Hello,
I'm Ashley Radzat,
And today I invite you into a space of healing and reflection.
This meditation is for those moments when you feel the sadness of losing the connection you once had with your teen,
The mourning of that closeness,
The warmth of their childhood,
And the challenges of adjusting to this new phase.
It's okay to feel this sadness,
To miss what once was,
But today we'll explore how to honor those feelings and begin to gently accept the new stage of your child's development.
Let's begin by settling in with your breath.
Find a comfortable seated position or lie down,
Whatever feels most nurturing to you.
Gently close your eyes and allow your body to relax.
Breathe in deeply and exhale.
With each breath,
Feel your body sinking into the present moment,
Releasing any tension or tightness.
Breathe in,
Allowing the air to fill your lungs,
Expanding your chest,
And breathe out,
Letting go of any heaviness.
Over the next few minutes,
This is your time to just be,
To feel,
To reconnect with yourself.
Now I invite you to bring to mind the memories of your child when they were younger.
Maybe it was their laugh,
Their eagerness to share every detail of their day,
The warmth of their small hands in yours.
These memories may stir feelings of sadness,
A longing for the connection that once felt so effortless.
It's okay to feel that way.
Take a deep breath in,
And as you exhale,
Allow yourself to fully acknowledge these emotions without pushing them away.
Let yourself feel the grief of this change.
It's natural to mourn what has passed,
The shift from a stage where your child needed you differently.
Breathe into that sadness.
Give it space.
You are allowed to grieve this loss.
Now with your next breath,
Begin to shift your focus to the present.
Your teen is still here,
But they are in a different stage of their journey.
It might feel distant or disconnected at times,
But this is part of their growth,
Their movement towards independence.
Imagine your heart expanding with each breath,
Creating space for this new reality.
Picture your teen as they now are,
Stepping into their independence,
Forming their identity.
It might be hard,
But recognize that this is not a rejection of you.
It is the natural progression of their development.
As you breathe,
Hold space for both the sadness and the acceptance that this new stage brings.
They're both valid and they can exist together.
Breathe in and breathe out.
Now let's visualize something together.
In your mind's eye,
Picture yourself standing on a path.
Behind you is the version of your child that you miss,
The memories,
The closeness,
The comfort.
Allow yourself a moment to turn towards that version and smile.
You've been an incredible parent through every stage.
Now gently turn your gaze forward.
In front of you,
You see your teen standing further down the path.
They're growing,
Learning,
And finding their own way.
Picture yourself walking towards them.
It's not a race.
It's a gentle,
Steady approach.
You don't need to close the distance right now.
Just know that over time,
With patience and openness,
Your paths will cross again in new and unexpected ways.
Trust that this distance is temporary.
Breathe in,
Knowing you are still a part of their journey,
And breathe out,
Releasing any pressure to force the connection right now.
As you continue to breathe,
Invite yourself to accept this new stage.
Not as better or worse,
But simply different.
With each breath,
Let go of any resistance to what is happening.
Let go of the need to compare the past to the present.
Imagine filling your heart with compassion for yourself and for your teen.
Feel the love that is still there,
Even if it looks different now.
Your connection has shifted,
But it is not lost.
It's evolving,
Just like they are.
With every exhale,
Release the expectation that things need to return to the way they were.
Instead,
Breathe in trust.
Trust in this new chapter.
Trust in the bond that still exists,
And trust in yourself as a parent.
Now take one last deep breath in,
And slowly exhale.
In your mind's eye,
Once again picture your teen,
This time as a young adult,
Standing confidently in their own life.
They are still connected to you,
But in a way that is healthy and fitting for who they have become.
Smile at them,
And at yourself,
For navigating these changes with love and resiliency.
As you begin to bring your awareness back to the room,
Gently wiggle your fingers and toes.
Let your breath bring you fully into the present moment.
When you are ready,
Open your eyes.
Know that you are not alone in this journey,
And that every phase of parenting has its beauty,
Even when it feels challenging.
Thank you for joining me in this meditation.
Be gentle with yourself as you navigate this new stage.
Mourning the past and embracing the future can coexist,
And you are doing an incredible job.
If you found this meditation helpful,
Feel free to revisit it whenever you need comfort and grounding.
I look forward to walking alongside you in this journey.
Take care.
