Mindful Parenting Book Club Part II

[Curly Locks]

Hello book club mamas! We're starting this thread to continue discussing the awesome, thought provoking, and spiritually moving book called "Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting" by Myla and Jon Kabat Zinn. We have been getting to know eachother, reading the book, and deciding how we want to proceed in discussing. We are ready to discuss chapter one "The Challenge of Parenting" on pages 13-21. Mamakarata wrote a few paragraphs on her thoughts about Ch. 1 and a few people have replied. Here's the link to Part I: http://216.92.20.151/discussions/sho...0&pagenumber=7

We will discuss a chapter per week and begin discussions on Sundays for the next chapter. In January we'll decide if that's how we want to continue. We decided to discuss one chapter per week because the holidays are coming and we all feel this will work best for now.

Our group as of Nov. 27, for anyone interested:
Breath is Eleanor (El) in NC and mom to Doogie who was born 9/24/01.
Earthmamafor3 is Deb in N. Calif. and mom to Indigo-21 mo., Kayla-13 yrs & Jacob-11yrs.
Gully2505 is Denise in Minnesota.
Me~ Heather in Iowa is mom to Holden who was born on 12/09/01.
Jazmommie in Newburgh, IN is mom to Jessica-3 1/2, Alex-11, Zach-14
Jenndr is Jenn in Santa Barbara, CA and mom to 5 yr. old daughter and 21 month old son.
Laurel is Lisa in western U.S. and mom to 3 mo. ds in Oct. 2002.
LiminalOne is Angie in Portland, Maine and mom to Finn who born in June of 2001.
Mamabeard is in Canada and mom to ??
Mamabutterfly is PA and mom to Sophie who was born 2/21/01. Mamakarata is in Sonoma County Calif. And mom to ds born on 11/27/01 and dd born on 12/24/90
MamaSoleil is mom to Soleil who was born on 6/29/99.
Meg’s Mom is Analisa in Mass, but moving to Dallas and mom to Meg born on 12/12/01.
Momcat is Karen in Wisc. and mom to Will born on 11/04/01.
Mtn. Mama is in Colorado and mom to Isaiah, Ivy, and Moshe.
Nuggetsmom is Jacqueline in Calif. Bay area and mom to Naomi who was bon on 8/22/01.
Rainsmom is in desert highlands and mom to 22 month old dd (in Oct.) and 25 year old ds.
Tara is in Seattle and is mom to Jackson who was born 11/24/01.
Whisper is in the Midwest and is mom to dd 18 yrs, ds 15 yrs, dd 12 yrs, and dd 20 months. (as of Nov. 2002)
Wildflower is Emily in Calif and mom to Serenity born 8/17/01
Zeal’s mom is Ginger in Ithaca, NY and mom to Zeal who turned 2 years in Nov. 2002.

We said intros about ourselves in the previous link. We're a nice bunch of moms and have a lot of respect for one another's views. Anyone interested in being a part of the group that hasn't joined yet is welcome to do so! The book has almost 400 pages. Therefore we will be reading and discussing it for awhile. Please feel free to introduce yourself.

I'm a little nervous about being the tour guide! But I am excited too! Please send me a pm if you have any concerns or suggestions. I'm looking forward to reading more discussion on chapter one!

P.S. I found a hardcover copy of the book for 2.99 plus 3.50 shipping. Pm if you want to know where I got it! Also, I know most of you mentioned that you donated money to keep the boards open and I want to add that I donated $10 last month and just mailed my "Mothering" subscription renewal check today!

[Jazmommie]

Can I join in--???I am on page 72--what a great chapter..
I might not post much but will read others thoughts.
I read this book a couple years ago that I got from the library & then saw a copy for sale & remembered how good it was sooooo...

Jazmommie,mom to Jessica-3 1/2,Alex-11,Zach-14

Hello all!
I am a LPN & work for a hospice company.I work on weekends,am busy during the week with family & friends.I am involved in a support group for Families for Natural Living.I am also a long time LLL member.I am interested in Edgar Cayce/alternative health/spirituality.It all fits together for me.

[momcat]

Hello, all, and thanks, Heather, for getting us started in a new thread! To fill in the gaps (as you asked), ds Will was born on 11/4/01. I'll start re-reading chapter 1 tonight.

