Mindful Parenting is a contemplative practice through which our connection to our child, and awareness of our child's presence, helps us to become better
grounded in the present moment.
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
newsletter, mindful parenting
verses and commentaries. The Mindful Parent
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experiences.
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The Morning Sip: Opening To Your Child's Independence
The story is a familiar one. The child grows up and leaves
home. The intimate bonds between parent and child become a source of friction as the child reacts against them, looking
for independence, while the parent resists letting go. Deep down both parent and child have mixed feelings. In some cases,
the relationship breaks down entirely. In others it sours. Then, with the bonds severed, the relationship remerges strong
and healthy; parent and child become two autonomous beings.
The forever evolving parent-child relationship continues
to tug and pull in the seemingly opposing directions of intimacy and independence. The practice of mindful parenting opens awareness
so that intimacy and independence naturally evolve in a manner that allows them to comfortably coexist.
But the process of "separation"
is not one that happens all of a sudden. It progresses slowly, with every passing day of your child's life.
It merely ripens during adolescence and early adulthood. By opening awareness to the subtle shifts that continually take place,
you can more easily absorb the separation. As a result, intimate bonds of deep connection are not compromised.
Today,
see whether you can identify some of your child’s behavior as part of a search for independence. Looking deeply into
your child's actions, you can better understand your child and respond with greater awareness of what is actually motivating him or
her.
Breathe deeply as you absorb the beauty of your child's self-expression, embracing its eventual consequence with
an open heart.
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