With all of life's complexities and the tragic aspects of much of what is taking place in the world, it seems like a good time to return to a fundamental mindful parenting technique: mindful walking.

 

               With every step I take

               My child's heart beats

 

Today, when you find yourself anxious take a few minutes and begin to walk slowly.  Or, if you are in the middle of the bustle of your day and find yourself walking fast, slow down a bit.  Recite the verse as you do.

 

Breathe deeply and slowly.  Relax your shoulders.  Feel your legs.  With each step, place one foot ahead of the other, slowly and with deliberation.  Feel the Earth beneath your feet or shoes  -- really feel it!  As you do, open awareness to your beautiful child, wherever he or she may be.  Sense their beating heart and with each step you take, open awareness to the fact that your child's heart just pumped another beat.  Let each step represent another beat of their miraculous heart.  Smile.

 

With all the commotion, you can use this technique to bring yourself back to the present moment, back to what is real.  When your thoughts return to the day's events, you will find yourself refreshed. 

 

And note that even when you're sitting, you can move your feet around just a bit and recite the verse to yourself.  Remember to breathe deeply.  You'll find the moment transformed. 

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.