Mindful Parenting is a contemplative practice through which we become more mindful of our children and, in doing so, experience a more joyful life.
From the Archives
The Daily Sip:  Blinking Eyes, Beautiful Child
 
Today let us return to the core of the mindful parenting practice -- shining the light of pure awareness on our child.  Pure awareness arises out of a state of deep calm.  We are not running away from or toward anything.  It begins with the breath.  It ends with a smile.
 
The body is ever mindful of the moment.  So, let us direct our attention today to a part of the body in a way that connects us to our child -- our wondrous eyes!
 
Our eyes rest easy in their sockets -- we don't really feel them.  Yet we are practically always using them.  We blink often.  Today, the blinking of the eyes will cue us to the present moment and to our beautiful child, whether or not they are with us at the moment.
 
To prepare for how you will do this today, take a deep breath and, while inhaling, blink once, slowly.  Then exhale and blink again.  Now, repeat this but imagine that your eyes are a camera.  When you blink, hear the camera's shutter close and open and sense that you have just taken a picture of your child.  Visualize your child, even if for only a split second, standing or playing before you.  If you are with your child, do the same thing but really bring your awareness to the presence of your child. 
 
We are always taking these picture but we do not always realize it at the time.
 
 
Tuesday May 11, 2004
Beautiful scene
Many parents
Many children
Your mindful parenting practice tip
of the day. 
Be sure to
sip slowly
The Morning Cup
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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.
 
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