Closing the “I Know Better” → “I Do Better” Gap in Parenting

If you’ve ever looked at your child mid-meltdown and wondered, “Why am I reacting like this? I know better”—you’re not alone.

There’s a real and painful gap between what we know about good parenting and how we actually show up in the messy heat of the moment. The truth is, no amount of willpower or perfect intentions can bridge that gap. What does? Practiced, embodied mindfulness.

And before you roll your eyes, mindfulness here doesn’t mean hours of meditation, a rigid morning routine, or becoming the “zen mom” who never raises her voice. It’s about building small, repeatable habits that rewire your brain and nervous system—so you can respond instead of react.

Meet Hunter Clarke-Fields

Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE, RYT, knows this journey firsthand. Once a self-proclaimed “parenting yeller,” she transformed her approach through mindfulness and has spent the last two decades helping other parents do the same.

She’s the international bestselling author of Raising Good Humans, creator of the Mindful Parenting course and teacher training, and host of the Mindful Mama podcast. Her work has been featured on CNBC, NBC, FOX, HuffPost, Tiny Buddha, MOPS, and more. Today, her mission is simple but powerful: help caregivers and kids live more mindfully and compassionately—without shame, rigidity, or unrealistic expectations.

What We Talked About

In our conversation, Hunter breaks down how mindfulness really works for parents and why it doesn’t take hours of practice to make a difference. Some of the highlights include:

• Mindfulness 101: what it actually is—and how to practice it in just 1–5 minutes a day
• The neuroscience: shrinking your amygdala’s reactivity while strengthening your prefrontal cortex (hello impulse control and clarity)
• Closing the gap between “I know better” and “I do better” through small, consistent reps—not more information
• Practical tools to grow the pause before you snap, giving you space to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting on autopilot

Why This Matters

So many parents try to “think” their way to calmer parenting, but the nervous system doesn’t respond to logic alone. When stress hijacks your brain, you need tools that go beyond intellectual understanding. That’s where mindfulness comes in—not as a magic fix, but as a steady practice that gradually changes the way your mind and body work together.

If you’ve been stuck in the loop of knowing better but not doing better, Hunter’s approach offers a gentler, more effective way forward.

Related Episodes to Explore:

• Previous Episode
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• 5 Signs You’re Parenting in Fight-or-Flight—and How to Shift Out of Survival Mode
• Using Humor as a Parenting Tool

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