Everyone needs a Mommy Mantra!

According to authors Bethany E. Casarjian, Ph.D., and Diane H. Dillon, Ph.D.,"Mommy Mantras are phrases you can say in your head or out loud if you need to, during those trying moments of mothering. They act to empower you, revive you, and remind you that there is always another way to see your situation. Buddhist-inspired and psychologically grounded, these snippets of wisdom derive from entertaining and universal stories of unpredictable life with children."

It's true. They are.

They also work for dealings with your overworked IT people, as well as many other head-banging-on-desk situations you may find yourself in.

Here's one to get you started, it also happens to be my favorite (you'll see why below).

"Within me there is a peacefulness that cannot be disturbed", but I like to add "by (insert here current reason for feelings of non-peace deep within...e.g. boneheads, bricks, clueless ones, that guy who coughs through the whole movie...whatever favorite label seems applicative at the time)". It works. Chant it and see. Although, I'm pretty sure my additions would be frowned upon by your average Buddhist monk.

I'm not the only one who found the Mantras useful. Just check out the praise over at the Mommy Mantras site. We've got:


“This is the book I wish that I had had as a young mother, for those five-o-clock -the witching hours- when the kids were screaming, the dinner was burning, and Hawaii was just too far away. Mommy Mantras might not calm the kids or save the dinner, but it will surely help any mother find her inner beach, that peaceful serene and centered place within her that gets lost in the mad shuffle of parenthood. Written with warmth, humor and compassion, Mommy Mantras should be required reading for anyone with children.” Elizabeth Marek, author of Beyond the Waves and The Children of Santa Clara

and...

“While an irreverent, funny description of modern mothering in the trenches, the book’s premise - that how one thinks about experiences (the mantras) affects one’s mental health and behavior (mothering) is based on solid psychological science underlying cognitive behavior therapy and the growing literature on mindfulness.” Marla Brassard, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor of Psychology & Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, author of Psychological Maltreatment of Children

as well as...

“I love this book! I repeat the mantras at the pediatrician’s office, at preschool parent- teacher conferences, and in the bathroom and closet, my two hiding places for instant meditation. Casarjian and Dillon are brilliant at weaving together ancient Buddhist wisdom and psychology with humor and poignant stories that will help even the most stressed out moms (like me). Thank you!” Terese J. Borchard, editor of The Imperfect Mom

Read it, you'll find your favorites, and maybe start to make up a few of your own.