Recognizing your resilience to difficulty.
Parenting is difficult as it is,
But when you're the parent of a child with special needs or a neurodivergent child,
Your task as a parent is unparalleled.
There is no manual for you to refer to.
There is no magic method to rely on.
There is just you.
You may not realize that every day you get to fall asleep and wake up again is a sign that you are on the right path.
No matter how difficult it may be,
It is a sign that you are incredibly resilient.
You can handle this.
You are capable of handling more than you give yourself credit for.
Difficult emotions may sometimes get the better of you,
But they always pass and you always make it through.
By bringing mindfulness to the process of going through hard times,
You can train yourself to recognize your own resilience.
Seeing clearly that you are capable of handling the difficulty,
You will train the mind to know that you are okay.
And with that,
We will begin our meditation at the bell.
A bell will ring again at the end.
Close the eyes and adjust your posture so that you are comfortable.
Ground yourself in the body,
Feeling the feet on the floor,
The body in the chair or cushion,
And the movement of the breath.
Bring to mind a difficult emotion you have experienced recently.
It can be the frustration you felt last night at the dinner table when your child refused to eat,
Or the exasperation you felt when your child had that tantrum.
If possible,
You may want to choose an experience that is likely to reoccur.
Whatever the difficult emotion is,
Do not indulge in the story that comes with it.
Instead,
Focus on the feeling that it brings up.
You can do this by tuning into the body.
What does the body feel like when this emotion is present?
Feeling the emotion in the body,
Investigate your capacity to be with it.
What feels overwhelming or unmanageable?
Ask yourself if you are able to handle the feeling in this single moment.
Continue to tend to the bodily experience,
Examining whether you are able to be present with it or not.
Move your attention to the mind and mental state.
When this emotion is present,
What is the mind doing?
Notice the thoughts that arise and the general feeling of the mind.
Again,
Ask yourself if anything arising is too much for you to handle.
If it seems difficult to sit with,
Check back in with your body and identify any parts of your body that feel tense or uncomfortable.
Bring awareness to this place and breathe into it.
With each exhale,
Release the tension.
Now that you are aware of your body's reaction to that situation and the emotions that come up,
You are better prepared to recognize them next time a similar situation arises.
When you feel the emotion arise and you feel as though you are breaking down,
You can check in with your body and use the breath to release the tension.
Realizing that,
Through small frustrations and larger experiences of grief and tragedy,
You have made it to this moment today.
Recognize your natural resiliency,
Remembering that you are indeed capable.
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