#MindfulMothering

[learningandlore-blog]

Start each day with a... . . . . xo . . . #gratitude #grateful #gratefulheart #monthofthanks #focusongratitude #homeschoolblessings #homeschoolfreedom #countingmyblessings #countitalljoy #mindfulmama #theawakenedfamily #consciousmama #consciousparent #freetolearn #learningaslifestyle #lifeaslearning #wildandfreechildren #raisingwildlings #raisingdragons #mindfulmothering #homebasedlearning #learningathome #homelearning #homeducator #alternativeeducation to live an #alternativelife 🖤 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp19sOMgPLm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7icful478jsc

[meghannathanson]

The Sacred Pause (3.9.17)

I would not say that I was, "born ready," as a mother. I came into this journey with buckets of tenderness and a deep desire to get it right. But I was in no way prepared for the profound number of layers that I would need to pull back, the conditioning of so many generations I would need to shed and the depths of love I would have to unearth to become the person I've—on most days—come to be, both with my children and with myself. Because, you see, there is a deep correlation between the two. The way that we are with others is intricately woven with the way that we are with ourselves. The unfolding of this path did not happen over night. I don't know when it happened, exactly. Somewhere between the despair of a car seat struggle gone deeply awry and the arrival at the breathtaking realization that my children were not somehow born flawed or wrong, too-loud, too shy or not developing the way that they should—and neither was I, any of those things.  

Looking back, I can see that it was the repeated turning to spaciousness, to the breath—to the sacred pause—that has been my faithful guide. It was in—and it continues to be in—those spaces that I came to connect with a truer way of seeing. In those spaces, I discovered solutions that I hadn't thought of. No one had to be wrong. There was greater compassion in those spaces, forgiveness for my children, forgiveness for myself. I found that time didn't matter so, so much. And neither did what other people might be thinking of me. I'm too hard on them, on me. Too soft. I give too much, not enough. It was in those spaces—despite their expansiveness— that I discovered the astonishing brevity of life. I saw how fleeting it all is and how precious these times really are. It was in patiently tying a shoe for the 100th time, the calm intervention in a sibling squabble, it was in the mistakes too. My heart opened more fully and love poured through me more generously because of the thousand upon thousand little present moments of awareness that added up to something very big.

[mummyyoga]

If you are in London on the 17th Nov. and want to spend a day talking a little bit on neonate neuroscience, anthropological and cultural influences of our mothering/parenting behaviours and want to pick some simple ways to influence your newborn baby’s basic interpretations of his or her surroundings then come along to this activity packed study day! Link in bio or use - https://mummyyoga.com/mindfulmother/ . . . . #london #midwife #doula #training #mummyyoga #yoga #mother #newparents #healthvisitor #yogateachertraining #meditation #keepmeclose #baby #newborn #postpartum #postnatal https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo7KMvqHYGh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15k7fzu0lr793

[leonardsuniteblog-blog]

Today is a great day. I am refreshed, I slept, I am focused on my goals, I am patient and attentive to my son. I have a new mantra. And my @mamamalas arrived. Their website copy brings tears to my eyes. I hope they wont mind me sharing it here: "Motherhood is the most rewarding job, but it is also the hardest. It can be easy to forget your intentions and put your self care on the back burner when the stresses of the day take over. When you take the time to nurture yourself, make aligned decisions, and consciously create a life that you adore, you are able to see the magic in motherhood and be present for all of the beautiful moments that may have otherwise been missed." I'm wearing my Mama Mala to remind me of my desire to be present, mindful and make decisions based on my intentions and big picture goals. #japa #malas #mamamalas #releasethepast #happiness #happymala #lepidolite #pinkmoonstone #clearquartz #yellowcalcite #yogateacher #londondoula #pregnancyyoga #yogamum #mindfulmothering #support #journey of #motherhood #intentions #lookinward (at Goose Green, East Dulwich)

[mkkegler]

This mornings reading has me trying to hide the "stupid grin" I know must be on my face. I cannot wait for both the #facepalm and #iloveyoumommy moments only a boy can offer. The "I-can't-believe-what-my-mommy-eyes-are-seeing-right-now" times are coming and this makes me happy! #wedonotpeeonshowercurtains #mindfulmothering #mops #afierceflourishing (at Janesville, Wisconsin)

