Many participants of the Mindful Parenting Workshop wanted more time. And so, I created a two part workshop!

This workshop is geared for parents, caregivers and teachers. 
​
The first week will introduce you to the importance of self care, mindfulness, and meditation. Using your real life experiences as our guide, we will share our parenting struggles, which sets the stage to learn practical tools the following week.

The 2nd workshop dives into the practical parenting tools. We will revisit meditation, mindful moving, and then learn mindful parenting strategies, that include exploring a large library of useful books, games and resources that I use to teach mindfulness in the school and in my parenting sessions.

It is a great introduction to mindfulness and mindful parenting. It requires two Tuesdays, a yoga mat and an open mind. I would love to chat with you more about the possibility of working with you!

Date:
Tuesday, September 26 and October 3 from 6:30-8:30pm or
Tuesday, October 10 and October 17 from 6:30-8:30pm

​Location: 
at Surround Circle Yoga (15 Aylmer Avenue).

What to Bring: 
 Yoga mat, water bottle, notebook and pen

Looking forward to hearing from you!
​Rebekka 

Parents often ask me for resources and the truth is, I'm a HUGE fan of the ole parenting book. I love reading other "experts" opinions and rational for said opinions. I also love just getting new books. It's a dangerous habit to say the least. The good news, is that after 8 years of parenting, I have amassed a rather enormous library of helpful, not so helpful and really rather ridiculous books. And now, I can save you some time and tell you about a few of my "go to" faves. 

​The following are also suggested readings for my MBSR course.  

1. Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne
This is one of my most favourite books I've read lately as it gave me the inspiration to really toss out so much of our emotional, environmental, societal and familial "clutter". After reading it, I sat down with my partner and really set out a game plan to "simplify" our physical, emotional and mental worlds. It was like having someone give me permission to "say no" and put my needs and my family needs above everything else. I still refer back to it when I start to feel emotionally and physically cluttered. It's one of those books that I buy for friends and family. 

2. ready, set breathe: Practicing Mindfulness with Your Children for Fewer Meltdowns and a More Peaceful Family by Carla Naumburg, phD
This is probably the book that started me on my journey to mindfulness. I came across it in the library and it was my first foray into Mindful Parenting (but not my first experience with Mindfulness. After reading Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn, I was inspired to use Mindfulness throughout my group therapy sessions when working with women and men suffering with PTSD and issues around sexual trauma). I loved the extraordinarily simple but effective tools that she sprinkled (rather heavily) throughout the book. I've not visited it for a while and after writing this little post, intend to read it again. 

3. The Mindful Child: How to Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate by Susan Kaiser Greenland
Susan Kaiser Greenland is a favourite author of mine. She also wrote Mindful Games which has been a staple for my Mindfulness in the Classroom program. Her phrases, "is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?" have been catch phrases for me as a mindful parent. When my kids are in the throes of "suffering" we often come back to this and once things have calmed down, can use these phrases to focus the discipline of the moment. Kaiser Greenland has also interspersed her text with highly useful games that are great at home and in the classroom. I would suggest it for all teachers and parents alike. 

4. Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive by Dan Siegel, MD & Mary Hartzell,M.Ed.
For all of you who like to take the academic, heady approach to parenting, Dan Siegel is your guy. I've read quite a few books of his and while all of them are excellent, this is a classic for a reason. It's a foundational book that challenges parents to think of their own experiences as those that inform their parenting. It walks you through the fundamentals of attachment and brain science, and provides you with concrete skill building exercises to help you raise compassionate, mindful and securely attached little people. Other excellent books of Siegel's include, Whole Brain Child  and  No Drama Discipline. I really loved both of these as well and would strongly encourage the workbook if you are looking for something more "hands on". 

All of these books can be picked up at your local library. However, feel free to purchase them by clicking them on the links below! 

Happy happy reading! 
Rebekka 

It's Tuesday morning and for many of us, this means that we are getting ready to send our children to their very first day of school. So this morning, I woke up a little earlier than my "summer usual", slowly meandered downstairs and sat on my zafu with the intention to meditate. Although I didn't do my full 30-40 minutes, I did a short breathing meditation (focused) and ... 

It. was. glorious! 

And so, I'd like to invite you to join me between 6-7am to share a virtual meditation space. It's a wonderful way to start a day and I find that a short 15-20 meditation can carry me through waves of challenging parenting moments with compassion and reflective response! 

If you are interested in finding out these benefits for yourself, I can send you a formal invitation. Perhaps we can start our own, be brave * be kind * be present meditation group for parents and caregivers on "insight meditation". Although I would hate for you to limit yourself just to sitting meditation. Yoga and walking meditations are equally mindful. Simply drop a note to let me know you're there and I'll send you a BKP message!  

The purpose of this group is community. 

Looking forward to hearing from and seeing you online! 
In kindness,
Rebekka

Kim John Payne, author of Simplicity Parenting**, talks about "soul fevers". I love this concept!

It's the idea that when kids aren't physically well, we pull them close, slow things down and let them heal. When kids are emotionally unwell, he suggests that we need to do the same.

A child who is acting out or pulling away may be having a "soul fever" and one of the best things that we can do is pull them close (or give them space), slow things down and give them time to heal.

In other words, kids need mental health days too.

By teaching them the skill of self-care, we are inviting them to check in with their bodies and make appropriate changes to their schedule that will allow them to bounce back. This is something many of us adults are just learning! I get that this may seem indulgent and goes against the "pull up your boot straps" mentality, but I strongly believe that resilience emerges from a balance between care and stress.

Teaching our children to trust their bodies, know when to change the situation to minimize their anxieties and stress and then make conscious choices of self-care are beautiful life skills. By teaching them this now, we are also showing our children that we trust them and that we are a village that supports them.

What are ways that you teach your child self care? How do you employ self care in your own world?

This post was inspired by this article: www.scarymommy.com/kids-need-mental-health-days/?utm_medium=partner&utm_source=gottman

Check it out! 

​** Simplicity Parenting is one of my favourite parenting books. Please check it out at your local library or if you'd like, click on the link below to purchase it. Payne's work has  inspired us to simplify our schedule, routine and environment and we can already see the positive effects that have arisen since.