"I breathe in and out for
a few more times ...
as many times as it takes,
but SLOWLY.
Ollie follows my breath and comes
to sit right next to me, we CUDDLE.
He's asleep now. See? He just needed
HELP."
Ollie brings great joy to the child who loves him. He is playful, sleepy, inquisitive, even eager. Then, there are the times when he is out-of-control excited, or scared, or nervous about something. In those times, he creates chaos for himself and his caregiver. She finds herself responding in ways that are as frantic as the puppy in her head.
Luckily, she has a magic leash.
"It's not a leash that you can see. It's
invisible. The leash is my BREATH."
As she sits quietly and breathes deeply and audibly in and out, Ollie is calmed by the sounds. He comes closer. As he listens, he gives in to sleep which puts both is a much better place. Mindful breathing is not the only thing she can do to help her puppy deal with his needs. She can also walk with him, throw a ball for him, and make sure she is doing her best to be a strong and thoughtful owner.
In sharing these techniques when thinking about a puppy, Ms. Gravel offers guidance to children who have too much in their heads and need ways to cope with the anxiety they are feeling. Using quiet, controlled breathing, getting outside for some exercise, and talking to someone can help alleviate the stress. It's an important message for all.
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