The last morning of Winter Break…. A break where parts of it felt like miles 1-3 and 15-22 of a marathon. The roller coaster of feeling was riding continuously without breaks, and I was already two anxiety attacks deep before 9:00 am.
Round 3 of anxious breath was creeping its way back into my chest, shallow and quick accompanied by the ever-unsupportive racing thoughts…the tiny humans wanted to make art and I wanted to run away…
The package of clay opened, greeting me with the texture for the first time. I instantly pulled my hand back. I didn’t like it—it was sticky and stiff, and left my fingertips feeling tacky….though I was mildly disgusted with the sensory experience, I found the invitation to play. And I took it. Mindfully.
It started with the tacky fingers…
Then it moved to the sensations of the clay rolling between my fingers, on my palm—the way the clay smelled, how the clay looked set against the table, the art mat, the other colors….
I noticed the sensation taking place in my fingertips, my hands, my arms. I sat with it…they felt heavy, and buzzy. Like a current moving with energy.
I closed my eyes and continued to take inventory of my body. My breathing had slowed back to what is regular for me, the anxious tremble that was vibrating me at my core was gone, my attention focused only on that moment and the several peaceful moments that followed.
Viktor Frankl said, “between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom”…I’m grateful for the space I’ve learned to cultivate through my practice of mindfulness and meditation. It’s not always found quickly, but at least now there is access to it.
Ways to encourage mindful play:
-Explore the sensory components of what you are engaging with
What does it feel like?
Does it have a smell?
What does it look like?
Does it make a sound?
Can you taste it?
-Tune to your body, what do you notice?
How does exploring the object with your sensory system feel?
(When I first started this it felt so weird to me, but its interesting if you lean into it)
-How is your child engaging with the object?
Observe them
How are they using their sensory system to explore and engage?
Join them by following their lead, what they do you do exactly the same…
Did that do anything with your interaction?
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