Friday, May 31, 2013

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Inspiring Mindfulness and Kindness

So much has been written on Mindfulness. It occurred to me that we can and should be taking it one step further within our classrooms and homes: Teach mindful kindness to our children.

From the time they are very little, children can be taught to live in the moment, and to be empathetic. Being kind should be second-nature.

Ways to teach mindfulness:

-Yoga classes at school
-Teach children to recognize that every day (not just holidays) is an opportunity to be kind. Lead by example.
-Encourage children to notice acts of charity
-Make a point of recognizing when children are empathetic

Ways to teach empathy:

-The Roots of Empathy or Seeds of Empathy program
-Utilize PREVNet
-Turn negative social situations into teachable moments
-Conflict resolution
-Make your children part of your endeavours to give back to the community (Tzedukah).


Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother's Day

Mother's Day has always given me cause for reflection, for my mom passed away when I was 10 years old. 40 years ago. In numbers it seems like a long time, but on days like this, her birthday, my birthday, the day she died, time seems in many respects to stand still.

I'm grateful to my ex-husband for making me a mom of two fabulous children.

My daughter is a writer, and she makes me so proud. In part because she has such clarity of thought and the other reason is because Becca discovered years ago, that writing would give her wings to fly. She has had to face many circumstances and they have made her into a strong and confident woman.

My son, Jake. The young man who just got accepted into university and was raised since age 11 by his Dad, who did a fabulous job. Jake has grown into an intelligent, funny, handsome and confident young man. The kid who was not an athlete has become just that. He plays football and rugby. Jake was articulate from a young age. His poise and confidence are evident in the many conversations that we share.

So today, on Mother's Day, though I think of my Mom, I pay homage to my children.

I love you both.

Mom