When we are mindful of our presence on this Earth and the extraordinary gift of our child in our lives, we open to the deep wellspring of joy that surrounds us.  Oftentimes, when our child makes requests (or are they demands) of us, our initial reaction is one that entails resentment, or at least frustration.  We are "in the middle of something" and the timing is not ideal to be asked to do something that takes us away from our focus.  As a result, we shift gears reluctantly, or decline to immediately accommodate our child's request.

Of course, it is not necessary to always respond as our child would have it and, indeed, our child needs loving boundaries and limits.  But, often, our frustration or anger is the result of selfish needs and there is nothing unreasonable or inappropriate about our child's expressed wishes.

Today, when your child "interrupts" you while you are in the middle of a project or task, consider promptly responding to your child's needs and using the situation as an opportunity to become more mindful of the moment.

When your child's words or actions trigger this opportunity, breathe deeply and slowly.  Observe the breath entering your nose/mouth and lungs.  Then, open awareness to the part of you that is most involved in the response -- be it your legs, eyes, voice, or hands.  Perhaps you child wants you to walk over and get him or her something.  Perhaps your child wants you to look at something.

This is a special opportunity to open awareness to yourself-- your legs walking on this Earth, your voice echoing into the Cosmos, your eyes seeing your child and the awesome beauty of nature, your hands able to caress your child, feel the wind, and touch the ground.  All this, because your child interrupted you.