Every mother has two birthing tales:
One, that of giving birth to her child, is shared. The other, of giving birth to herself, of becoming a mother and all the ways that smashes into and fractures everything else she is, of being broken open and made anew, is one that takes a lifetime to understand.
A conversation with a friend and fellow activist inspired me to offer some special love and appreciation to all of you parents out there this week.
In a few months, God willing, my father will turn 100. He has always lived his role as a parent thoughtfully, as on the day he invited me—I was 12—to go with him to the country morgue.
Cassandra Vieten, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and the co-director of the Mind-Body Medicine Research Group at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. Becoming a mom led her to do research that shows that mindfulness practices can reduce negative emotions and anxiety during pregnancy. That research birthed her Mindful Motherhood program, directed toward helping women get in the best emotional and mental shape possible for that first critical year of motherhood.
Welcome to our weekly editors’ round-up, featuring the week’s news, inspiration, and big ideas for body, mind, and spirit. This week: Why bananas are so great for athletes, the true cost of gas, a father’s influence, plus a treehouse built to honor God ...
Let’s face it. The biggest unknown in a parent’s life is her child. These beings come into the world without papers. We have no idea who they are, where they came from, what they are supposed to do, where they are going, or why they exist at all. So what do we do? We make up stories: stories about them and stories about ourselves; stories about nature, about life, death, and afterlife; stories about fate, karma, destiny, heavens and hells, and rewards and punishments. And we tell these stories to our kids. Except we don’t tell them they are stories.
Yoga for Youth
Elizabeth Reese, Ph.D.
This trilingual (English, Spanish, and Sanskrit) interdisciplinary yoga-for-kids program combines music, games, original art, and stories with yoga postures for physical strength, flexibility, and balance. It encourages awareness and respect for oneself, others, and the environment, both on and off the mat.
Relax, and bring your attention to your breath. If you are like many, this is a natural call to meditation and peace. But for others — especially young men — the call to meditation is anything but relaxing. Boys often get bored, fidgety, and even anxious.
Sanctuaries of Childhood: Nurturing a Child’s Spiritual Life
By Shea Darian (Gilead Press)
