Understandably, sometimes mirroring feels like the last thing parents want to do. I have to pinch myself sometimes to remind myself to do it despite how many times I’ve done it with success and how well I know it works. And, it was a conscious choice for me to mirror when my student walked into my classroom that Monday afternoon. The truth is though, it takes just as much energy, if not more to be annoyed and it usually feels terrible after. So, why not spend the time and energy mirroring?… Not only does it really work, but it feels a whole lot better not only for the child but for the parent (or in this case teacher) as well!

Mirroring really is such a beautiful philosophy. Try mirroring as much as you can when you are not annoyed… Mirror small moments as often as possible. This will help mirroring become part of your repertoire and will feel much less like work and will eventually happen quite naturally even when you least feel like doing it! It definitely takes practice and patience but I promise you, it is well worth it!

Remember too, you don’t need to spend hours mirroring… Making two to three mirroring statements and then moving on is very powerful!

My problem right now is with my 6-year-old, who seems to wallow in negativity. She “hates” school, everything is “boring”, and she would rather yell than talk. (Part of the problem is that she’s overscheduled right now.) I get defensive and frustrated and I push back when I should mirror. Mirroring certainly requires having plenty of emotional reserves – I can’t do it unless I’m relaxed and happy myself.

Sorry, this comment is kind of vague and unfocused! Perhaps I should write a post of my own about mirroring and my daughter’s mood these days.