How meditation helped me as a parent

 Whenever I became angry, my 4-year-old son would always comment that I looked like a rakshas (demon) 👿. This was so until I attended my first meditation program in Rishikesh. Then I became a regular meditation practitioner. One day, in a playful mood, he said, “Ma, the rakshas doesn't come in you anymore! If you happen to become mad at me, then you must go to Rishikesh and give up your rakshas there. OK?”

Have you been called similar names by your kids? It is disheartening 😢 and 🤔 thought-provoking. It is disheartening because parents need to give children a friendly environment. But at times, we reflect on the stress around them. It is thought-provoking as we begin to earnestly lookout for a solution to this problem. 

Before I share how meditation helped me as a parent, would you like to know my social, emotional and mental background, before I became a parent? Here you are!

My background

 My upbringing was in a broad-minded nuclear family with the freedom of speech and discipline in action. Not aware of a few traditions of a Rajasthani family, I started my marital journey with a pallu on my head, a change of surname, and so on. 

My first takeaway

 Thank God! Before it was too late, I was introduced to The Art of Living Basic Course (now Happiness Program) within 1.5 years of my marriage. In those days, I was being pressured by my parents, parents-in-law and relatives for a baby.

All my stress vanished for the moment. My pregnancy test turned positive in a month or two. 

Birth of a ‘Mother’ 

Throughout pregnancy, meditation and breathing techniques proved to be a handy tool for smooth delivery. The mother son bond started developing before his birth. Amidst nappy change, feeding, baby food, first baby steps, and other responsibilities, meditation became my last priority. No mother on earth should commit this mistake. If your responsibility increases, then increase your sadhana duration, as it enables you to shoulder your burdens effectively and efficiently, and with a smile.

Effortlessness is meditation

Oh yes, I forgot to share with you that when my son turned two, we shifted to a place where The Art of Living has a follow-up center, but due to the non-availability of a teacher, follow-ups were not happening regularly. I got inspired to become The Art of Teacher to ensure regular follow-ups. To my amazement, my mother-in-law and husband seconded my decision. For the first time in my life, I left my son with my husband to do the Advance Meditation Program in Rishikesh. I experienced how effortlessness is meditation. This was the beginning of many momentous happenings in my life as a parent.

Kindergarten days of my son

When I used to sit with my son for his revision and homework, we would discuss things sometimes being cool and other times our discussion would turn into healthy arguments. I call them healthy arguments as they end in humor or compassion. On his return on an exam day, I would never ask him about his paper. Astonishingly, he would pinpoint his mistakes himself. 😀 On the result day, I never scolded him for scoring less. I owe these incidents to my regular meditation practice which made me cool.

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