The Mindful Parent - How to stay sane, stay calm and stay connected to your kids, by Shirley Pastiroff

"This is one of those rare books which takes an incredibly complex but hugely important subject and turns that into simple tools we can all understand and apply. If you sometimes struggle to be the kind of parent you want to be… this book is an absolute must." — Nigel Latta, clinical psychologist, author & speaker

Parenting can be beautiful, messy, exhausting, and full of love - often all in the same day! In the middle of the busyness, many of us find ourselves wondering: Is it really possible to stay calm, sane, and connected with our kids?

This book says yes. And not only yes, but that it might be simpler than we all think...

The Mindful Parent is an invitation to slow down and return to what matters most: a deep and lasting relationship with our tamariki. Shirley Pastiroff weaves together stories, neuroscience, and down-to-earth strategies that help us respond with more patience and kindness - not by adding more to our already full plates, but by unlearning some of the pressures and “shoulds” that weigh us down.

Each chapter gently explores a different part of parenting life - the busyness of our days, our stress and emotions, the tricky feelings of our kids, even the challenges of conflict. Instead of offering quick fixes, Shirley offers a refreshing reminder that the wisdom to parent well is already within us, it can just be about tuning into it.

This is the kind of book you’ll finish with a deep breath, a lighter heart, and a new sense of joy in the everyday moments with your tamariki.

How you might use this book:

• Read a few pages before bed as a gentle reset after a big day of parenting.
• Use the mindfulness practices during stressful moments to help you pause and reconnect.
• Return to it as a grounding reminder that calm and connection matter more than perfection

About the author:

Shirley is a counsellor, one of New Zealand’s leading mindful parenting educators, and a Mum of 5. She is passionate about helping parents take control of their stress and transform their families to become stronger and more connected using research-based mindfulness techniques that have transformed her own family life.