“I think it probably has to do with being aware of what the whole child is about. Not just being concerned with things like physical safety, and what they are going to have to eat today. But sort of an attention to what that child is on other levels as well as what you are on other levels and an attention to things that aren’t necessarily verbal or structured. But if you some attention to it you end up getting a lot.”

Spiritual parenting is about parenting with your eyes, heart and soul open to your children as they are. It is about embracing the connection we all have with each other as well as with the divine, the unseen and the sacred.

Being more mindful and opening up to your children is nourishing for you and the family and nurturing for your child’s development.

Spiritual parenting is about creating a strong center and a sense of connectedness for your children, teaching love through love and being in touch with the larger world.

Mindful or Spiritual parenting is conscious parenting. Awareness, understanding, unconditional love and joy, even through the tough times, are at the heart of this pattern of parenting.

When you are awake or in tune to your children the path of parenthood is more alive and more fulfilling.

Spiritual or mindful parenting involves listening to our own intuition and our children’s wisdom.

Spiritual parenting is about learning to honor our children’s nature while watching the wonder of the everyday unfold and participating fully in the celebration of life.

Spiritual parenting acknowledges that being a parent is a personal journey and it is also a spiritual journey, but it is not always an easy one. The up days and down days are met with focus, soul and love. Parenting with full presence is at the core of this type of parenting practice.

Conscious or mindful parenting involves helping your children discover meaning for their lives. Children, like adults, are striving for meaning and purpose; parents and caregivers are a vital part of that discovery process.

Looking at your children as if they are “actual people”

What is spirituality?

In this research spirituality is defined as a means for the individual to find solutions to problems, and meaning in life. It is a deep awareness of one’s relationship with the self and everything other than the self.

What does it mean to be a spiritual parent?

· Being a spiritual parent means you are fully present in your child’s life.

· As a spiritual parent you pay attention, look deeply and try to understand your child from his or her point of view.

· Being a spiritual parent is slowing down. Don’t fill your schedules with so much activity and distraction. Slow down, listen and be.

· Spiritual parenthood is about giving your child the freedom to be, but also setting limits in which to do so safely.

· Try to model behavior you would like to see manifested in your children’s lives.

· Spiritual parenting is about raising quality people and being a quality example.

· Mindfulness in parenting is to remember to come back to the present moment. It is so easy to get lost in the future or the past, just remember what is important is right now.

· Being a mindful parent is listening and using calm loving words as much as possible in your family.

· As a mindful parent try to use a level head when your child acts out. Reacting appropriately to a child’s behavior requires attention and thoughtfulness, not yelling and harsh punishments. Discipline and order can be maintained with consistent and immediate consequences that do not involve undue anger or disrespect.

· Mindfulness can be defined as the non-judgmental awareness of the moment-to-moment experience. Mindful parenting is a way to help become aware of and maintain the most basic and the most intuitive levels of communication between parent and child.

How do we honor children’s spirit in our daily lives?

· Children ask that we allow them to explore their curiosity, their interests and the wonder they see in each moment.

· As parents we can use open ended questions such as “What do you think?” or “How do you feel about that?” or “How can we change that?” to encourage children to think deeply and learn more. Ask questions and help answer questions with a thoughtful mind.

· Respect your child and his or her feelings and expect that your feelings will likewise be respected. ‘Please’, ‘thank you’, ’I love you” and ‘I am sorry if I hurt you’ are powerful words we can use everyday.

· Children, like adults, need down time and time for unstructured play or reflection. Allow that time for your child and for yourself at some point everyday.

· Personal responsibility and accountability should be encouraged both in the way you interact in your world and with your children, as well as how your children interact within their world.

· Leave the lines of communication open between you and your child.

· Help your children listen to their intuition and inner voice. Your children will learn right from wrong from you.

What are some obstacles to spiritual parenting?

Unwillingness among family members to try something new can be an obstacle to spiritual/mindful parenting. New ways of handling our daily lives can be daunting. Try it as an experiment. See if it feels right and rings true for you, your family and your experience.

Old patterns and habits can be hard to break. The voices of our parents can also haunt us sometimes to the point that we are paralyzed and fall into the methods in which we were raised. Habit patterns in behavior can imprison us. If we want to make positive changes it is necessary to break out of that cycle of habit control and old patterns that may not be beneficial to us and our family.

Outside forces can undermine attempts at being more mindful/spiritual in your approach to the children in your care. For teachers and caregivers sometimes the good you can accomplish in the classroom can be quickly undermined at home by unwilling or closed off parents. The same is true of parents. Other caregivers or the school environment can undo all the good parents can do in the time together as a family. Children need consistency, having mixed signals from home and school can be confusing.

Society at large can also undermine our efforts for achieving mindful parenting awareness and practices. So often the school and work environment, social pressures, institutions, television advertising and the “fast food” culture we live in encourages and praises homogeneity or sameness over individuality and authenticity. It is sometimes difficult to rise above that and be who you are and do what is best for you and your family.

What is Spiritual Parenting not?

· Spiritual parenting is not reactionary or harsh.

· It is not letting kids run the household or giving them total control of the family.

· Spiritual parents do not set loose boundaries.

· Mindful parenting is not about yelling, anger, resentment or putting your child down.

· Spiritual parenting is not an anything goes attitude or atmosphere.

· Mindful parenting is not disrespectful, angry or blind.

· It is not unrealistic.

· Spiritual parenting does not create perfect children or perfect parents

· Mindful parenting is not smothering or neurotic.

· Spiritual and mindful parenting is not unrealistic.

· Saying “no” more often than “yes”

Why is parenting from a spiritual perspective important?

The potential outcomes of parenting from this point of view will be a better understanding of each other as individuals, an easier overall relationship across the board and less animosity, resentment or alienation among family members. The idea is that everyone is open to ideas and change; therefore while there are rules that may not change, all rules are not rigid and stagnant.

The potential outcomes of mindful/spiritual parenting will be better decision making for all family members, seeing the value of teamwork as well individuality, and the ability to work well with others.

Spiritual parenting can give children a greater sense of identity. In addition, by enhancing and focusing on the parent and child connection there is the promise of giving children a greater chance of holding their own against the social forces that can pull them into destructive behaviors.

One thing most parents want to avoid is for their children, teenagers or young adults to feel as though their parents are