Conscious child rearing, G. Germanavičiene

How to raise children so that they grow up as healthy as possible - both physically and mentally? Searching for answers to these questions, I realized that first we... have to help ourselves.

We need to learn to calm down and take care of ourselves – especially when we feel overwhelmed. You have to believe that even then we are pretty good parents to our children. When we have learned to calm ourselves and empathize, we will really be able to see many seemingly unsolvable situations anew, we will be able to build better relationships based not on rules and requirements, but on intimacy and listening to ourselves and our loved ones.

When practicing mindfulness, first become a good friend to yourself. Conscious parenting practices increase our ability as parents to take care of ourselves and act wisely. It improves mutual relations and cooperation - not only with children, but also with a partner.

The author of the book Gabriele Germanavičiene is a mother of four children and a psychiatrist. Counsels and treats people with various mental disorders. Interested in anthroposophic medicine, as well as various non-drug forms of help, including mindfulness. Facilitates groups on the application of mindfulness in parenting.

The book "Conscious parenting" is about how parents can be conscious in their relationship with their children and in their relationship with themselves. The book shows step-by-step the way to grow as a parent yourself, to be accepting and sensitive to yourself, and how to build and maintain healthy and accepting relationships with your children. In the book, the author Gabriele Germanavičiene describes empirically based steps of mindfulness practice, linking both various theoretical knowledge and practical experience gained by leading mindfulness practice groups for parents. The author has balanced theoretical insights with practical elements. The working mechanisms of the psyche, the importance of emotions and the basics of management, the phenomenon of stress, theories of upbringing and their importance in raising children are described and explained in a language that any reader can understand. The theory is complemented by a series of practical exercises that the reader can immediately practice and use. On the other hand, the personal experiences of the participants of the described mindfulness practice groups and the expressed opinion make the reader understand that any parent faces ups and downs in raising children, that any emotions and experiences - pleasant or unpleasant - are part of life and you just have to get used to living with them. The examples of the author's and other parents' experiences described in the book encourage the reader to try, or even implement, the offered mindfulness practices in everyday life, both in their relationships with themselves as adults and in their relationships with their children.

Inese Lapsiņa , cognitive-behavioral therapist, certified clinical and health psychologist at the Crisis and Consultation Center "Skalbes"

"... a truly valuable book that takes you step by step through the twists and turns of the parenting experience and provides kind and supportive help in a wide range of parenting situations. Consciousness-based child rearing is an evidence-based practice, and the author of the book has perfectly integrated multifaceted knowledge and her experience as a psychiatrist to reveal to us the principles of the mindfulness-based child rearing method in an engaging way. Each step of the method is illustrated with examples, mindfulness exercises and meditations. [...] The mindfulness approach gives us the skills to be kind, compassionate and attentive parents, both in taking care of ourselves and in helping our children grow."

Indra Majore-Düšele , psychologist, dance and movement therapist, mindfulness teacher, mother of 3 children