"The wonderful gift of mindfulness is that we can stop ourselves and ask: What am I feeling? What is it like from my child's point of view? When you can do that, you often see things that you didn't let yourself see before because you were so caught up in the reactive mode, which is very limiting." — Myla Kabat-Zinn
As wonderful and rewarding as it can be, parenting is a challenging undertaking at best. Even with our best intentions, our emotions can lead us in directions that we know to be less than skillful, or thoughtful, or effective. Fortunately, there are practical skills that we can learn and practice to help us to respond to our children more out of thoughtfulness and connection, and less out of emotional reactivity. A small group* setting can offer us the chance to learn and practice these skills, while knowing that we are not alone in our struggles to be the parent we'd like to be.
In this five-session interactive class series, including discussions and experiential exercises, we will: * Although this is not group therapy, this is a safe, supportive atmosphere and it is assumed that everything that is discussed is confidential. WHEN: 5 Monday mornings, 10:45 am - 12:15 pm : June 14, 21, 28, July 5,12 2010· CLARIFY:
· What kind of parent would you like to be?
· What gets in the way of being the parent you would like to be?
· How do you approach and react to your children's behavior?
· What do you have control over... and what must you accept - about yourself AND your children?!
· How is mindfulness and being present helpful in parenting?· LEARN:
· To increase awareness and understanding of your reactions to your kids.
· How to remain present and able to respond effectively even in challenging situations with your children.
· Willingness to feel your feelings - frustration, impatience, anger, without reacting out of that emotion.
· Practical Tools to handle tantrums, defiance, acting-out behaviors, anxiety...· COMMIT:
To do what's important, not easy (ah, there's the rub!) in order to be consistent AND flexible.
WHERE: 108 Baker St., Maplewood, NJ
COST: $200/person for 5-week class;
Space is limited to 7 participants for individualized attention!
Please register in advance to ensure a slot. Another time may be added to accommodate interest.