Slow Childhood Adventures, by Kizzy Petit

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Are we teaching our children to live a busy life or a full life? 

Our society pushes us to be in a hurry at all times, without allowing us to live every experience at a natural pace, or worst, without giving ourselves the permission to just doing nothing. 

It is so deeply normalised that even though we feel depleted by having our over-scheduled lives, most people feel guilty when they take a break to pause down and enjoy a time with no “duties” or “responsibilities” involved (I know, I have been there too!). 

And we are sadly contaminating our children with this fast living. The new generations are growing in a rushed daily routine, in which they are being pushed to learn too much, too soon–an example of this is a subject that really crisps my nerves: the unreliable kindergarten entrance exams, where parents push their babies and toddlers to be “successful” at vocabulary, numbers, letters and grammar, well before their minds are ready to appreciate and integrate this knowledge, just because they want their children to get a place at a certain school.

We adults are the ones who are hurrying them, putting so much pressure on them, teaching them that life is a competition place and what matters is to get to the next place, sometimes without caring too much about the how they got to that next place. 

A busy approach is superficial, where both children and parents are living from their minds and not engaging deeply with whatever they are doing. And no one can enjoy life in that way! Yes, there are "successful" people who learn to cope with the busyness, but their physical and mental health gets affected in the process.

Is this really what makes us happy? Or we are just living in speed motion because "that's the way it is" and we think we cannot do anything to change it? 

But, hey! As difficult as it might be, we can train ourselves to slow down, to reduce the speed, to pause, to breathe, to allow some space for just ‘being’, instead of ‘doing’. I have seen the amazing results of living slow myself, in my health. I was anxious, over-worried, having sleeping problems, and always tired! Of course, my daughter was picking up on those energies, and that was not good for her. 

Then, I started to enjoy my me-time! I put aside at least 15 minutes a day for me to consciously being with myself and my thoughts, my emotions, my feelings, my wants, my needs... no more living on auto-pilot mode! From that moment, if I am going to have a walk, then I look around me and try to spot any nature wonder. If I want to read, then I focus those 15 minutes to read maybe two pages of my current favourite book. I can dance to any song that inspires me at the moment. Or just have a nice warm cup of herbal tea! 

Yes! You get my point, right?

When you slow down, you listen more, you feel better and connect deeply, and this is very important because our children are mirroring us, so we get to be conscious about what kind of life inspires us.

Have you asked yourself what are the things that make your soul really full and joyful?

Maybe you can start learning from your kids, who are naturally mindful, capable of being present and enjoying the moment with great curiosity.

Do you allow yourself to make new friends that are not related to work or to your children’s school? Or what about stopping to appreciate the sunset? Taking a photo to something that leaves you in awe? Taking back old unfulfilled dreams, like learning to play a musical instrument or a new language? Or sitting on the coach to read a book?

Just for the record, slowness is not an attribute of laziness -not even close-. Slow living is not about living your life in slow motion, but about doing everything at the natural speed and pacing instead of rushing. 

What do you think would make you feel better? Enjoying just parts of your day or rather enjoying it all?

Think of this: You will not lose time for going slowly; you are going to gain time by doing the things that are most important to you and that make you feel happy. 

I invite you to slow down and take your time to enjoy the natural rhythm of your children, to connect with them, their emotions and your as well, of course. 

There’s no need to rush. Stay slow. Be mindful. 


Kizzy Petit
Author - Doula - Parenting and Women Coach



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