Being Present with your Child

a message from
Leonard Jacobson

Friday, 26 March, 2010 

 

We
repressed the pain, and then we ventured further and further into the
mind as a strategy of avoidance. In other words, we followed in the
footsteps of our parents, just as they did with their parents. The
outcome is that we are no longer present, and when we have children of
our own, we cannot be present with them. In fact, your daughter’s
presence can unconsciously remind you of the pain from your own
childhood, which makes it even more difficult to be present with her.

In
order to be present with your daughter, you will have to go through a
process of feeling all the difficult feelings repressed within you. In a
sense, you have to reverse that process of repression. It does not have
to be difficult, and it does not have to take long.

The first
step is to remember the present moment, many times each day, so that
gradually you become more and established in Presence. Your daughter can
also be your teacher. Just tune into her, and she will show you how to
be present.

Then you can begin the process of allowing all the
painful memories and emotions from the past to surface into conscious
and responsible expression. If you are present, it is not difficult,
because you know that the feelings are from the past and have nothing to
do with the present moment, and so there is no need to continue
repressing them. You allow the feelings to surface into an inner
environment that is loving, accepting, allowing and compassionate.

As
the feelings arise and as you experience them consciously, they release
from you. You are no longer avoiding things hidden with you, and so you
can be more and more present with your daughter. It will be as much a
blessing for you as for her.

Leonard Jacobson