When the Whole World Tips: Parenting Through Crisis with Mindfulness and Balance

With mental illness on the rise among young people, many parents are looking for practical ways to help their children. Mindfulness educator Landman explains how, drawing on her background as a practitioner of Buddhism. She also taps into her own experiences as the parent of a young adult diagnosed with clinical depression, who considered dying by suicide. She shares a story about her other child, who endured a physical injury, and briefly acknowledges how racial aggressions can cause further stress and trauma for parents of color. Landman learned firsthand that parents must strive for balance in their lives. She advocates for parents to develop self-trust, practice mindfulness, allow feelings, and focus on self-care in order to best meet their children’s needs. Each chapter concludes with exercises, which are also available in an audio format on the author’s website so readers can listen and meditate concurrently.