Everyday Blessings - Mindful Parenting

Becoming a parent is the most beautiful thing that happened to me. This extraordinary relationship that suddenly arises keeps changing and evolving, as the child grows and his needs change isn’t easy, but it’s really what matters in life..

I especially love this part: “Children embody what is best in life. They live in the present moment. They are part of its exquisite bloom. They are pure potentiality, embodying vitality, emergence, renewal, and hope. They are purely what they are. And they share their vital nature with us and call it out of us as well, if we listen carefully to the calling.”

Reading this book enabled me to take a step back and understand the nature and the quality of the relationships in my family, as well as a better understanding of my kids and myself.

 Mindfulness means being present in the moment, without thinking about what happens next. It is paying attention to details, recognize the child as he is (as he’s unique, like any tree is unique in a forest), and look at them with fresh eyes, at the very moment. It means dropping our screens and fully dedicate our full attention to our kids, at times.  I have to admit I was relieved reading that being present to our kids doesn’t mean constently paying attention to our kids! Our own needs shouldn’t be forgotten. We need to be aware of ourselves, so we can be have a clearer mind and guide our kids better.

Another aspect in mindfulness parenting is to accept the kids as they are, without judging them. Respecting their personality. Accepting the children as they are, and remembering who the kids really are enable us to recognize their needs… and then be present, and better parents for them.

If we create a true, loving connection in the early stages with our children, we can give them a sense of confidence, safety and balance… At the end, it helps them to find their own balance in life, express their own feelings…  Great and useful tools for their future lives!

First step is of course to express and demonstrate our unconditional love, and of course respect the kid.  Then what matters is to stay ourselves as we create a nurturing and rich bond, everyday. As the kids get a little bit older, I find, as the book highlights it, that sharing common activities, such as practicing sports, is a beautiful way to share time together and get to know each other better.

I also liked the idea of always try to understand the kids’ experiences, and thus try to take sometimes their point of views. And try to remember us when we were young, and what we needed from our parents.

Being awake allows us to be real, instead of being on an “automatic mode”.

At the end of the day, living a mindful life means being present in our life, so it’s about living our own lives!

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