GUEST BLOG POST: Parenting Your Way by Jennifer Laurent, author, Heart of a Mom

“EXCERPTS FROM THE HEART OF A MOM”

Becoming a parent is something that I was not only excited about, but was completely inspired by. When I became pregnant with my son, I knew that I wanted to parent in a way that was different from the way I had been parented, as well as the way I had watched others parent around me. I believed that the experience would be exactly what I intended it to be and that I would find fulfillment, joy, and peace in being a mother. I believed that I had the power to create a close, connected, and authentic relationship with my child based in acceptance, awareness, and love.

As my belly grew bigger, my heart grew wider and when I held my son in my arms for the very first time, it felt as though I could somehow hold the entire universe within the love exuding from my heart. I think that many of us moms can relate to this feeling of overflowing love. Being a parent seems to somehow burst our hearts wide open and provide us access to a type of love that simply cannot be described in words. We can hear other parents talk about it and even see the joy on their faces, but until you have the experience of being a mother, you simply cannot know.

As I write this, I think about how idealistic and “sappy” the above might sound. Though we all may feel this at some point, parenthood happens, difficulties arise, and sometimes it is just plain hard. We can find ourselves disconnected from that sense of overwhelming love and that huge heart space that has room enough to heal the world. But what if we could somehow find our way to stay in that heart space and connected to that feeling? Consciously acknowledging it, calling it forward, and remaining connected to it as we go through out our daily experiences.

As I look back on my journey through parenthood and having found a way to fulfill my desire to parent in my own unique way, I realize that I have done so by remaining connected to this unconditional and overwhelming love described above. I have made it my intention to remain connected within myself to that feeling and use it to parent my son in a conscious way. This sense of unconditional love has the power to inspire us to our potential. From this heart space we are motivated to seek out the ways in which we can connect, accept, and love. It is here that we find our vulnerability, which can inspire us to look within, transform, and grow.

As we make our way through our daily activities with our children, we are more apt to parent in a way that feels good for us if we are operating from a space of love, rather than a space of fear, exhaustion, or confusion. By remaining connected to our hearts, we experience the freedom that can exist in making parenting decisions, the freedom from making decisions out of habit or exasperation. We are able to see outside the proverbial box into the wide expansion of our hearts. From this beautiful space, the possibilities are limitless.

So I encourage you all to take a moment to reconnect with that overwhelming and overflowing unconditional love that I know you all have felt. That feeling that your heart is simply going to burst wide open and tears of joy will spill out in celebration. Feel your heart expand large enough that you can embrace the entire universe within you. Close your eyes and allow yourself the beautiful gift of this experience, breathing life into what is simply there, waiting inside you. As you connect with this sense of love, set your intention to enter this heart space as often as you can, until it arrives instantly when called upon. Set the intention to begin parenting from this heart space, trusting yourself and the wisdom that you hold within. And then walk forward and see what happens. Be curious about the power of love and its ability to create and transform.

I began this article writing about my decision to parent in my own unique way that felt fulfilling, joyful, and good in my heart. Through love I have created just that, and I believe that you have the power to as well.

For more information, check out Jennifer’s blogs, visit her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Jennifer Laurent wears many hats as a single mother, life coach, author, and yoga instructor.  Everyday, she looks to live her life in a conscientious way, and she strives to help others.  In her first book, Excerpts from the Heart of a Mom, Jennifer presents her readers with fundamental insights on her approach to “conscious parenting.”  

Jennifer has worked as a rape crisis counselor, provided therapy for struggling families and helped those dependent on drugs and alcohol.  A certified Life Coach, Jennifer is also a certified yoga instructor and regularly challenges her personal growth through meditation, facing her fears, and helping others.  Her all-time favorite pastime is hanging out with her five-year-old son.  

Tags: conscious parenting; midlife mother, later in life parents