[Curly Locks]

Karen (Momcat), thanks for the info and for joining us over here! I added your info to my group list and will post it again next week for everyone to see. Jazzmommie, we are glad to have you whether you are able to post or not. Happy reading everyone! I hope to discuss this chapter later on this week with you.

In the meantime, please post any thoughts you have about chapter one in general, how it relates to your present or past situation or reflect on what has already been brought to the table by Mamakarata in the previous link. This book is yummy! Peace and sweet dreams, mamas!

[Breathe]

Can I still post about the Prologue?!?

I know, I know, I'm regressing all the way to the very beginning, but I've been stuck on something JKZ said in his prologue.

On pg.4 he refers to the quote by Rilke about how we must be brave enough to respect the "infinite distances" between ourselves and others, especially our children. I agree with him that this is very scary -- I'd love to believe that ds and I will always be as intimate as we are now, a practically inseparable (nursing!) pair -- but in order for ds to be whole, I must respect his inherent distance from me as he grows. He goes on to say that "We also have to be whole ourselves, each his or her own person, with a life of own, so that when they look at us, they will be able to see our wholeness against the sky." (p.4)

I referred to this quote in the last thread, and have been stuck on it ever since. For those that are just joining us, I can summarize briefly by saying that I am stuck in a quagmire of doubt about whether or not to pursue my career (fledgling at this point, since I'm still in grad school). My heart is telling me to let it go for now bc ds comes first AND I *know* I can be fulfilled as a SAHM while he is little. But then I read that quote and worry that if I'm "just" a mom, ds may not see me as a whole person.

Well last night I had an epiphany about why I worry about this. My own mother, the smartest person I know (w/a master's in comp. lit., of all things) never developed a career of her own. She always worked, but did so in JOBS, not a career -- you know, 9-5 things that allowed her to be home and present w/us evenings and weekends. And now she's in her 50's and stuck in a JOB that she does not enjoy. Along with this is the fact that I never saw my mom as a whole person until very recently, maybe when ds was born (?). And I think I have always assumed it was because she had nothing other than her family.

But last night I realized that her lack of career had nothing to do with my inability to know her as a person -- THAT I attribute to the fact that she never ALLOWED me to know her. She was stoic -- always strong, never complaining, never sad (altho often angry), and worked very hard to keep me and my bro happy, often by subjugating her own needs and desires. (ex.: My mom was 50 before she ever bought herslef a new coat -- bro and I ALWAYS had new clothes. When we went out to eat, my mom NEVER said where she wanted to go - we always got to choose. And when my dog was dying of cancer, she didn't tell us until the very end, bc she "didn't want us to worry.")

By always being "the adult" and never showing us her faults/needs/weaknesses (aka HUMANITY), I believe we saw her as more an icon than a person.
THIS is what I do NOT want to repeat with ds and future dc's (TBA!). I want my children to see that I am a person, too, one who experiences a full range of emotions (all of 'em, in fact) and one who has interests and thoughts and dreams. I do not, however, have to have a sexy career to do this! I can be a SAHM who volunteers and goes to yoga and teaches childbirth classes (still a dream!) and loves her book club(s) and I can be WHOLE.

This may seem obvious to many, but this was a breakthrough moment for me, and clearly one I needed, bc I just couldn't get past that quote in the book!

Phew! Maybe now I can get to chapter 1!
El

P.S. Tara: How do read before falling asleep if Jackson is in your bed? I need some tips, bc I always used to be a bedtime reader, too. :

[Jazmommie]

Breathe-
You got me thinking-I am soooo surprised at my responses as my kids get older.
I never thought I or my son could separate easily-he is now 14 & is independent as can be!
I think it helps to realize that we are souls here for a purpose--that you were chosen to be your childs parent & vise versa!

I have tried to see my kids as grown up already inside(soul wise).We are all learning.

I rock my little one to sleep in the rocker & then read while holding them.

[tara]

Re: Can I still post about the Prologue?!?

Originally posted by Breathe
P.S. Tara: How do read before falling asleep if Jackson is in your bed? I need some tips, bc I always used to be a bedtime reader, too. :

Hmmm... He sleeps next to me, I read... Why is it difficult for you to read in bed with your Doogie? Does he need to sleep on you or does the light bother him??

