Beautiful scene
Many parents
Many children
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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Your mindful parenting practice tip
of the day. 
Be sure to
sip slowly
The Morning Cup
(c) 2003-2004 Zen Health.  All rights reserved.
The Mindful Parent is a servicemark of Zen Health.
Thursday July 29, 2004
The Morning Sip:  Delta Mind
 
The practice of mindful parenting draws on what can be termed "Delta Mind."  Delta Mind pertains to a change in mindful awareness.  It is a very optimistic perspective.  It is very forgiving.  When we embrace Delta Mind, we become optimistic and we become forgiving of ourselves.
 
Every moment of your life you are presented with the opportunity to open awarenese and become more present of the moment.  Listen to the noises outside.  Listen to the little sounds around you.  Feel your heart beating.  Appreciate your mortality.  Imagine your child at this moment.  Breathe deeply.  Opening awareness to the moment is a gift forever available, forever waiting to be opened -- again and again.  The moment from a distracted mind to a present mind, however small, is Delta Mind -- a change in mind.
 
In your interpersonal interactions with your child, each moment presents the opportunity to open awareness to the moment -- to listen deeply to your child -- to respond to what is needed at that moment.  It is an opportunity, through the power of mindfulness, to release habitual modes of reacting, to begin (or continue to) let go of the baggage you've acquired over a lifetime that disserves you and your child's best interests and ability to connect deeply.
 
Every time a shift is perceived (Delta Mind) and you transform the moment with your genuine presence, your heart naturally opens to receive a flooding in of joy.  It is a feeling available throughout the day because another opportunity is always before you.
 
          This moment is fresh
          I open my eyes
          For the first time
 
 
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Please share your comments on today's column.  If you would like to receive a courtesy copy of The Morning Cup column e-mailed to you each morning, click here.
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