Conscious parenting is a term thrown around these days to denote a type of parenting that values raising conscious children consciously.  Whew!?!

What does that really mean for us real folks that live in the real world that have real children? Read on and find out this mom’s take on Conscious Parenting for real families.

Are You Piloting Awake or on Auto?

The word conscious, in my world, implies “awake”.  On a hectic day, and I am not proud to admit this, I can parent in my sleep, going through the motions, nodding my head and saying “uh huh” a lot.  In fact,  I can drive across town, park the car, drop our daughter off at pre-school, and pick up groceries all on auto-pilot.  I couldn’t tell you if I met anyone along the way or which route I took or if I had to stop at any red lights.

Haven’t you done that: gotten to your destination but don’t exactly remember the details of how?

When I am not on auto-pilot I literally am “awake”.  I taste breakfast and I know if my daughter tasted her breakfast.  Together we hear the birds singing, notice the fun flowers on our route to pre-school and I remember the conversations with friends in the grocery store.  I actively notice sights, sounds, feelings, and enjoyments!

Oohmmm, Full of Jooooooyyyyyy!

A second defining concept for conscious parenting is being in the “here and now”.  To be fully present in this moment means it is impossible to be dreading the future or lamenting or regretting the past  In terms of parenting, it keeps me from worrying about what might happen and harping on this with my child and it keeps me from nagging about the past.  I cannot keep bringing up the past and holding it against my bundle of joy.  Thus, she truly becomes my bundle full of joy!

Wake Up!

Here’s an exercise you can do right now while you are reading this to see if you are in this present moment.

Without looking down, what shoes do you have on and in what direction is each of your feet pointing?  Answer the questions and then without moving your feet, take a look.  Were you correct?

If the answer is YES, then you are in this present moment and were probably in the present moment when you put your shoes on this morning, unless you wear the same pair everyday.  In which case that part doesn’t apply, but the direction of your feet still counts!

Being present

Being in the present moment means we are awake and aware of each small detail and most likely will notice, take in, and fully enjoy all the small gestures, emotional changes, and precious thoughts our children share with us.

It puts us in the perfect place to be responsive and teach our children to be responsive, spontaneous, connected, alive and joyful.

Why I Chose Conscious Parenting OR Why We All Should Choose to Consciously Parent Our Children

Conscious parenting means to be awake, in the present, and focused on our children.  It improves the kinds of responses we give children, and keeps us from projecting future worries or dwelling on past mistakes.  All in all, it makes us more fun, more interesting, more stimulating, and more real for our kids.  Amazingly enough, it also models for them how to become conscious kids and conscious future parents.  Living wide awake is fun.  Try it today.

Other Definitions That May Help

There are a few more conscious parenting definitions, but why overwhelm for now?  Briefly they include:  mindfulness, attachment parenting (co-sleeping, traveling heart to heart with your child (carrying vs. carrier), being one with your child, staying connected to them before they cry instead of several minutes after), noticing not only what children are feeling and doing, but what you are doing, how you are feeling and responding,  etc.  Conscious parenting is a child-centered, nurturing approach and is lovingly anchored in the hear and now.

P.S.  Where are your feet now?

Enjoy!

Amie

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• Musings from a Conscious Parent – My Mother Mountain (babyinbliss.com)
• What Kids Really Want to Learn – Conscious Culture – Conscious Family Workshops (babyinbliss.com)
• Learn More About the Power of Positive Connection – Conscious Family Workshop (babyinbliss.com)