[LiminalOne]

Prologue comments

I also have this issue with viewing my Mom as a "whole person," since her interests are all family-oriented, including volunteer work, etc, but I think that most of the problem is with me and not with her. I think that at a young age, I really bought into the idea that work is what successful people do and that SAHMs were somehow inferior and socially this is true in that daycare workers and teachers are among the lowest paid members of society. So, it's important to me to show Finn that all work is valuable and contributes to our health, happiness and life, even work that's not paid.

However, I think you're right about the importance of showing all of your emotions, opinions, foibles to your kids so that they can understand the complexity that makes up each human. It all makes me wonder if my Mom feels fulfilled by what she does or more who she is. Maybe I'll ask her

Chapter 1 comments

I think that it was mamakarata in the last thread that was talking about the fine line between instinct and our childhood experience (can't think of a better way to say this) and I struggle a little bit with this. When people say that they parent by instinct, I feel like I don't know what this is in my own life. I feel like there are layers and layers of stuff that I need to remove from my parenting approach, stuff from societal expectations that I don't share, stuff from the media, stuff from my own experiences and then I'm not sure what's left. I feel like I normally have to start with principles, like respect and empathy and then build up my approach from them. I don't think that my instincts are quite so noble, but maybe those are the layers talking. Does anybody parent by instinct in our group. What does that mean to you?

Also, I think the k-zs are right about the importance of dealing with our own issues while we parent and being aware of how we are influenced by our own insecurities and needs. However, the idea of a sitting meditation somehow overwhelms me and I'm somewhat in denial about its necessity. I'm always thinking about whether my actions reflect my principles, but that's an active analysis in my head. I just can't manage to get the thoughts to stop or drop, they just keep coming. The quiet meditation part of yoga is my least favorite Any thoughts on the need for meditation to do that inner work.

chatter chatter

[mamabutterfly]

Heather,

Thanks so much for starting a new thread and for that big job of compiling a list of us! It's wonderful to have to refer to.

Regarding instinct: I would say that I think there can be (maybe isn't always but can be) something very powerful and beautiful in relying upon or trusting in our instincts as in our natural mammalian mothering traits. I'm talking about the alarm that goes off when your own infant is crying, the mama-lion protectiveness from those post-birthing hormones, the relaxation & closeness helped along by the prolactin from nursing. Stuff like that.

Part of what seems twisted up about modern western culture parenting denies these mama (and papa) instincts -- message like, It's good to let your baby cry alone in a dark room. Or, Don't let them get dependent on you. Or, You should get out more - get a sitter. The undermining of the parent-child bond can start in the hospital, with the grandmothers' advice, in parenting magazines. I for one come to MDC in part to remember that I can trust my instincts in this regard, that it is good and natural to be attached to my baby.

However, I do have a lot of childhood baggage to undo as well, mostly about repressing any un-pleasant feelings, not ever feeling anger, always seeking approval. So those subconscious urges are there and cause me concern, but are different from what I consider to be positive mothering instincts.

Does that make any sense?

:

I'm enjoying your reflections so much. Thanks for that great sharing about your Moms, Breathe & Liminal!

mb

[Breathe]

I like Mamabutterfly's explanation of what the mothering "instinct" is. For me, it's been about trying to parent in a way that makes sense. Like, it just MAKES SENSE to me that a baby should be with his mama all the time -- including the night. It makes sense that babies should be BF'd -- they are biologically programmed to do so. It makes sense to me that I should respond to ds when he cries, bc that is his signal to me that he needs something. I'm sure you do this too, LiminalOne, and to me, this is following your instinct. Of course, I can take this one step further and say that the reason all of these things make sense to me is because I respect ds as a person. It is my intuition that tells me that he is a complete soul (yes, already so wise, as Jazmommy said!), worthy of my love, my commitment, my empathy and my respect. I think people who view and treat babies differently are out of touch with this basic human instinct -- and I bet mamabutterfly is right on when she says that our baggage is what clouds this. That and the fact that we are totally brainwashed in this culture into believing that the EXPERTS hold all the knowledge and our own instincts are not to be trusted.

I agree with what the KZ's say about how we can fall into automaticity. DH and I often feel like we are inventing a new and improved wheel, bc we are making up EVERYTHING as we go -- we are doing NOTHING acc to the mainstream books (or our parents' advice) and feel like we have no model for this. It can be utterly exhausting at times. This forum and the mag have kept us going many a time!

