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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.
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Experiencing the Joy of Connecting With Our Children
The Mindful Parent 
From the Archives
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Wednesday July 28, 2004
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?
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