One method of mindful parenting draws on everyday events and imagery to trigger recollection of specially crafted verses that summon to mind our child.  The use of verses serves several related purposes. 

First, each verse orients our attention toward our child.  For example, the verse "Walking" calls on us to sense our child's heartbeat with each footstep we take.  This awareness is grounded in the physical and organic presence of our child in the cosmos. 

 

Second, each verse elicits multiple sensory experiences.  For example, we might imagine our child's heartbeat both by visualizing it and by hearing its rhythmic pulse.  A variety of other sensory experiences may be elicited as well.  This is a deliberate and important part of the process as a fuller experience is possible when the verse engages a rich network of sensations and connections within the mind and body.

 

Third, the verses directly or indirectly remind us to breathe deeply as we recite them.  The process of breathing deeply, integral to our ability to slow down, forms the cornerstone of practically every meditative, relaxation, and mindfulness practice.  The physiological benefits of deep breathing are well documented in the scientific literature.

 

And fourth, the process of recalling and reciting a verse distracts us from whatever state of mind we might have been caught up in at the time the mindfulness verse is cued.  As a result, we are brought back into the moment and the opportunity to connect deeply to our child emerges.

When Physically Present with Your Child