To be a conscious parent is to be present first and foremost. To be aware of your thoughts, words and actions and the ripple affect that they have on your children. To invite your children to be conscious of their own words, actions and thought patterns, as well as being conscious of their environment and their interaction with self and others. However, this needs to be done with the understanding that it’s a process of growth and not an all-or-nothing phenomenon!
One of the most important ways that I bring mindfulness into parenting is to be aware of my thoughts, words and actions because they are reflected like a mirror onto my boys. I do not always get it right as I am a human before I am a mother. But I do keep showing up and trying every day to be aware of how I show up for my kids.
I am working on being with them when I am with them. Not elsewhere on the phone. And when we have quality time, it is quality time together, not time in the same room doing different things. Spending time in nature is a favourite, because nature is a perfect reminder to be in the now.
I do not always get it right as I am a human before I am a mother. But I do keep showing up and trying every day to be aware of how I show up for my kids.
If I have a moment of anger or frustration, I take the time to address it in the now. I apologise for my words or actions, especially if I can tell they were harmful or not received the way I hoped.
I take the time to not over schedule the boys based on a desire to make sure they have tried all activities, or to pressure them to do more. I ask them how they feel and let them show me what they may need in their day to feel more aligned.
I am disciplined and show them how to be thankful, how to appreciate things, how to save money, how to spend mindfully, how to eat mindfully, how to be aware of their body and self-care and sleep. I ask a lot of questions to help understand where they may be at and to see how I can best help.
I am very strict on screen time. I do not have the TV on in the house when they are awake and it is only switched on when they get to watch a show, or we all watch a movie together. I have become more flexible because now I also see the value of understanding how to use devices from a certain age, but I believe that devices will highly affect a child’s body and mind and that we have a responsibility to be conscious of this.
I meditate every day for eight minutes. It is extremely helpful in keeping me aligned with my daily focus as well as helping me to stay conscious of the day’s activities and responsibilities.
I use mantras and affirmations to help me speak from a place of love and calm versus frustration and anger. I often connect with nature myself by looking at the tree branches, or taking a moment to plant my feet in the grass, to be still and breathe.
Lastly, I express gratitude. This taps me into a mindful space.
“In my current role as mother, I make a daily commitment to give my kids the opportunity to just be”
About Sasha
I certified as a yoga teacher before having my first baby. Yoga was a huge part of helping me stay mindful, present and connected in my pregnancy. However, when motherhood hit, I felt I was not a natural born caregiver and so I had to lean into the role and my son helped me navigate that path and showed me how to tune into emotion. I started to meditate again.
Every day, my children teach me something. What I do for them is help them stay in a space of freedom, give them opportunities to connect to nature, to express themselves and to know that they are beautiful beings of illuminating light.
In my current role as a mother, I make a daily commitment make sure I am woke enough to be aware of the thoughts, words, actions and the energy I bring into a space. I endeavour to give them opportunities to just be. This involves being able to surrender the need to say ‘yes’ to everything.
I feel we have a responsibility to make space in our child’s life for them to connect to the beauty of the world, to encourage them to be ok with mistakes and to help them understand the value of nature, our planet and how our energy affects the energy around us. The best way to offer this guidance is through example and being ready to show our own flaws.
2 Go to the beach for sunset.
3 Stay after school and enjoy the playground for a while longer.
4 Explore the dirt in front of the house and do some gardening.
5 Cloud gazing – lay on the grass and look up, or sometimes we just look out the window and enjoy watching the clouds pass us by.
Sasha says, “When we are in nature I take the time to point out experiencing our feet in the grass, touching a tree trunk, watching the sunset, or feeling the water on our toes. I teach them to breathe, give them space in nature, show them how to connect with earth energies, show them the beauty that is around us in every single moment.”
Sasha is a children’s yoga and mindfulness teacher trainer certifying others to learn yoga, mindfulness, meditation, breathing, positivity and apply it in their schools, classrooms, homes and with their kids and communities. Follow her on Instagram at @sashaquinceyoga
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