[Breathe]

Oh, and I'll try to read in bed tonight -- always thought the light and the page-turning would disturb ds, but it's worth a try!

[Curly Locks]

This week’s discussion is becoming very therapeutic for me! Last night before I went to bed I read El’s post. Today I have been reading and re-reading all of your recent posts which I have found very fascinating. I just wish I could get my thoughts about Rilke’s insight and “The Many Challenges of Parenting” that are written about in chapter one into words. Last night I did a lot of sleep-thinking and I am still drowning in those thoughts and still can’t get any real focus. Focusing during my yoga and quiet meditation is even difficult lately. Reading such a thought provoking book and then discussing it has put my mind into overdrive about my mother, who I am becoming (as a person and a mother), and how all that relates back to my childhood and where this discussion is taking us.

The themes that are buzzing in my head the most are the automatic pilot themes that keep surfacing in the book and in our discussions and the wholeness we are seeking in ourselves and for our children. And of course I’ve been thinking about my mother a lot too, as I often have over this past year. She was not stoic though. Her emotions were usually on the surface, written all over her face, evident in her tone of voice, and easily recognized in her body language (and her emotions were sometimes spewing over and onto my sister and I). Many times I felt I had to walk around on eggshells around her. She was more like the child than the mother and still is. Most of her issues had to do with her own struggles from childhood and how to cope with being a mother with little support or money. This past year I have realized that she will never be who I need her to be as a mother and how that effected me then and now. But I am finding that trying to heal and become whole myself through being a loving mother is very possible and I feel closer to whole now than I have in 29 years. But because of my own struggles with ugly automatic responses that I learned from my mother, it is much easier said than done.

I enjoyed the layers analogy, Angie! And Mamabutterly I agree with you on the instincts. I’m finding that I have had to uncover a lot of layers in my own life to get to my motherly instincts. Breathe is so right about our culture being brainwashed by the so called EXPERTS! I’m still trying to deprogram myself. Most of what I know about being a loving mother, following my instincts and babies cues (instincts), I have learned from the Sears books, LLL meetings, LLL books, AP books, and other sources like “Mothering” magazine.

P.S. Angie, I think it’s normal to have thoughts floating around in our heads all the time, even during meditation. Especially now that we’re mothers. There’s so much to learn, to do, and we’re needed 24/7. It can be so overwhelming at times. Even when I don’t have complete calm in my head during meditation it is calmer and clearer than before the meditation.

P.S.S. Ds has a cold and his first molars are moving under the gums and he is not taking regular naps this week. I can hardly hear myself think today. But I am trying to be mindful and loving! You are all an inspiration to me!

[Breathe]

Wow, Heather, thanks for sharing that about your mom. You make an excelent point for me to ponder -- that while I don't want to be an emotionless face to my children, I DO need to be careful not to let my emotions become a burden to them. Now that you mention it, I know plenty of friends whose mothers and fathers did the same thing, and in my mom's defense, I think that's what she was trying to avoid. Wow. Powerful realization for me. Thanks!

(altho tonight on the phone when I tried to be an active listener to her and said, "Mom, I'm sorry you're so upset," she reacted angrily with, "I am NOT upset!" I replied, "Mom, it's OKAY to be upset -- all I meant is that you're having a tough time with xxx and I'm sorry about that." Her answer, "Well in MY book, it is NOT okay to be upset." Oy. There's some of the emotional baggage I'm going to have to work through!)

[Breathe]

P.S. Heather, I'm with you on the molars! I'll quote a dear friend who said,

"TEETHING IS HELL!!!"

Dh and I repeat this several times a day!

[Curly Locks]

Yeah, teething is hell! From june to aug. he got 8 teeth!! So by 8.5 months he had 8 teeth...yikes!!

ds is on my lap...I'm taking this inner work of mf parenting very seriously! this book club is almost like group therepy for me in a way! lots of junk to think about!

gotta go!

