The Morning Cup, December 20, 2004: The New Year And Simplicity

Your mindful parenting practice tip of the day. Be sure to sip slowly

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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.

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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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