Momfulness: Mothering with Mindfulness, Compassion, and Grace, is a delightful book of meditations by Denise Roy, author of My Monastery is a Minivan.

In the opening lines of the book, Roy is very clear that motherhood isn't always blissful, in fact it can be "incredibly frustrating"

Roy defines momfulness as "the spiritual practice of cultivating a mindful, compassionate, mothering presence". It's not a meditation that you schedule, it's practiced in the trenches of everyday life.

She describes six themes of momfulness: developing true presence, practicing embodiment, paying attention, cultivating deep compassion, recognizing the sacred in all things and understanding the value of community. Each meditation begins with a quote, and, includes a personal narrative, and, ends with ways to put the meditation into practice.

Though I am not a meditating type of person, there is a lot of inspiration to be found here, and, specifically, the topics of being on autopilot, and, the ideal v. the real, really spoke to me.

If had had been on the ball, I'd tell you that Momfulness: Mothering with Mindfulness, Compassion, and Grace would make a great Mother's Day gift, but, I guess you could always shop early for next year.

It would also make a good birthday gift, or, a gift for a new mother.