Patience with a Touch of Sparkle

“I am a patient mother” is my meditative focus for this Sunday. We are amidst a bitter cold streak in our area of the country, which causes many families to hibernate. Well, hibernating with two 2 year olds can be a bit challenging, and patience can be hard to come by for the adults in their lives. So I set my intention, “I am a patient mother,” laid my head back and focused on that...until I started to hear the cries from Mini A. Then, Mini B. I can hear the stress in the voice of their father as he tries to rectify yet another squabble. It is not even 9am! I listen into the situation. Of course I want to stop what I am doing so that I can run down and help but instead I just listen. The timing of the event is purposeful.


Be patient.
Listen.
Reflect.


And the idea hits me...the girls, MY very own girls, don’t know what to do next. BUT they are ready to. They are completely present in the moment of the squabble with tears, but then what? They both default to outright cries and carrying on (sometimes for 5 minutes or more) because they have not yet been taught how to be present after the quarrel is over. And then it hits me-they need a space. They need their own Healthy Mind Space to go to to help them move on. I just thought they were too young, but are they?


Teaching the girls to take ownership over their mindful presence after the heat of the moment is my new mission. I have found in the classroom how calming the features of a snow globe can be. Which means that this mom took a quick trip to Target for supplies to make our own "snow globes." With some glitter glue, warm water and glassware, we now have make our own calming “Sparkle Jars!"



With love,
Christy Lynn

*Note: I used a recipe from this online resource to create the Sparkle Jars. There are 6 different options!

---