Beautiful scene
Many parents
Many children
Mindful Parenting is a contemplative practice through which we become more mindful of our children and, in doing so, experience a more joyful life.
Your mindful parenting practice tip
of the day. 
Be sure to
sip slowly
The Morning Cup
(c) 2003-2004 Zen Health.  All rights reserved.
The Mindful Parent is a servicemark of Zen Health.
From the Archives
Friday August 13, 2004
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The Morning Sip: Through Your Child's Eye
 
One way to open awareness to your child during the day, when your thoughts and actions might be somewhere else, is to see the world through your child's eyes.
 
Today, when you become aware that you are blinking your eyes (you may need to write a note to remind yourself) imagine that your right eye sees the world as does your child.  Your left eye remains yours. 
 
To ease the transition, slow things down.  Breathe deeply and slowly.  Relax your shoulders and release your belly.  Soften your gaze in each eye.
 
Look around and absorb your surroundings.  Open awareness to this larger perspective and simply observe what you see and observe the thoughts that arise.  Some thoughts and imagery are yours, some will be your child's.  Try and do it with both eyes open.  Feel free to take turns shutting an eye if that makes it easier.  If need be, switch the eyes.  Awareness will expand naturally.  Smile your child’s smile.
 
If you see your child later in the day, you may want to share the experience with him or her.  And while you are sharing the experience, you may want to try it again.
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Experiencing the Joy of Connecting With Our Children
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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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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