Peaceful Parenting Newsletter
Welcome To
“Peaceful Parenting,”
an e-mail newsletter
"We each have the power to make peaceful parenting a
reality in our lives. The time to start is now."
Please enjoy this introductory copy of “Peaceful Parenting.” Feel free
to pass it on to friends, family, and colleagues. This newsletter is free
of charge and will be sent out every two weeks. If you do not wish to
recieve further editions, drop me an e-mail and let me know.
I’m interested in hearing your comments and stories. Please e-mail me
any responses, reflections, or insights you might have.
Peace to all of you!
Naomi Drew, author
Peaceful Parents, Peaceful Kids
Today's Affirmation:
"I have the power to create peace within myself and my
family."
Today's Reflection:
Summer - A Time to Reflect
The crystal beach of Spring Lake before me, I am moved by the calmness of
gentle waves, white gulls, and children running through the waves.
There’s
an absence of the din and dissonance that so often permeate everyday life.
In this moment there’s time to think, reflect, and appreciate - the essence
of peacefulness.
This insight suddenly surfaces: our lives are composed of individual moments,
the value of each revealed to us only in the process of reflection. It is
in
the quiet moments that we create and derive meaning from the things we do.
When we move too quickly from one one activity to the next, each action is
absorbed into the one that proceeds it, and we miss the subtleties, the
nuances, the import of each.
We are responsible for the quality of our lives and our children’s, either by
intention or default. When the din is too great, we lose sight of this
this.
Swallowed up, as we often are, by the white noise that surrounds us, we
have
little time to reflect, assess, and learn from our experiences. In
fact
many of us don’t even experience what we are doing as we are doing it.
We’re so busy thinking about what we have to do next, or what we should
have done before that we lose touch with what we’re doing right now. Our
motions become automatic and devoid of meaning. They add to the white
noise
we live with.
Think of how our children are affected. I’m sure we can all think of
times
when our child has tried to get us to listen to something but we’re too
preoccupied to hear what’s being said. How often do we actually stop
what
we’re doing and listen with all our hearts? So often we listen with half
an
ear and a mind full of chatter. How often do we question which is more
important, the task at hand or what our child has to say?
Asking ourselves questions like these is crucial, yet how often do we take
the time to reflect upon our parental beliefs, attitudes, values, and
priorities? Our propensity toward “doingness” overwhelms all else, and
we
go through much of our lives on automatic pilot.
Take a few moments now to reflect on what’s most important. Journal
about
this and see what insights surface. May this newsletter be an instrument
for
positive changes in your parenting and in your lives.
____________________
Creating Peace: Four Things you Can Do Right Now . . .
1. Ask yourself this question: What can I eliminate from my life?
Think of
"shoulds" that clog up your schedule and your freeedom. Identify
one thing
you simply don't need to do anymore and eliminate it - now.
2. Ask yourself: What can I add to my life that would enrich it and make
me
feel more peaceful? Five minutes of meditation or visualization each
morning? A quiet walk after dinner each evening? Cuddling in bed
with your
kids before the day starts?
Is there something you've been wanting to do but haven’t, like a having a
massage or lunch with a friend. Write it down. Do it this week.
3. Down-time. Schedule this in for you and for your children.
Write it on
your calendar just like you would any important appointment. Honor this
time
and regard it as sacred. Unstructured moments nurture our spirits.
the same
holds for our children.
4. Hugs and kisses. Increase each of these each day, for your kids
and for
your partner. Ask for hugs and kisses when you need them and give them
freely,
just like smiles.
Love to all of you!
_________________________________________________________
Visit my
website, http://www.Learningpeace.com
To schedule a complementary "Peaceful Parenting" coaching session,
e-mail me
at win47win@aol.com
or call 609-844-1138
Copyright Naomi Drew, July, 2001 All Rights Reserved.
This content may be forwarded in full, with copyright/contact/creation
information intact,without specific permission, when used only in a
not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing
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