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 Morning Sip: Exercising
Your Heart
Today's sip expressly involves exercising. It
is not necessary, however, that you formally exercise to
be able to apply the mindful parenting tip. If you do any activity
that raises your heartbeat, the verse below will be applicable.
For that matter, the verse will be applicable if your day involves
the kind of stress that increases your heart rate (let's call that
exercising your heart) or you simply are able to open awareness to
your heart beating.
We exercise for many reasons. Perhaps
we are interested in losing weight. Perhaps we wish to gain
strength. Or we may wish to clear our mind and calm down. One of the more significant changes to our physiology, while we exercise,
is that our heart rate increases. At the same time, often the
fog inside our brain lifts and we see things with a greater clarity. This is a time we take for ourselves, and it is a time that helps
us to feel good about ourselves.
Today, while exercising, or
if you notice at some other time your heart rate increasing, recite
this verse.
My heart pounds inside me
Each beat sounds my child's name
Open awareness to the wonder
of your beating heart. Breathe deeply. Relax those parts
of your body not being taxed -- your shoulders, your belly -- and
listen deeply for the sound of your beating heart. Somewhere
your child's heart is also beating. No two beats of your heart
pass without your child's heart beating at least once.
With
each beat you hear, or with the passing of several beats, listen for
your child's name. Smile. Later in the day, if you are able
to be with your child, hug them. When you do, your two hearts
will be pressed very close together. Is it ever any other
way?
