Beautiful scene
Many parents
Many children
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: Sit In Silence
With Your Child
The state of mindful parenting can be realized
anywhere and at any time. Mindful parenting verses can serve
as pointers to help open awareness to the moment. Once recited,
the emergence of mindfulness draws from deep within.
It is most
challenging to open awareness to the moment when there is a lot of
excitement and activity. Sometimes we don't want to disrupt
an enjoyable state. At other times, we are too distraught to
find the stillness within needed bring about much needed awareness.
The
ability to engage stillness so that the present moment can surface
with clarity is a learned skill. Today, when you are with
your child, when the time is right, calmly interrupt whatever you
may be doing and say that you would like to sit together in silence
for a few moments. Announce the rule of "no talking" --
okay, smiles if necessary.
This may sound like an easy task or
one that will just waste a few moments. You will find that it
is much more than that. Sit in silence for at least a minute
-- the longer the better. But do not force anything.
When
the minute passes, reach out to your child. Together discuss
what you felt or observed during the silence. Listen to your
child. Listen to yourself.
Experiencing the Joy of
Connecting With Our Children
The Mindful Parent
Your mindful parenting practice tip
of the day.
Be
sure to
sip slowly
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.
(c) 2003-2005 Zen Health.
All rights reserved.
The Mindful Parent is a servicemark of Zen
Health.
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