[casualcontrast]

“But I do try to make each moment count, for her and for me, so that there are no regrets when we move on in a happy, healthy manner.” • mindful mothering on casualcontrast.com now✌🏻 #mindfulness #mindfulmothering #motherhood #motherhoodmoments #mildredfern🌿 #lakeerie #lakeerielove #greatlakes #babywearing #babywearingmama #mblogger #mbloggers #casualcontrast

[casualcontrast]

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A post shared by Emily ♉︎♓︎♋︎ (@casualcontrast)

Cloth diapering is one of those things that gets a little more challenging as babies get older...bigger poops, more pee, and mobility! It’s still so worth it for us though - and it’s one of the things that has helped me stay really mindful while mothering! Slow down, do a little extra, and really think about what’s happening💜 Majority of our stash is @norasnursery💜 #mildredfern🌿 #clothdiapering #clothdiapers #fluffbutt #8monthsold #motherhood #mindfulmothering #timelapse #momblog #mblogger #mbloggers #lblogger #lbloggers #norasnursery #crunchymom #ecofriendly #ecobaby #casualcontrast https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn4Vdv4nndF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1kxki3yp5oged

[learningandlore-blog]

q u o t e s for my c h i l d r e n 🖤// new thing I’m going to be adding to my feed from here on out. . . #quotesformychildren will be Quotes or wisdom snippets for my babes (if and when they ever read back on my feed one day!). . . The look of the feed is also going to be changing a bit. . . . . 📷 by #lifehack . . #quotes #lifequotes #wisdomquotes #quotesformykids #quotesformydaughter #quotesformyson #motherhoodquotes #motherhoodquote #instagramjournal #instagramportfolio #instagramlegacy #mindfulmotherhood #mindfulmothering #mindfulmother #mindfulparenting #mindfulparents #consciousliving #consciousparenting

[mindful-people-community]

Mother's Day 2017 💐 Half price offer 💐 whoever you bring to class with you this Sunday pays only half price on the door. 💐Make your booking at www.mindfulyogaliverpool.com or www.mindfulpeople.community 💐 #mindfulyogaliverpool #mothersday #mothers #mothersdaygift #mothers❤ #mothersdaygifts #mothersday2017 #mothersday2017💝 #mindful #mindfulyoga #mindfulness #mindfulmotherhood #mindfulmothering (at Mindful Yoga Liverpool)

[mindful-people-community]

Mother's Day 2017 💐 Half price offer 💐 whoever you bring to class with you this Sunday's pays only half price on the door. 💐Make your booking at www.mindfulyogaliverpool.com or www.mindfulpeople.community 💐 #mindfulyogaliverpool #mothersday #mothers #mothersdaygift #mothers❤ #mothersdaygifts #mothersday2017 #mothersday2017💝 #mindful #mindfulyoga #mindfulness #mindfulmotherhood #mindfulmothering (at Mindful Yoga Liverpool)

[meghannathanson]

River of Luminosity (3.6.17)

My ankle is on ice today, forced by a heavy log falling to temper my feverish pace to create. I've got a woman draped over a globe in the works, photos on my computer gone-missing, now found. There is an energy to be shaken up and separated so that I might get a glimpse of the angels in my midst. They say there really are no walls, no doors between us, and I believe them. Especially in the quiet, now, I can notice the humming of heaven beneath the purr of the heater, the purr of my cat. I know that more is there. I am thinking about what it means to my boys when I lock eyes with them in the purposeful act of intended listening. I don't just hear their stories meandering like the delightful brook streams that they are, but I notice, too, the way our energies line up just right and I can almost hear the whoosh of connection between us. I notice that they are delighted by the light as well when I find myself really, really there and so we linger with our eyes and with their stories and with this river of luminosity flowing between us. 

*Please visit my website, and join my e-mail list on the homepage to read more: www.meghannathanson.com  

[meghannathanson]

Study Them Now (3.7.17)

There was a time when I would write and my boys were still babes with chubby thighs and basic needs to be met. I would tiptoe from their rooms while they drifted into slumber, coming and telling about breathing through troubles and slowing my pace so that they might show me this magical world. Their arms and their legs have since lengthened along with their minds' expansion and I find myself with a mantra pulsing through me like a heartbeat, "study them now!" "Study them now," shouts the heart as I sense the momentum of their being growing and transforming them exponentially. When they come near, I give them my gaze -- the mail, the cooking, the great aspirations -- these things can wait. "Let me pick you up while I still can," I say to my biggest boy, gathering up his lankly body into mine and holding him near.

