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 Morning
Sip: Carry Your Child
Whether you gave birth to your child,
participated in the conception of your child, adopted your child,
became a member of the family of your child, or by whatever other
means your child entered your life, you carry your child deep inside of
you today.
When your child feels joy, you feel joy. When
your child feels pain, you feel pain. Perhaps it is in your
stomach that these feelings take root and are expressed; perhaps it
is in your chest, or your throat. It does not matter whether
your child is inches or miles away when they feel life's emotions;
you are right there with them.
This is the heart of your connection
to your child. This is a connection that opens to the cosmos.
Today,
carry your child with you deep within your body. Because
we all know pregnancy, directly or indirectly, carry your child as
if you were pregnant. The only difference is that your child
is your child today. This does not mean that your child is tall
(or whatever their physical characteristics) while inside
you. Imagine your child tiny and delicate, but know your child
as you know your child today.
Place you hands across
your belly and breathe deeply. Breathe slowly, watching your
belly rise and fall. Visualize your child inside you. Smile
to your child. You protect your child and nurture your child.
Today,
when you see your child, glance down to your belly and imagine your
child inside you. Today, when you are out and about and away
from your child, glance down to your stomach, or place your hands
across your abdomen, and feel your child's presence.
These hands
Embrace my child
Who is always inside me
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.
