One of my goals, as a parent, is to teach my daughter coping skills and practical techniques for dealing with stress.
Personally, I've found yoga to be instrumental in building a core strength, core inner self and self worth, stress reduction and in communing with God.
Of course I want her to have access to skills like this before she hits adolescents and all the negative coping strategies become available to her.
I used to use negative strategies like smoking cigarettes, experimenting with drugs, defining my self worth by boys and men, and a daily diet of Wellbutrin and Xanex. One of my primary objectives is to prevent the adoption of those.
Over the summer I've been practicing yoga listening to Elsie Escobar classes on iTunes during Zack's nap. Sometimes I invite a friend. Sometimes I encourage Ainsley to try a few minutes.
She posed for these photos and then got bored before we moved out of the sitting pose. A fascination with the incense stick took over and she sat near me waving it through the air like a 4th of July sparkler.
The next afternoon I came out of the shower and found her teaching her friends yoga with a DVD, lit candles and burning incense.
Ssshhhh, Mom, we're having our relaxing quiet yoga time.
The APA's Report on Sexualization of Girls recommends teaching your children a way to center themselves, meditate, pray, and view one's body as having value beyond its appearance, beyond male entertainment. Yoga does that for me.
Hopefully, you have healthy coping methods that center and ground you and hopefully you're finding ways to teach those to your kids.
Teach what YOU know.
14 comments:
You are so my hero!!!! Seriously, I'm on the verge of tears. Working with girls and empowering them in the way that you are working with your daughter is something so dear to my heart. Now that I'm going to be meeting my daughter here in a couple of months (giving birth and all) My biggest goal is simply to give her those skills that you speak of, and allow her to experience the beauty and sacredness of herself, all aspects, to recognize her worth and always offer the best of who she is, as it's simply a divine :) Thank you so much for sharing!
Great Story! I am so glad you snapped the pic--that says it all!
I took a yoga class at our preschool it was for kids and adults. Imagine a room full of 3 and 4 year olds with a few adults here and there. We all got into "the frog" position and the room was still, then suddenly, one little jumper, decided to leap and yell "Ribbet!"...Suddenly the room was full of young little jumping froggies! It was adorable. Everyone was smiling and laughing. What a treat! That was the best class ever.
Keep up the good work with your daughter. I hope to follow your example with my twin 4 year olds!
- Lisa
Oh Elsie! THE Elsie Escobar? I actually didn't get that at first.
Of course YOU'LL teach your daughter Yoga! You're my Yogi hero.
You know I stage a little class in my living room because yoga instructors are sparse in Rural Texas.
I invite my friend Lisa over and we make the kids disappear and we turn on your classes and look at your Facebook photos and blog as we follow along.
I guess you can tell I'm a huge fan. When school starts I'm thinking about inviting my Mommy group once a week.
I love it! My kids won't allow me to do yoga. School starts Monday, and it's mama time again.
Monday = Momday!
How's that pre-school begging going for you? Any luck?
Is it wrong to pray that at least 2 children go into hysterics and refuse to attend Mothers-Day-Out, 1 woman decides she doesn't really want to work 2 days a week and another 2 children won't stop biting each other so they get kicked out?
Monday seems so far away. I need to stop grounding the kid - it's just a form of torture for me.
You are awesome! I love your posts and all that you are doing for your daughter. I have two grown daughters and three granddaughters. I love what you're doing and what you stand for. I've given your blog site to both my daughters!
Keep it up!
Mary
Thanks Mary, tell your daughters to hand it off to all their friends. I don't know if you've heard, but I'm aiming to ignite The Girl Revolution!
I love this post! I'm so happy I found your blog and that you are also a huge Elsie fan!
cmae - you practice yoga with Elsie? Hurrah! Small world getting smaller with iTunes and blogs!
Awesome post. I'm including yours in my Pass the Torch Tuesday links next week.
Thanks Kelly, I don't know what that is - but I'm superhonored to be linked anywhere!
Ok I went to your site and now I know. Cool I'm also adding you to my blogroll.
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