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.
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here to learn what
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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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The Daily Sip:
Coffee,
Tea And Your Child's Warm Embrace
As the weather grows cold for
many of us, we drink more hot drinks like coffee and tea. Hot
beverages have two powerful characteristic: the cup is warm to
the touch, and steam rises from its surface. Today's sip
finds a mindful parenting cue in the cup's temperature.
Tomorrow's sip will focus on the rising steam.
This drink
Warm to my touch
Reminds
me of my child's warm embrace
Today, when you wrap your hands
or fingers around your coffee or tea drink, notice the warmth against
your fingers and palms. Breathe deeply and allow the warmth
to soak in. With each inhalation, sense the warm feeling
entering your hands and spreading through your arms and
into your body, loosening your joints and bringing calm.
Then,
recite today's verse. As you do, visualize your child, wherever
he or she may be at the time -- in school, playing, sleeping.
Imagine your child looking up at you and opening his or her arms
wide. As you do, slowly remove your hands from the warm cup,
and feel the heat dissipate. Open your arms wide and sense
your child's warm embrace. Smile.