
How our own childhood experiences can influence the way we parent.
Why children need to feel seen, heard and understood.
How our reactions, words and behaviour influence our children.
Ways to manage family chaos proactively rather than reacting in the heat of the moment.
Why family meetings and shared conversations can help establish boundaries.
How to adapt communication to a child's age, personality and individual needs.
The importance of making time for meaningful connection.
How parents can practise self-care without feeling that they have to separate themselves from their children.
Why there is no such thing as a perfect parent and how we can learn from everyday experiences.
Quote of the Episode
“The crux of a mindful family, if I sum it up in one sentence, is how you interact with your family members so that everyone feels seen and heard.”
— Marisa Raymond
This is the heart of mindful parenting: creating relationships in which every family member feels that their thoughts, feelings and experiences matter.
Episode Summary
Eleshia begins by explaining why mindful parenting is particularly important to her. As a mother and the main carer for her brother, she wants to understand how she can communicate more effectively, support her family and respond to the needs of the people she loves.
She reflects on how parenting approaches have changed across generations. What worked for our parents may not always be the approach we want to take with our own children, particularly when we become more aware of the emotional patterns and experiences we carry into adulthood.
Marisa Raymond brings both professional knowledge and personal experience to the conversation. Through her work as a parenting coach and yoga teacher, she helps families find ways to reduce overwhelm, communicate more openly and create a more balanced home environment.
Marisa explains that mindful parenting is not about eliminating every difficult moment. Instead, it involves learning how to prepare for predictable challenges, respond more thoughtfully when things become difficult and build habits that support stronger family relationships over time.
A central theme is the importance of understanding children as individuals. Different children respond to situations in different ways, and the same child may need something different as they grow. Rather than relying solely on rules and instructions, parents can involve children in conversations, explain the reasons behind boundaries and give them opportunities to express their views.
The conversation also explores the importance of quality time. Marisa shares how investing in meaningful connection with her children helped her reflect on her own behaviour and recognise the difference that attention and presence can make. She also discusses finding ways to practise self-care alongside family life, rather than treating the two as competing priorities.
Eleshia and Marisa ultimately invite parents to approach family life with greater curiosity, compassion and intention. The goal is not to get everything right. It is to keep learning, repairing relationships when necessary and helping every family member feel that they belong.
⭐ Put It Into Practice
You don't need to change your entire parenting approach overnight. Start with one of these practical ideas and see what works for your family.
1. Reflect on your own parenting patterns
Think about the messages you received growing up and the ways your parents responded to emotions, conflict and boundaries.
Which approaches would you like to carry forward? Are there any patterns you would prefer to change?
The aim isn't to judge your parents or yourself. It is to become more aware of the behaviours you may repeat automatically, so you can make more intentional choices.
2. Pause before responding
When a child is upset, refusing to cooperate or pushing a boundary, it can be tempting to react immediately.
Where possible, take a breath before responding. Give yourself a moment to consider what is happening, what your child might need and how you want to communicate.
You won't always manage to pause, and that's normal. You can always reflect on the moment afterwards and try again next time.
3. Make your child feel heard
Try to listen to your child's perspective before moving straight into instructions or solutions.
You might say, “I can see you're upset. Can you tell me what's bothering you?”
Listening does not mean agreeing with everything or removing necessary boundaries. It means showing your child that their feelings and perspective matter, even when you need to say no.
4. Explain the reasons behind boundaries
Instead of relying only on “because I said so”, explain the reason for a rule in language your child can understand.
For example, if a boundary relates to safety, explain the risk and discuss what would help everyone feel more comfortable.
As children grow, involving them in appropriate conversations about rules can help them understand the reasoning behind those boundaries and learn to take responsibility.
5. Create regular opportunities to connect
You don't need elaborate family activities to build meaningful relationships.
Try setting aside a few minutes each day to talk, play, read together or do something your child enjoys. Put distractions aside where possible and give them your attention.
As Marisa discusses in the episode, the quality of the time you spend together can matter just as much as the quantity.
6. Find a family communication routine
Consider introducing a regular family conversation or meeting that suits your children's ages and attention spans.
You could discuss what's going well, what has been difficult, upcoming plans and any changes everyone needs to understand.
Keep it relaxed and age-appropriate. The goal is to encourage participation and understanding, not to turn family life into another formal task.
7. Make self-care work for your real life
Self-care doesn't always have to mean finding an hour away from your family.
