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Includes Bonus Meditation CD. Firmly grounded in the day-to-day reality of being a mother, Buddhism for Mothers discusses Buddhist teachings as applied to the everyday challenges of bringing up children. Parenthood can be a time of great inner turmoil for a woman yet parenting books invariably focus on nurturing children rather than the mothers who struggle to raise them. This book is different. It is a book for mothers. Buddhism for Mothers explores the potential to be with your children in the all-important present moment; to gain the most joy out of being with them. How can this be done calmly and with a minimum of anger, worry and negative thinking? How can mothers negotiate the changed conditions of their relationships with partners, family and even with friends? Using Buddhist practices, Sarah Napthali offers ways of coping with the day-to-day challenges of motherhood. Ways that also allow space for the deeper reflections about who we are and what makes us happy. By acknowledging the sorrows as well as the joys of mothering Buddhism for Mothers can help you shift your perspective so that your mind actually helps you through your day rather than dragging you down. This is Buddhism at its most accessible, applied to the daily realities of ordinary parents.… (more)
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That said, I don't plan on becoming Buddhist (which I have to say in case some
I think Napthali is a gifted writer and I love how she sprinkled her own personal stories in about when she was less than patient or peaceful or calm. It sort of takes the pressure off of the reader. I don't have to worry about being perfect, I only have to worry about doing better is really what I felt a huge message of the book was.
I loved some of the analogies she uses in here - when she compares emotions to visitors who are coming over. I've already repeated that a few times - it's such a great, understandable way to get the point across to not be afraid of our emotions.
I loved the section on meditation - something I've wanted to do but still haven't.
Although at the end, it was also clear her intent was to speak to Buddhist mothers or to try to convert some of us to become Buddhist mothers. As I said, I have no intention of doing that. She talks about how you can meditate outside of Buddhism, but she makes it sound like doing that would automatically mean you weren't a part of a loving community out to care for others and be kind and wonderful and loving. I feel I already have that sort of community around me - that it doens't just exist in Buddhist communities.
But overall, I really thought this was a great book and I'm glad I read it!