Try parenting the Buddhist way – drop your expectations and go with the flow

‘From a Buddhist perspective, letting go, cultivating an attitude of acceptance and self-compassion are skilful ways to try to relax with whatever is happening.’ Photograph: Visoot Uthairam/Getty Images

Imagine what it might be like to parent without expectations – spontaneously responding to your child’s needs, genuinely enjoying adventures with your family, and bringing mindfulness to the day as it unfolds. Sound like a dream? Well, it is.

Idyllic images of healthy kids in nature, tidy homes and wholesome meals circulate on social media, set an impossibly high bar and mislead us into thinking the messy, unexpected, chaotic aspects of parenting are a mistake.