#StudyThemNow #GrowingLikeWeeds #StopTheTrain #MindfulMothering #SacredTimes #Mother’sMeditation

[learningandlore-blog]

When in doubt go out in the sun ☀️, let the water wash your worries away 💧, or let the breeze put you at ease 🌬. . . . . 🗣by #christineannmartine . . . #lifequotes #wordsformychildren #quotesformykids #quotesformychildren #wordsformykids #wordsformybabies #quotesformydaughter #quotesformyson #wordsformydaughter #wordsformyson #wordwisdom #homeschoolquotes #motherhoodquotes #momquotes #parentingquote #mindfulliving #mindfulquotes #mindfulmother #mindfulmotherhood #mindfulmom #mindfulmothering

[mkkegler]

This mornings reading has me trying to hide the "stupid grin" I know must be on my face. I cannot wait for both the #facepalm and #iloveyoumommy moments only a boy can offer. The "I-can't-believe-what-my-mommy-eyes-are-seeing-right-now" times are coming and this makes me happy! #wedonotpeeonshowercurtains #mindfulmothering #mops #afierceflourishing (at Janesville, Wisconsin)

[meghannathanson]

Notes to Self (2.11.15)

1. Whatever words I place behind the phrase, "I am" hold extra weight energetically. Whether I say them aloud or within myself, these expressions are coming to life moment-by-moment.

2. An inner mantra of always being able to "begin again," is powerful. It is life changing. We may always, always begin again. With ourselves and with others we have the opportunity to make amends and give things another go. 

3. A 10 Minute Morning Meditation opens pathways to deeper Inner Listening. Stepping forth after the silence (or even after the observance of many, many thoughts coming and going) allows for a different kind of day—a day with greater pause, a day in which we may intermingle with the Divine.

4. It matters greatly what we put into our bodies. Studying the ingredients in what we eat and listening to what really fuels allows us to make better decisions about food. These choices also contribute to our ability to balance our emotions and respond to others with loving kindness. Less sugar and less caffeine = less roller coaster of emotions.

5. I love my kitty, Autumn—who is nuzzling me now as I write this—and my two dear boys and my husband and lemon ginger tea. 

[meghannathanson]

Three Good Things to Watch

Water Dripping 

Last week I was traveling to an appointment when I suddenly realized that I was supposed to drop my car off for an inspection. I had to change directions, the loaner car that I was given was almost out of gas and when I arrived at my appointment one minute before I was supposed to, I felt anxious and ungrounded. In the waiting room there was a water cooler with a hot-water nozzle to make tea but there was no water bottle present and so to make tea I needed to allow a very slow drizzle of the left-over water in the machine to make its way out onto my tea bag. I crouched down comfortably and allowed that moment to begin calming me. I watched as the water came out so very slowly. I noticed the way the tea bag appeared when the water dripped onto it. I breathed. I settled into myself and I made tea. These moments in life in which we must wait, the stop lights, the long lines at the market, can be incredibly grounding, incredibly soothing if we allow ourselves to slow down, sink into our bodies and just take them in.

Your Breath In my mind breathing is incredibly underrated. It is that which ultimately allows us to continue living in this wild and magnificent and monotonous and exciting and lonely and loving and thrilling place that we call life. Sitting and closing my eyes, first deepening my breath and then beginning to watch and notice the circular nature of my breath—beginning to watch and notice all of the places my breath touches—I settle more deeply into myself. If all we do is begin to notice our breath, we begin to live more deeply, more meaningfully and with greater joy for all of the little miracles of being alive.

A Child’s Face There is no more lovely place than a child’s cheek. With your eyes, trace their lashes, notice the precious nature of their lips, the curve of their hair. Observe a child’s face when they laugh, observe them when they cry or protest or are surprised. Watch them especially when they are watching you. Watch them as they take it all in and learn from you how to live. There in a child’s face are his joys, his concerns and all that we need to know to help him along.