Mindful Parenting is a contemplative practice through which we become more mindful of our children and, in doing so, experience a more joyful life.
The Mindful Parent is an organization devoted
to sharing with parents and other child caregivers ways in which to
enhance the many joys of parenting. By mindfully attending to
our children, both when we are physically present with them and when
we are physically separated from them, we can enhance our sense of
connection to them and, in turn, our connection to the cosmos.
This makes us a better parent, a happier person, and a more vital
human being.
To facilitate a more mindful approach to parenting,
The Mindful Parent publishes on its website, and in its bi-weekly
newsletter,
mindful parenting
verses and commentaries. The Mindful
Parent website also serves as a community forum that encourages and
supports a mindful parenting dialogue and the sharing of mindful parenting
experiences.
In the spirit of developing a mindful parenting
community, we encourage you to
submit a mindful parenting
experience through verse, commentary, and imagery to share with others.
We believe that through our collective experience, we can help
each other develop a deeper and more meaningful mindful
parenting practice.
Click here to learn more about making a
submssion. We thank everyone who has contributed or is considering
making this very compassionate contribution.
Click
here to learn what
recent events are taking place and of changes to The Mindful Parent
website. Please
contact us with your questions about mindful
parenting or to share a mindful parenting experience. We are
devoted to working with you to enhance your ability to "be" with your
children, and to experience the bliss that awaits you.
The Daily Sip:
In
The Midst of Turmoil, Connect Deeply
Mindful parenting is about
connecting with our child and the cosmos. It is about being
present in the moment. It is about experiencing raw joy.
Our child could be across the world without us being able to
contact them and we can experience a deep connection and fulfillment.
Our child can be sitting next to us and we can be barely connected
and distraught.
Sometimes we have less than a satisfying interaction
with our child. Perhaps it is due to a power struggle.
Maybe we forgot to do something and feel guilty. Perhaps our
child experienced a difficult circumstance and is confused
or anxious. In these situations, the practice of mindful parenting
is about opening to the moment by experiencing it deeply -- listening
deeply. The practice is not about solving the problem. Connecting
with our child is not accomplished by obsessing over the problem
or feeling guilty over our actions.
Today, if you find yourself
encountering frustration or anxiety, or guilt, or worry in relation
to your child (unless it is imperative that you act immediately), allow
yourself a few moments to open to the moment and to experience directly
the sensations swirling around you. Breathe deeply and slowly
as you recite the below verse:
The
mind swirls in a thousand directions
Breathing
deeply brings me home
I close my eyes to the distractions
And feel peace
When we worry and obsess, we allow our thoughts
to dwell in the past and anticipate the future. When this happens,
we are not present. And when we are not present in the moment,
we cut off the depth of our connection to our child and to the cosmos.
This
verse can help bring us back to the present. If we allow ourselves
to remain there for even a short while, the bright light of raw
joy shines upon us.
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