I have recently converted to Buddhism. This is not something I have made a big song and dance about. There have been no fanfares or large ceremonies. I have turned to the Buddha and the Darmha (teachings) to find inner peace and well, frankly, for my own reasons that I shan’t go into here.

My conversion (if it can be called that) is having a big impact on my attitude towards parenting and has made me think about ways in which I can bring my mindful meditative practices into play as a parent of two troublesome pre-teen girls.

Mindfulness, is at the very heart of meditation. In Buddhist practice this means non-judgmental, moment to moment awareness. We strive to refine our ability to focus attention on the present moment The overall effect of this is to become far more in touch with life as it unfolds around us.

If we transpose this mindfulness into parenting techniques and practices we can see past the surface appearances and external actions in our children to view them as they actually are. With this new vision, we are able to act towards our children with compassion and wisdom (two of the most important tenets of Buddhist life

This is by no means easy and requires sustained effort, focus, and firm intention to stay mindful in this way every day. What’s more, you are never guaranteed to get ‘perfect’ children as a result. The most important element of mindful parenting is to learn that our children are already perfect, and that includes their apparent imperfections!

It isn’t easy to do but mindful parenting offers the opportunity for deep and lasting satisfaction and a real sense of connection with our children.

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