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: Embrace The Sounds
Of Silence With Your Child
Often, when there is quiet we feel
the need to fill the silence. This is especially the case when
we are with another person. When we are alone, we turn
to distractions such as television, books, food, errands, the Internet,
or the telephone. When we are with another person, we tend to
break the silence by speaking.
Today, when you are with your
child, allow there to be silence. Become aware of your breathing.
You need not allow silence for an extended period of time, but
try not to rush through it. You may find it interesting
to observe how your child responds to the silence. If your
child speaks, take a full breath and listen deeply. Respond
with a gesture or as few words as is necessary (by no means ignore
your child). Smile. Then return to silence. By opening
to the silence, you become aware of its transcendent power.
When
you first do this, observe the thoughts that race through your mind
during the silence. Notice the moments when your mind calms,
when stillness emerges. The silence opens a doorway to truly
being present with your child. But it is the stillness that
moves us through that doorway. The racing of thoughts pulls
us back outside. Use the power of the silence to practice
calming down of the mind (once you touch the stillness, you will want
to return to it.)
There is plenty of time during the day for
thinking. But there is an infinity in each moment of stillness.
And in that stillness, we connect most deeply with our child.
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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