Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting [Paperback]

Myla Kabat-zinn (Author), Jon Kabat-Zinn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1998

The bestselling author of "Wherever You Go, There You Are" joins forces with his wife, Myla, in this groundbreaking new book about mindfulness in parenting children of all ages. Two-color throughout.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In the rush, rush, rush of too-much-to-do-and-no-time-to-do-it, the all-important, nurturing aspects of parenthood can easily disappear. Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Wherever You Go, There You Are and Myla Kabat-Zinn have collaborated on Everyday Blessings, a book that approaches parenting from the Zen Buddhist position of moment-to-moment awareness. It's a beautiful presentation and a thoughtful approach to mindful meditation that will help you slow down, enrich your life as a parent, and nourish the internal life of your children. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; First Edition edition (April 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786883146
• ISBN-13: 978-0786883141
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An antidote for mechanistic parenting books, July 25, 2000

By 

Vandy Shrader (Belmont, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting (Paperback)

Jon and Myla Kabat-Zinn's mindful parenting book, Everyday Blessings, is so filled with love, hope, and peacefulness, that it stands out like a light above the sea of all the mechanical how-to-deal-with-your-kids books and cynical "kids versus parents" theories.

Like many parents, I spend a lot of time trying to do the "right" things as a parent, the things that will help my children grow to be whole adults. Also, like many parents, I would like to parent differently than my parents did. Where, then, does one turn for guidance?

Some "experts" say that children are born to "get as much as they can from their parents," that it's all a big game with winners and losers along the way. The parent-child relationship feels, to me, to be something more, something sacred and beautiful and worthy of my full attention and commitment. When I found Everyday Blessings I rejoiced.

This book mirrors and beautifully expands on my innermost beliefs about parenting. I read some passages through tears, out of relief that yes, there is another way; other times the tears came as I absorbed the beauty of the Kabat-Zinns' words and the love reflected in their interactions with their children. And of course, there were lots and lots of smiles.

I highly recommend this book as an antidote for all the mechanistic or cynical parenting books that are currently available.

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best parenting book I have ever read, October 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting (Hardcover)

Since becoming a new mother in February of 1999, I have read every parenting book I can get my hands on. This one was given to me as a gift and I have had a hard time putting it down. I have even written excerpts into my journal. Some of the words are so beautiful I find myself reading them out loud! I am a single Mom who struggles with finances and raising a little boy on my own. This book has helped me appreciate each moment with my son and find the good things in every day. It has truly changed my life and I plan to share it with other new mothers as well. I feel fortunate to have found it this early in my journey as a parent!

80 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Zen parenting. Wherever you go, your kids are there too., September 16, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Bainbridge Island, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting (Hardcover)

The Kabat-Zinns bring a fresh perspective to parenting, one that allows you and your children to be who you are, without preconceptions or restrictive expectations. It applies basic Zen precepts to child-rearing, such as living fully in the moment and acceptance. The Kabat-Zinns emphasize the need to respect the child's "sovereignty" (their word) which might be loosely translated as power or independence. I personally had a little difficulty with this concept as it seems to imply letting the little buggers get away with all sorts of infractions and deemphasizes the need to foster their consideration of others and behavioral limits. Overall, the authors can be vague and one wishes for a concrete directive for dealing with, for example, temper tantrums engendered by requests to eat broccoli. But the true test of a book on parenting is whether one can practice it and achieve results. In the brief time since I read it, I have noticed that I am more patient with, more attentive to, and more respectful of my 5 year old. Now, if I can just get him to eat his broccoli