I really enjoy the Spiritual Parenting newsletter by Mimi Doe and have been receiving it for quite some time. The title of the current one is ‘The Love That Listens”. Some of the highlights for me are:
ASK… LISTEN… AND LISTEN DEEPER
ASK….
Ask your child to make a list of all the things she wants to know more about. You may be very surprised. Follow through on this information and provider her with materials, books, teachers if appropriate, and opportunities to explore her interests. Encouraging your child’s natural inquisitiveness about all things nourishes her soul.
LISTEN…
Often a child will talk to a neighbor or friend instead of directly to you. Are there enough of these removed listeners in your child’s life? Can you be a receiving adult for a child other than your own?
LISTEN DEEPER…
Perhaps you are open and available to listen to your child but feel there is more that you need to know. Try talking directly to your child’s soul, guardian angel, or spirit. Get quiet and mentally ask if there is something you need to be aware of. You can ask for a picture or message that will help you parent in a deeper way. Listen to the thoughts that come.
PARENTS’ INSIGHT-BUILDING EXERCISE
Think of a time when you were heard as a child.
- Who listened?
- How did it feel to be heard?
- What did you say that was acknowledged?
- How does that experience live with you today?
Now think back to a time when you were there to listen to your child.
- What was that like?
- Why were you available to listen? Had you made time? Was your child demanding you stop and listen?
- What did you hear?
- How did your child react when you listened?
Ask for guidance this week on how to best hear your children’s needs. Ask for divine insight into ways you can help give your child’s feelings a voice.
Now let go and remain open to receiving insight and guidance. Listen to the subtle ways your inner wisdom is revealed.
Trust your ideas and insights; YOU are wise.
*Mimi Doe is the founder of Spiritual Parenting.com and the award-winning author of “Nurturing Your Teenager’s Soul”, “Busy But Balanced”, “10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting”, and co-author of “Don’t’ Worry Get In”. Mimi’s free newsletter, Spiritual Parenting, has more than 30m000 subscribers from around the world. Sign up on the website: www.SpiritualParenting.com.
Tags: Children, guidance, joy, life, Mindful Parenting, parents, spiritual parenting
I love this! I really need to work on listening deeper– sometimes just getting through the day is all I can do. But many problems would be solved if I would take this time to listen and really follow through on the answers
Wow, that was really powerful and I thank you for sharing it with us!
I have to laugh because even the first two points alone are powerful enough to teach our children to change the world.
ASK and LISTEN indeed.
Why is it that people struggle with the simple things?!
.-= Claire´s last blog ..Baby’s Cozy World Microfiber & Fleece Carrier Cover – Taupe =-.
In order to really listen sometimes you need to stop what is it that you are doing and pay attention. Kids often approach us with their inquisitive questions at the most inconvenient time for us. When we are busy cooking an elaborate dinner, or browsing the web for a new pair of shoes… or just busy having a ton of things on our mind that need to be thought over. Then we don’t really listen, we just say “yes.. right. aah.. ” in the right spots. And kids can feel it and get disappointed.
I am so excited to have found your blog! This post and the one following it were quick refreshers that I needed as I began to think about the upcoming year.
I feel like it is so important to pay attention to what our kids want to learn. I remember asking this of my 9 year old son at the beginning of last year, and maybe because he was just out of public school, or maybe because it was an intimidating question, he just gave me a classic “I don’t know.” But now I have a better sense of how to prick my ears for the answer to that question….it often comes with questions. Questions about animals, or a current event, or some other such thing.
Anyway, your blog is so inspiring, and has helped me shift some of my ideas on how to encourage and support learning in our family! Many thanks!
never have i heard of this website – thank you ever so much for sharing
.-= deb from p.s. bohemain´s last blog .. Manic Monday =-.
Children deserve to be heard as much as everybody else. Being an advocate of spiritual parenting, I believe that traditional parenting often misses out on one very important aspect of parenting that parents before overlooked: forming a good relationship with their kids. And with this, listening to them and understanding things from their vantage point out is mandatory. Thank you for sharing this to us. Now, I am so keen to subscribe to this spiritual parenting newsletter from Mimi Doe.
GREAT and insightful post!
Listen…and Listen Deeper…I like that. I often pray and ask God to just give me some insight into my kids and what their needs may be…however…I have trouble “listening” so I think I need to take some time to be still and do just that.
I’ve enjoyed your blog this evening…I’ve got you in my Google Reader now!