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
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Experiencing the Joy of Connecting With Our Children
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The Mindful Parent 
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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(c) 2003-2004 Zen Health.  All rights reserved.
The Mindful Parent is a servicemark of Zen Health.
Monday December 20, 2004
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The Daily Sip:
 The New Year and Simplicity
 
As we approach the New Year, we often look to a return to simplicity.  We long to start fresh.  There is comfort and confidence in the notion of beginning anew.

 

The practice of mindful parenting opens us to the wonderful awareness that every moment is a moment anew.  When we open awareness to the presence of our beautiful child in our life, the moment becomes one filled with deep joy.

 

At its foundation, mindfulness is being open to what truly is taking place in the present moment.  Mindful parenting is being open to the presence of your child in your life, both when you and your child are together and when you and your child are separated.

 

Today, engage in the most simple of mindful parenting techniques.  In time, this technique will prove to be very powerful as it connects you more deeply with your child.

 

                   At this moment I am __________

                   And my child is ______________

 

Regardless of what you may be doing at the time, take a moment today and wake up!  Simply inform yourself what you are doing at that moment and what you believe your child to be doing.  For example:

 

                     At this moment I am typing

                     And my child is downstairs playing

 

During this recitation, breathe deeply and become aware of your breathing.  Allow the renewed awareness of your breathing to extend to what you and your child are doing.   It is not necessary that you know exactly what your child is doing -- imagine it.  What is important is that as you wake up from going through the motions, you bring your beautiful child into the moment with you.

 

You might begin wonder every now and again where you and your child had been before you woke up.

 
 
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