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
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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The Daily Sip:
Your Forever Connection With Your Child
When
a child enters your life, everything changes. At the same time,
it is common for parents to remark, "It feels as though
my child was always in my life."
The practice of mindful parenting
opens awareness to the presence of your child in your life.
While such awareness may begin as a factual matter, for example with
the thought, "my child is sitting on my lap," or "my child is in class
learning the alphabet," mindful parenting broadens that knowledge
to a space of deep awareness that transcends thinking. In doing
so, your connection with your child deepens and a pathway to joy emerges.
Today,
imagine your child with you at a time prior to your child's birth.
Select a specific place and time. Perhaps it is when you were
in grammar school. If so, imagine your child sitting next to
you in class. Maybe it is when you were watching television
after coming home from school as a child. If so, imagine your
child watching with you. It might be when you were playing sports
or eating dinner with your parents. It could be your wedding
day.
Simply bring awareness to a pleasant time in your past and
sense your child's presence. Allow your thoughts to flow
freely. As you bring your child's image to mind, breathe deeply and relax
the muscles in your face. Relax your eyelids. Smile.
It
is difficult to pinpoint when your connection with your child
was established. Was it the moment of conception?
Was it your child's birth? Or was it some other time?
Today's
contemplation opens you to the forever presence of your child
in your life.
