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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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:
Reviving Mindful Parenting
Cues: The Photograph
The practice of mindful parenting is, at
its core, a natural practice. Even if you've never thought of
the term, you have incorporated elements of mindful parenting
into your life. A common practice many people engage in
is the display of photos of their children, both at home and
at their office. Office photos can serve as a wonderful
mindful parenting cue when we are physically separated from our child.
The home photos are especially poignant when our children have left
home.
As it is human nature to habituate to stimulation we experience
over and over, we may eventually stop "seeing" the beautiful photos
that sit atop our desks and tables. Looking at our child's image
in the middle of the day and during stressful moments should
bring a smile to our lips and fill our hearts with a feeling of deep
joy. When we allow these images to expand our awareness to the
presence of our child in the here and now, we become grounded in the
present moment. By doing so, we become better equipped to respond
to life's circumstances.
Today, turn one of the photos upside
down, place it sideways, or turn it around. Allow each
time you notice the disturbed photo to serve as a reminder to
open awareness to the presence of your child in your life. Put
down whatever is in your hands, sit down, and breathe deeply.
Relax your shoulders and smile. Consider the time that
has passed since the photo was taken. Then, imagine what your
child is doing in the present moment? Listen
for your child's voice? Sense your child's movement.
As
you smile, imagine your child smiling with you.
