As a parent, when your child is in the preteen years, what is it you should be focusing on to get them ready for independence and the future? What relationship building blocks need to be in place to make the teen years less rocky and more of a partnership?

I am reading that book by Eckhert Tolle and it’s really influencing how I am thinking about parenting. He says that what our children really long from us as parents is not to have a relationship built around the role as a parent, but rather they long to have a relationship with our authentic self. When the parenting role falls away as they get older… you really need to have something more authentic and built on mutual respect in order for the relationship to continue to grow and also get them to respect you.

So, I think the most important part of this is to really talk to my children and let them know that I am trying to connect with them not just as a parent, but also as a human being. That I long to spend time with them and I want to be with them and learn from them. I need to recognize them as individuals and not just lump them into the category of “my children”. I need for them to understand the spiritual priority I have in getting to know their souls and how important that is to me… and that it is just as important to me as directing them in their roles as “children”. That I love them past the “role” they play as children… but I love them as human beings more deeply then the roles we play.

The book is having a very profound effect on helping redefine my values to a more spiritual focus. I’m going to continue to do some posts about what I get from the book.

Tonight’s dinner: Chicken breasts stuffed with Feta, Spinach and Sundried Tomato with Rice Pilaf and mixed veggies on the side.

Exercise: I did a half hour of strength training with my friend who’s sort of acting as my personal trainer today. I’m going to hurt. I already hurt. My hip is sore, but I think that is because of the warm up on the elliptical which was probably stupid on my part. Break out the anti-inflammatory drugs friends!

Happy Moment: Mom has hired a personal trainer.

Meditation: I meditated for 20 minutes early this morning and kept my thoughts quiet. I’m very proud.

The thing that is sucking the most energy from me right now: My brutal schedule. I need to make changes. I need more free time to feel balanced.

Related posts:

  1. Defining yourself by doing versus being
    2.   Ekhart Tolle talks about how many people...
  2. Blogging Formula
    3.    Maybe I’m just anal retentive, but I tend...
  3. Intimacy of Caregiving
    4.    I think one of the things I like best about...