Mindful parenting/caregiving refers to intentionally practicing present moment awareness through paying attention to the here and now while with our children with a curious, kind and receptive attitude. The awareness that arises under these conditions provides caregivers with choices in how to consciously respond to children in a wise, empathic and value-driven way, rather than reacting in a emotionally-driven and habitual way, particularly when stressed. This practice has great potential to enrich the caregiver/child relationship as well as build child, parent and family resilience to stress. As Whitney Houston beautifully expressed in the song “The Greatest Love of All”, “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” In this session, we will explore ways to practice mindfulness in the context of raising children through discussion and experiential practices. This interactive exploration may include discussion of mindful parenting dimensions, practical applications, benefits, challenges and relevance to society.
Dr. M. Lee Freedman is a co-parent of 4 adult sons and a Toronto-based psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience working with children, adolescents, parents and families under stress. Over the past decade, drawing from her own personal mindfulness practice, she has been integrating mindfulness training into her clinical work with families. She has experience leading mindful parenting therapy groups, mindfulness-based group therapy for adults with ADHD and Camera-Assisted Mindfulness and Attention Regulation Training (CAM-ART™).