Mindful Parenting is a contemplative practice through which we become more mindful of our children and, in doing so, experience a more joyful life.
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The Morning Sip: Saying
Goodbye To Your Child
When we say goodbye to our children, we
may not always be mindful of their departure. Maybe we are dropping
them off at school. Perhaps they are going on a trip with a
relative or friends. Perhaps they will be away for a short while;
maybe their departure will be an extended one.
If their
leaving is routine, it may have become a rather matter-of-fact event
to which we pay little real attention. If the circumstance
of their leaving is not a recurring one, we may face their
departure with trepidation and concern. In either case, we become
wrapped up in something other than the moment -- we either pay
it little mind, or we are emotionally overwhelmed.
Today,
whether your child is leaving home for a semester away at school
or going to camp for several hours, open awareness to your child's
presence in your life.
My beautiful child
In a moment you will be gone
I smile because you are here now
If your child's departure
is routine, reflect on the verse and transform the moment into a wonderful
gift. If you are fearful or concerned over your child's departure,
allow the verse to open spaciousness between your emotion and the
present moment. There is room for your concern. But there
is so much more room for a greater awareness of your child's wonderful
presence and of your deep connection to your child. Breathe
deeply and when you exhale, breathe away the anxiety and open awareness
to the stillness that resides in that same space.
Your
child's departure can be a wonderful reminder that your child is with
you now -- that you are both alive and breathing, together amid the
vastness of the cosmos.
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.
