Mindfulness and the Art of Parenting

With Esther Seibold and Nancy Frumer-Styron

October 8 - 10, 2010

Parenting is both a challenging and potentially joyful activity. No matter the child's age, communications and interactions between parents and children are influenced by a multitude of daily interactions, behavior patterns and stresses. Mindfulness meditation and related contemplative techniques are tools that can help develop awareness of the patterns of thoughts, emotions and feelings that arise when parenting. Cultivating the ability to explore and develop perspective on these reactions allows parents to become more aware and present while interacting with their children. Out of this can arise compassion and creativity.

This program is intended for parents. We will introduce mindfulness meditation as the basis of developing awareness and cultivating insight. The weekend will include such activities as contemplative exercises, small group discussions, exploration of skillful listening, and communicating and sharing of ideas, as well as opportunities to discuss how to continue their meditation and parenting practices after returning home.

Program starts at 7:30 Friday after dinner, and will end at lunch on Sunday.

Tuition: $275.00 Program fees include 3 meals per day served by the Karmê Chöling kitchen.

About Esther Seibold

Esther Seibold, Ph.D., is an experienced meditation teacher and has practiced mindfulness meditation for almost 25 years. Involved with Family Camp at Karmê Chöling since its inception in 1988 as a family participant and staff member, she has served as a member of the Shambhala Working Group on Children and Families and was an organizer of the first Children and Families Conference at Shambhala Mountain Center. Esther is a pediatric nurse, has worked with children and families for 24 years and currently teaches Pediatric Nursing and Lifespan Growth and Development at UMass Boston School of Nursing.

About Nancy Frumer-Styron

Nancy Frumer Styron, Psy.D, J.D., is a pediatric psychologist in Boston, MA, and has worked at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute with children and families for twenty years. She has been a Shambhala and Buddhist practitioner for over twenty years and, most importantly, is a parent of a teenage daughter who practices mindfulness meditation and loves spending time at Karmê Chöling. She is an authorized meditation instructor.

This program is being held at Karmê Chöling Shambhala Meditation Center in Barnet, Vermont. Please note the register link below will take you to the Karmê Chöling website for processing.