The Breath That Stopped a Tantrum

 Six-year-old Ava was mid-meltdown in the grocery store, tears streaming, little fists pounding against the cart. Other shoppers stared. Her mother, Rachel, felt frustration bubbling—until she remembered something from a parenting book: "Your child’s breath mirrors yours. If you slow down, they will too."

Rachel knelt down, her face level with Ava’s. She inhaled deeply. Held it. Exhaled slowly. Ava was still crying, but something shifted—she watched.

Rachel took another slow breath. Ava’s sobs hitched. Then, slowly, hesitantly, she inhaled too.

Within moments, Ava was no longer screaming. She clung to her mother’s hand, her breath matching hers.

A passing woman smiled. “That was amazing. What did you just do?”

Rachel smiled, squeezing Ava’s hand. “Just breathed.”