Loving Parenting - Again

     Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment, paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without any judgment.  It is a state of active/inactive attention to the present, without regard to the future or the past.  Mindfulness is described as the ability to be fully present, aware of where you are, what you are doing, while not being overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is going on around you.      Mindfulness can help reduce stress, improve mental well-being, and enhance focus and self-awareness. Practicing  mindfulness has been found to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms and increase feelings of well-being.        Mindfulness is a basic concept used by many therapists. Many schools are implementing mindfulness exercises and activities in order to improve mood, improve focus, and increase empathy and cooperation in the classroom and general social interaction within the ...

 A few weeks ago my adopted daughter attended a fireside. When I asked her about the meeting, she said it was good and she liked it, but didn't say much else about the speaker or the subject.  It was few days later that I came across a packet of colorful papers she had tucked away in her purse.  At first, she didn't understand my excitement at what I had found. However, I had the opportunity to share with her that what she had been casually given, without a lot of explanation, was in fact something exciting, something we could talk about together.  This particular daughter recently asked about looking into finding a therapist to see on a regular basis.  She had heard from a few family members the difference going to counseling had helped them.  Up to this point I hadn't really felt a need for them to attend therapy sessions, mainly because after all the sessions and training I had received while raising the previous two generations of children, I felt her a...