Posted by Cottontimer on 16 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Parenting, Thoughts
Sounds like something I need to do some research on for both Stephen and me.
| As summer looms, students at dozens of schools across the country are trying hard to be in the present moment. This is what is known as mindfulness training, in which stress-reducing techniques drawn from Buddhist meditation are wedged between reading and spelling tests. |
| The techniques, among them focused breathing and concentrating on a single object, are loosely adapted from the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, the molecular biologist who pioneered the secular use of mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts in 1979 to help medical patients cope with chronic pain, anxiety and depression. Susan Kaiser Greenland, the founder of the InnerKids Foundation, which trains schoolchildren and teachers in the Los Angeles area, calls mindfulness “the new ABC’s — learning and leading a balanced life.” |
| “If we can help children slow down and think,” Dr. Haick said, “they have the answers within themselves.” |
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Somehow I was not surprised to read about that this technique is being used in my “old neighborhood” (well, in my old home town of Oakland). I hope this upcoming week is better than the previous—-parenting has certainly given me cause to reflect more and much on myself and how I handle stressful situations.
I’ve been using the strategy you describe in “learning as we grow” with Charlie: He gets anxious and fretful and lately I have been saying things like “Yeah, I’d be mad too” and “I know what you mean. It’s okay to be mad.” Depending on the circumstances, I walk out of the room—his anxiousness makes mine zoom up! (That mother-child symbiotic thing.)
It is really amazing how much kids learn from us in so many different ways. It’s both good and bad but I hope in our case, it’s mostly good!
Did you know that Paris Hilton is trying out this mindfulness stuff. She has been seen carrying the ever popular book The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle.
The writings of Kabat-Zinn and Tolle have made a big difference in my life…and I just recently discovered them, about 2 years ago. Although its interesting to note that I started reading these books and listening to their meditations as a way, to deal with my childhood.
I think its great that they are doing this.