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 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.
The Daily Sip: Opening To Your Child's Presence
We spend much of our lives grappling
with the world. Even though we are all connected, in ways deeper
than we can imagine, we often perceive ourselves as separate entities,
doing our best to thrive. When we are with our child, the lines
that divide soften and blur. But still, we see ourselves as separate,
and we find ourselves grappling even with our child when events are
not proceeding as smoothly as we would like.
Part of the grappling
is a reaction to the way we sense the world. When our child
is making things difficult, we feel as though we must reach out
into the space between ourselves and our child to solve the problem.
Reaching out is an effort.
My child is before me
There is nothing I need to do
We see, smell, touch, and
hear our child because stimuli, like light rays, enters
our eyes, nose, fingertips, and ears. We need do nothing to
make this happen. It just happens.
Today, whether
you find yourself grappling with your child or having a very easy
time, open awareness to the ease with which your body invites your
child's presence. Recite the verse and, while breathing deeply, passively
absorb the various colors, odors, textures, and sounds.
The
practice of mindful parenting is not about picking and choosing; it
is about being present in the moment and open to its abundant
offerings.