Marisa shares how she found ways to practise yoga and play alongside her children, allowing her to look after herself while also spending time with them.
You might try stretching together, going for a walk, dancing to music or taking a few minutes to breathe quietly while your child plays nearby.
Choose something that supports your wellbeing and feels realistic for your circumstances.
8. Let go of the expectation of perfect parenting
Every parent has difficult days. You may lose patience, misunderstand what your child needs or respond in a way you later regret.
What matters is recognising those moments, taking responsibility where appropriate and working towards a better response next time.
You can apologise, reconnect and show your children that adults are also learning. This helps create a family culture in which mistakes can be acknowledged and relationships can be repaired.
🔑 Key Takeaways
Mindful parenting starts with awareness. Understanding your own reactions can help you make more intentional choices.
Children need to feel seen and heard. Listening and showing interest in their perspective can strengthen family relationships.
Boundaries work best when children understand them. Age-appropriate conversations can help children understand expectations and safety.
Every child is different. Communication and parenting approaches need to adapt to each child's personality, development and needs.
Connection matters. Small moments of focused attention can help build trust and strengthen relationships.
Self-care can fit into family life. Finding realistic ways to look after yourself can support your wellbeing without requiring everything to be perfect.
Parenting is an ongoing learning process. You don't need to have all the answers; you can reflect, repair and keep learning together.
🌿 Eleshia's Reflection
This conversation was particularly meaningful to me because I wanted to understand how I could become a more mindful parent to my daughter while also navigating my responsibilities as my brother's main carer.
When my mum passed away, our family experienced grief and change. Taking on a caring role for my brother while raising my daughter made me think differently about communication, responsibility and the ways we support the people we love.
Growing up, many of us experienced parenting approaches that were based on rules, authority and doing what we were told. As adults, we have the opportunity to reflect on those experiences and decide what we want to do differently with the next generation.
One of the most powerful messages I took from this conversation was the importance of making people feel heard. Even when we have good intentions, our reactions can sometimes leave the people we care for feeling that their perspective hasn't been considered.
This reminded me that keeping someone safe and helping them understand why something matters can go hand in hand with listening to them and respecting their voice.
I also loved the reminder that mindful parenting is not about being perfect. It's about being willing to learn, paying attention to how we show up and finding new ways to connect.
I hope this conversation encourages you to reflect on your own family relationships and consider one small change that could make a difference.
💬 Conversation Starters
Take a few moments to reflect on these questions:
What did you learn about emotions, boundaries and communication from your own parents or caregivers?
Are there any patterns from your childhood that you would like to change in your own parenting?
How do you help your child feel heard when you need to maintain a boundary?
What could you do to create more opportunities for meaningful connection with your family?
How can you make time for your own wellbeing while meeting your family's needs?
What would a more mindful approach to parenting look like in your home this week?
You don't need to have all the answers. Start with the question that resonates most and allow yourself to explore it with curiosity rather than judgement.
🔗 Helpful Resources & Related Episodes
Connect with Marisa Raymond
Marisa Raymond is a parenting coach, yoga teacher and board-certified genetic counsellor. Through her Mindful Family approach, she helps parents and children find more calm, connection and joy in family life.
Marisa's work explores mindful communication, family relationships, playful approaches to parenting and practical ways to manage the challenges of everyday life.
To explore her work and find her current resources, visit her website marisaraymond.com.
Continue Exploring Wellbeing and Personal Growth
The Eleshia Lifestyle Podcast explores the relationship between wellbeing, mindset, family life and personal growth.
If you enjoyed this episode, explore Latest Conversations for more discussions about self-care, managing overwhelm, personal development and creating a lifestyle that works for you.
You may also enjoy Episode 15, 8 Things to Consider When Life Gets Overwhelming, which explores practical ways to make space for your wellbeing while navigating work and family responsibilities.
Continue Listening
Thank you for listening to The Eleshia Show.
If this conversation has encouraged you to think differently about parenting, share it with another parent who might appreciate the reminder that none of us has to get everything right.
You can also follow the podcast and leave a rating or review on your preferred listening platform.
Remember, mindful parenting is a practice, not a destination. Every conversation, every pause and every opportunity to reconnect is a chance to build a stronger relationship with your family.
Until next time, take care of yourself.
Eleshia Harris
The Eleshia Lifestyle Podcast
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