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photo taken by Jesse Millan on CC by 3.0 licence.

~ Practical resources

Q: Can a child become conscious of the inner truth like an adult?

The Mother (of Auroville): For a child this is very clear, for it is a perception without complications of word of thought--there is that which puts him at ease and that which makes him uneasy (it is not necessarily joy or sorrow which come only when the thing is very intense). And all this is much clearer in the child than in an adult, for the latter has always a mind which works and clouds his perception of the truth.

The Mother (of Auroville): I have known children who were much more conscious of their psychic being (spiritual part or soul) at the age of five than at fourteen, and at fourteen than at twenty-five; and above all, from the moment they go to school where they undergo that kind of intensive mental training which draws their attention the intellectual part of their being, they lose almost always and almost completely this contact with their psychic being (soul).

(both from page 40 of How to Bring Up a Child, Ed. Vijay for Sri Aurobindo Society)


Some of these authors offer worldviews that can complement, or contrast with, mainstream views on pregnancy and child-rearing. If you have found other favorite, life-saving books or websites please let us know: open dharma meditation retreats info

Intergenerational influences
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/fighting-bullying-with-babies/
http://zenhabits.net/on-compassion-towards-our-children/

Pregnancy
Ina May Gaskin, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Spiritual Midwifery
Janet Balaskas, Yoga for Pregnancy
Dr. Heidi Murkoff, etc., What to Expect When You're Expecting
Simkin, Whalley, Keppler; Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn
Waterbirth Frequently Asked Questions

Child-rearing
Jean Liedloff, The Continuum
Edward Shalt, Easy Homeopathy
Robin Lim, After the Baby's Birth
Harvey Karp, Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block
Elizabeth Pantley, The No-Cry Sleep Solution and The No-Cry Potty Training Solution
Sandra Steingraber, Having Faith
Heidi Murkoff, etc., What to Expect the First Year and ...the Toddler Years
Lynda Fassa, Green Babies, Sage Moms
Ruth Yaron, Super Baby Food
www.fuzzibunz.com
www.gro-via.com
www.wonderoos.com

Breastfeeding
www.lalecheleague.com

Internet resources
Sesame street, the pioneers in education as fun entertainment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhv1h3V8Nz4 and http://www.sesamestreet.org

InCultureParent a magazine for parents rasing little global citizens
(suggested by Jessica Kerwin)
http://www.incultureparent.com/

Jaya's favourite tips
1) After getting a child to sleep (in your arms or lap or wherever), wait at least 5 minutes but not more than 20 minutes if you want to move or put her or him down.

2) From 2-6 weeks of age, many babies have increasing bouts of "unexplained crying." Traditionally, called "colic," these episodes tend to taper off from 6 weeks onwards. During the same period the brain undergoes major "rewiring." Just good to know that if it happens, it is probably normal.

3) "The 'terrible 2's' are nothing. It's really the terrible 3's that demand everything you have got."


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~ Suggestions

Jenny Devlin suggested books
The Complete Buddhism for Mothers, by Sarah Napthali
Parenting for a Peaceful World, by Robin Grille
Iyengar Yoga for Motherhood, by Geeta Iyengar, Kellar & Khatab.

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