[momcat]

Breathe, I, too, have been stuck on that quotation from the prologue... having ds see me "whole against the sky." I so WISH I could feel completely fulfilled and happy as a full-time SAHM, but I can't. As a musician, I am what I do and vice-versa. I wonder if it isn't that way for other artists, too? Anyhow, I loved staying home with ds for the first 9 months of his life, but I also recognized that there was a big hole in my life. Of course, I went a little overboard (three jobs? sheesh!) and am now trying to rebalance the load, but it still feels good and important to me to be working part time and caring for ds part time. I love him desperately, and believe that bfing, cosleeping, etc are critical ways for us to stay attached at night (and I hear you about the teething hell, my friends... ai yi yi!). But I feel more "right" about mothering as I feel more "whole" doing what I need to do (and getting paid for it - what a deal!). Last year, ds came with me in the sling to three of my concerts before he was two months old! It was a great way to show people where my priorities were... but I still had contracts to fulfill from before I was pg!

Anyhow, that's enough on the prologue. As for chapter one, I love the concept of choosing your path by choosing your reaction to things; that we create our world in response to the things that come to us. (My mother is/was always playing the role of the victim - things happen TO her, and she can't control the responses... which I've come to realize, as an adult, is completely bogus. But it was creeping into my parenting choices early on, so I've had to wrestle with that demon...)

Thanks, all, for the wisdom. It is SO wonderful knowing that you are here - we live in such a conservative area and feel so out of touch with mainstream parenting choices - thanks for being here!!

[Curly Locks]

I’m a firm believer that life is full of wonderful opportunities! Many people suffer terrible tragedies in their childhood like the holocaust survivors (granted some had the foundation of their parents love to get them through). I’m not here to make anyone feel guilty or sorry for me but maybe I should explain my background a little so you can understand what I mean when I write about my mom. Mom had me when she was 20 and had my sis when she was 21. We’re 12 months apart in age. Mom was the second youngest of 7 and has a sister that’s about 12 months younger than she is. My mom had terrible postpartum after she had my sis and back then it wasn’t diagnosed or understood. She was labeled as lazy and a little crazy! When I was 11 she had a miscarriage at six months pregnant and never really having recovered from her postpartum she developed an even deeper depression. She gave my sis and I up about two years later and we lived in a group home with 6 other girls. My sis and I were the lucky ones. Those girls had far worse situations than we had! Well my mom still has very terrible depression, lives in poverty, has no phone, and I may get a letter from her twice a year. I really have no one that I can call and talk to locally that understands what I am going through as a new mom. (This book club and book is helping me to understand what mental work I need to do.) My mom thinks I have a wonderful life and she is very happy for me but still being that childlike person she can’t really be happy for me. It is a very sad situation but I have had many wonderful people in my life that have gotten me through! Although I am a fabulous, loving mother and wife I am realizing that becoming very mindful is a lot harder than it looks!

Sorry for that tangent but maybe that will help someone else out there reading this to know love can really conquer all! And becoming whole is a worthwhile and possible journey.

P.S. ds is asleep!! First morning nap all week!
P.S.S. Karen~I think it is different for artists! Artisits are artists 24/7...you are thinking of it always because you love it. Artisits are a different breed of people. It's neat that you involve your son in your music! I am not a musician but I know some artist/musicians and they do what they do out of love for it.

[mamabutterfly]

wow, Heather, thank you so much for entrusting us with a piece of your story. I find it saddening to think of your mom during those hard times and very hopeful to hear how you are able to choose a different way of being in your own life. Then I read this -

From page 14: "Such inner authority only develops when we realize that, in spite of all of the things hat happen to us that are outside of our control, through our choices in response to such events and through what we initiate ourselves, we are still, in large measure, "authoring" our own lives. In the process, we find our own ways to be in this world, drawing on what is deepest and best and most creative in us."

This to me resonates so strongly with what we are all attempting in to our various ways. I feel so adamant that raising our children differently is a subversive act, in the sense that it subverts the dominant paradigm, changes the script a little. When I hear about the conflicts between world leaders I often wonder what they went through as kids. (Like all the crap you hear about in Saddam Hussein's childhood).

Momcat, I hear you about looking for balance, wanting to be strongly connected and attached to your child, yet also knowing that the person your child is attached *to* (that is, you) needs to be well and whole. My dd is 9 months (today) and I find myself talkingto dh more about what creative outlets I could explore. I've started studying a topic I'm really interested in to write an article for a favorite progressive magazine. we'll see if it really happens.

have a good day, all.

[Curly Locks]

Believe it or not I don't want to take away from our discussion, but since you asked, I am not sure how I got where I am today. I've had people tell me my whole life that God loves me and will help me get through and I've had people tell me I'm just a very special being with a lot of determination. But really I think a lot of it had to do with my grandmothers, my sister and other people that have always shown 100% belief in me and that I can do anything through being a loving, kind person, and by putting forth the effort.

