So I'm back to reading this amazing book, Child's Mind, and it's totally inspiring me again. I have about 15 minutes to read each night, and that's about it, but sometimes I get more in, so now I'm on Chapter 3.  I think that the book feels a little overwhelming because it has sooooo many really awesome mindfulness practices in it, but I figure, a little, just a little at a time is better than nothing.

Well, we've occasionally been playing a cool mindfulness game before dinner. We just listen for the sounds that we hear and pay attention to smells, etc. And we whisper-tell each other about them. It's been good for getting them settled in. I've been trying to get them to slow down and just notice things when they eat, when they drink: textures, flavors, smells, thoughts, feelings, etc. It's been an interesting journey.

Last night, they were off the flipping' wall at bed time, so I went in room after turning out all the lights much to their very loud consternation and declarations that they were scared, etc. I just said over and over, "I really want to know what you're saying, but I can't hear you when you're shouting" and waited for them to calm down. Once they were calm, I asked them why they were scared, and they, of course, answered, "Because it's dark" to which I replied, "what changed when the lights went out, other than that one thing, the lights going out?" They had no answer. So once I go them calm and assured them that there's nothing in the dark that isn't in the light, I told them that I wanted to play the listening game and that it would be more fun in the dark dark darkest dark we could get.

So we played it. They noticed a lot of night sounds. That was cool.

Then, we played a game that worked a little like progressive relaxation, but instead of tensing up our muscles, we moved them, starting with our cores and moving out. So we made our tummies like oceans, "can you wiggle your tummy all over while you keep the rest of your body still? Okay, let's wiggle our tummies like waves on the ocean while we take five big breaths." And I counted them, exaggerating in through our noses, out through our mouths. Then we stopped and tried to be really still for five more breaths, feeling the bed under our backs or tummies and listening again. "Okay, now let's move our shoulders, move them all around, not fast, just easy. How many different ways can you move your shoulders without moving the rest of your body?" Then we breathed again and then were still again for five more breaths. Then we wiggled our booties, then our heads, then our faces, then our legs and arms, then our fingers and toes, each time keeping the rest of our bodies still and soft-soft. The baby monkeys fell dead asleep. Simon and Lydia were dubious, but went along. They complained a little, but then kinda fell  in line. They didn't fall asleep, but the rhythm of argument followed by playing followed by an argument... ceased, and they chilled out.

So, success. Score one for mindfulness and a good night's rest.