12 Mar Parents Taking Care of Themselves: Parenting with Mindfulness
By now, thanks to the current focus in the media, the majority of TLC parents have at least heard about the practice and many benefits of mindfulness. This winter semester The Loved Child hosted two successful evening Parent Workshops focusing on mindfulness while parenting. If you were unable to attend one of the workshops- please- no worries! This week’s Parent Topic introduces the very basics of the practice of mindfulness.
Take the time for yourself before class and read the EXCELLENT article Which Parent Are You? Become More Present In 3 Steps by Hunter Clarke-Fields. Which parent are you when out on a stroll with your adorable little one(s)? Do notice the “spring birds singing their spring song?” Or are you more likely to have ‘monkey mind’- caught up in your thoughts and distracted by all your stresses, ‘to-dos’, and anxieties?
“When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there?”
Clarke-Fields provides us three clear steps to practice mindfulness. Like many of the topics we have discussed, mindfulness is certainly not simple to learn- it takes continual practice to return to the present. This topic is perhaps one of the most important topics of the winter semester. Why? Practicing mindfulness has been shown to decrease stress, anxiety, depression, and improve the immune system. And, in terms of parenting- we can really be present to love our children.