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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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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(c) 2003-2004 Zen Health.  All rights reserved.
The Mindful Parent is a servicemark of Zen Health.
Thursday July 22, 2004
Today's Sip:  Using the Computer to Open Awareness to Your Child
 
Many of us work on a computer during the day.  As a rule, the work is not conducive to the practice of mindfulness or mindful parenting.  In fact, because of the intuitive appeal of many computer programs, it is easy to become engrossed in a project utilizing the computer.  We can become so absorbed that we do not naturally open awareness to our child.  Should our child "interrupt" us, we have a difficult time separating from the computer.
 
If you work on a computer, copy down the following verse and paste it to your mouse pad.
 
     I hold this mouse
     More often than I do my child's hand
 
Today, when you see your computer mouse or the verse, recite the verse aloud.
 
When you do, open awareness to both your child and yourself.  Visualize your child.  Where is your child?  What is your child?  Imagine your hand holding not the mouse, but your child's hand.  If possible, return to this image, each time you become aware of your use of the mouse.
 
At the same time, sense your body posture and state.  More likely than not, you are hunched over the computer terminal, your breathing is shallow, and your shoulders hunched.  Take a slow deep breath.  Straighten your posture and relax your shoulders.  Smile as you open awareness again to your child.
 
This verse can be a powerful way to respond to the computer's tenacious hold on our presence.  Because you may use the mouse throughout the day (or night), the opportunities to practice mindful parenting are extensive.
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