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 Morning Sip: Be Honest With
Your Child
When we are practicing mindful parenting, our child
knows it. Our awareness is full and embodies our child totally.
We understand our child deeply and our child perceives this.
Do
you ever notice that sometimes your child is speaking to you and you
seem to be able to lend them only half an ear? Life's distractions can
lead to such an outcome happening often.
Again, in such
situations, our child perceives this. And because we are not
practicing mindful parenting, we do not understand our child
deeply. We may not understand our child at all.
Today,
when you are not acting mindfully, explicitly share that information
with your child. If your child is speaking to you
and you realize that you are not able to offer your full attention, tell
your child:
"I'm not really paying attention to what you are
saying. I would like to but I am distracted at this moment and
it's difficult for me to concentrate on you. Perhaps in a half
of an hour, I will be able to really listen to what you want to tell
me."
Even though you are not giving your child what he or she
is asking for, you will have brought the light of awareness into the
moment. Your child will appreciate the difference. So will
you.
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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