The books I've read this year have got me to the mothering point I am now with ds. Without the desire to learn and want to be the best for ds I wouldn't have come this far. That loving bond with ds didn't hurt! Now he's my true source of inspiration to become the best possible mother and person!

I also think outlets, hobbies, etc are important in becoming whole. There's so much to life than just being a SAHM. For me walking, yoga, pilates, reading (learning), church, exploring life and friends keep me balanced between being a mom and a whole person. Now that ds is almost a year I feel I am ready to start doing volunteer work with at-risk mothers. That is something I've always wanted to do because of my background. The exciting part is that ds will be with me every step of the way! I want him to be exposed to other cultures and socio-economic levels of people. I recently started doing my yoga while ds is in the room. Surprisingly, it is going very well! He has always been a part of my walking routine and it is a wonderful way to explore and learn new things as a toddler and infant! We use the sling 50% of the time on our walks. He loves to touch everything and I enjoy showing him nature. Dh does the same thing with ds in the sling.

"Love is a wonderful thing!" Thanks for reading, understanding, and being a great support in the inner work we are all doing!

[Curly Locks]

Is everyone ready for Chapter Two “What is Mindful Parenting?” Maybe we need some coffee? Here are a few items I highlighted in this chapter that I hope you will enjoy as much as I found fascinating. I hope you're ready to forge ahead, mamas!! :

Definition of mindful on page 24: “ Mindfulness means moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness. It is cultivated by refining our capacity to pay attention, intentionally, in the present moment, and then sustaining that attention over time as best we can. In the process, we become more in touch with our life as it is unfolding.”

Page 23 “Through their very being, often without any words or discussion, our children can inspire us to do this inner work.” The day ds was born dh and I were smitten and deeply inspired by him. I remember not being able to take my eyes off of him when he was born, I was mesmerized by his very being…like the k-z’s wrote! We become more inspired everyday…the more mindful we are the more the connection grows between us. This past week ds was sick and teething too. So I was extra gentle and patient with him knowing he was suffering. At one moment this week I was soothing him back to sleep and he sweetly smiled up at me then reached up and stroked my left cheek and then my caressed my right cheek. I melted …it was his way of saying thanks for taking such good care of me!

Page 24 “Mindfulness brings to parenting a powerful method and framework for paying attention to whatever we are doing in each moment, and seeing past the veil of our automatic thoughts and feelings to a deeper actuality.”

Page 26 Interdependence reference (if you aren’t familiar with “interdependence” it is a wonderful concept that dh and I are trying to incorporate into our parenting.)

Page 27--first sentence “We see parenting as a sacred responsibility.” (I agree wholeheartedly!!! And take my job as a mom very seriously and with great pride. )

Page 27—“Taking on such a task is asking a great deal of ourselves, for in many ways we ourselves are products, and sometimes, to one degree or another, prisoners of the events and circumstances of our own childhoods. Since childhood significantly shapes how we see ourselves and the world, our histories will inevitability shape our views of who our children are and “what they deserve,” and how they should be cared for, taught, and “socialized.” As parents, we all tend to hold our views, whatever they are, very strongly and often, unconsciously as if in the grip of powerful spells. It is only when we become aware of this shaping that we can draw on what was helpful, positive, and nurturing from the way were parented, and grow beyond those aspects that may have been destructive and limiting.” Although, my mother was and still in the grips of this powerful spell she was able to be nurturing at times. In my heart I know she wanted to be free from her demons and be a wonderful, loving mother most of the time. I’m sad for both of us that she did not have the resources or inner strength to do so. I thank God everyday that I have been able to find the framework to help me change and the support of dh and all of you as well.

Next Sunday we’ll begin chapter 3, “How Can I Do This?” unless there are several of us that need more time to discuss Chapter 2, due to the holiday this week. I hope you all had a great week and will have a Thanksgiving! Please send me a PM if you have any concerns or suggestions. Also, if anyone, for whatever reason, would like specific personal details edited on our group list, PM me. Happy reading mindful mamas and know what a blessing you are everyday! I'm anxious to see where this chapter will take us and what you all got out of it so far. What is Mindful Parenting to YOU and how is it evolving for your family?