Mindfulness - Monkey Brain

​Dear UU Parents and Guardians, 

It would be lovely if you could join us for our weekly gatherings! 
Here is what is currently being offered: 

Sunday School 
Approximately: 30 Min Program geared towards K-5 but open to all ages
Sundays at 11am
Email me for the link

Middle and HS Zoom 
Monday nights 6pm:  
Email me for the link

Parent and Guardian Chat: 
The chance for parents and guardians to just get together and
Every other Thursday 8pm and every other Wednesday noon

 Wednesday the 3rd at noon
      Link: https://zoom.us/j/474526337     Password: lovemykids
Thursday the 11th at 8pm
      Link: https://zoom.us/j/866583131     Password: lovemykids

New Youtube links for this week!

Music with Miss Molly:    https://youtu.be/_3HShSuc1s0
Weekly Message for Parents and Guardians
Theme this week: 'Monkey Brain' 

Chelsea's Meditation: https://youtu.be/WmvF7AhUBxA

The meditation lessons which I am doing are geared towards K-5th graders, but everyone is welcome to them. 
The theme for my lesson this week was: 'Monkey Brain'

I read the book: Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda

Reflection:

I don't know about you, but I am having the hardest time sleeping. The baby is of course teething, which doesn't help anything. However, my mind is constantly racing. I am having an incredibly difficult time calming my thoughts down. No amount of yoga, or guided meditation is slowing me down right now. This week's video, story, and meditation for children is about how to be present in the moment. But....what if the present moment SUCKS? So much of what is going on in the world right now is hard to cope with hearing about. What do we as parents do, if we are trying to model for our children how to cope as well? I don't have the answer, honestly. 'The best we can' is about all I think I can muster. We show them that we are human, and that it is not always easy to be human. Breathe. Sometimes all we can do is take everything one minute at a time. 

Words by Sumi Loundon Kim:
There's a commercial in which a mother blissfully sails through each room of her home, encountering one scene after the other that would normally cause her to be irritated: a teenage son banging away on drums, a young daughter emptying drawers and making a mess. but why is the mother so blissful? because she is listening to her favorite selection of music through her headphones. The message of the ad is that the way to be content with your family is to tune them out - literally. 
But if we look carefully at the origins of a lot of family fights, it's most often because people are not paying attention. They're lost in their video game or lost in thought while making dinner. Meanwhile, trouble is brewing: the little sister took her big brother's Lego structure and began taking it apart. Or a spouse keeps asking the other to do something but they aren't listening. Then, someone explodes: "Give it back!" "Do it now!" "Listen to me!"
If we want to create peaceful homes, then it's essential for parents to stay tuned in to the atmosphere of the home. As you are cleaning or making a meal, rather than being lost in thought, let your awareness spread out into the far distances of your home. Let your ears be open to the sounds of the environment. Get a sense of the mood of the home, other beings present, and your own place in the home. With greater awareness, we may pick up on the beginnings of bad weather (especially between siblings) before it brews into a storm. The added benefit is that we may truly enjoy and appreciate being at home with our loved ones. 

Discussion questions to consider this week: 

1. What thought patterns or attitudes have you observed when you try to relax?
2. How do you react to your thinking?
3. To what extent would you assess your level of tuning in to your home environment? What gets in the way of tuning in, and what supports it?