A talk on Mindful Parenting presented to staff of DBS Asia Hub on 02 Dec 2013

1. MINDFUL PARENTING
Sharing by :
Bita Seow
On the good day of :
02 Dec 2013
At the kind invitation of :
DBS Asia Hub, Changi Business Park

2. SPEAKER’S PROFILE
Bita Seow
has a successful business strategy & marketing
career in the info-communications & media industry.
Always grateful for her blessings of birth in this part of the world and the
privilege of an education, Bita makes "pay it forward" a philosophy of her life.
Currently, she also serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the
Buddhist Fellowship Singapore and the Firefly Mission. In addition to being a
Sunday school teacher, she leads and volunteers with the Tan Tock Seng
Hospital's HIV-Aids support group - MaitriPals, Singapore Prison Service's
religious counselling group, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and many others.
Joyfully, she balances all these with her dedication towards parenting 2
teenagers. Every year, Bita and her children devote their holidays towards
supporting and participating in numerous humanitarian projects, both locally
and overseas. She has a natural flair with engaging people of all age groups
and all walks of life. She has been instrumental in the development, mentoring
and coaching of youth & young people’s programs in the community.
Bita speaks regularly on topics that impact lives.

3. WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY?
For A Happy Exchange …
Between like-minded people …
Desiring happiness for ourselves …
As well as for others.
YES!

4. STATE OF HAPPINESS LEVEL IN SINGAPORE
Rise in suicides among the young
Source : The Straits Times, ‘07 2010

5. MAKING WISE CHOICES IN LIFE
As parents, part of our role is to nurture and instill
wholesome values & that will shape and influence
our child’s choices & attitude towards life.
When faced with
life’s hard knocks …
… Which choice would you wish your child choose?

6. “MINDFUL PARENTING” ~ WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
as defined in dictionaries :
“Mindful”
“Parenting”
be Aware, be Attentive, be Conscious
of action(s) to an object.
the Act or Process of responsibility
of a care-giver (parent)
“Action” takes the form of thoughts, words, deeds.
“Object” could be a person, place, situation, thing,
etc.
to rear, raise, love, care, guide,
nurture a child
Are you a parent in an
…“AWAKE” state?

7. “MINDFUL PARENTING” ~ WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Children Are
GIFTS OF LIFE

8. LIFE HAS ITS CHALLENGES & ITS BEAUTY…
Some face challenges &
difficulties having a baby …
It’s our honor to be a parent

9. THE CHILD WILL ALWAYS BE OUR DEAREST…
regardless of their age
or their stage in life

10. TILL WE DRAW OUR LAST …

11. RAISING POSITIVE CHILDREN ~ IT STARTS WITH US …

12. BE THEIR ROLE MODEL …
• When the child is young... other pursuits can wait, the child can't.
• When the child is in adolescence... give him/her the space and
time.
• When the child is a young adult....let him/her go.
• You are the child's greatest teacher. Nurse, let go and inspire. The
child is watching you all the time. What you think, what you say
and what you do....make sure all three are in harmony.
Have WHOLESOME & Be SKILLFUL in
Thought
Speech
Deed

13. PARENTS ARE IMPORTANT ROLE MODELS …
You Are His/Her IDOL!!
•
Role models are often subjects of admiration and emulation
•
Through your personal qualities and achievements, you can inspire your child to strive
and develop without direct instruction
•
SIGNIFICANCE of role models :
• Role models are human ; they make mistakes.
• Parents who admit to their mistakes, learn from them, and strive to better themselves
can serve as powerful influences for children's emotional growth.
• By addressing problems and conflicts in their own lives (such as trying to lose weight
or handle a demanding supervisor at work) and sharing the process in an ageappropriate manner, parents can encourage their children to address their own
concerns.
• Parents should also display non-aggressive responses to stress and anger
management.

14. FROM THOUGHT, TO SPEECH, TO DEED… IT DEFINES YOU!

15. TEACH THEM TO CONNECT THEIR TOOLS …
cultivate
right views
TO HELP THEM FOR LIFE’S JOURNEY…

16. BECAUSE THOUGHTS WILL BECOME REALITY…

17. IT’S THEIR REALITY, NOT YOURS …
PLEASE OPEN YOUR HEARTS TO THEM, LOVE & EMBRACE…

18. NURTURE THEIR GARDEN OF REALITY …

19. YOUR CHOICE OF WORDS, TONE & DELIVERY OF SPEECH …
WORDS
"What are words If you really don't mean them when you say them?
What are words If they're only for good times then they're done?
When it's love Yeah, you say them out loud those words, They never go away. They live on, even when we're
gone". - Chris Medina

20. CHOOSE & USE WISELY …

21. THEY BECOME THEIR VOICE …

22. IF THEY ARE YOUR LAST WORDS TO YOUR CHILD …
What would it be ?

23. SAY TO YOUR CHILD WHAT A LOVER WOULD …
You’re the most
beautiful!
Hey, gorgeous!
Handsome dude!
Smarty pants!
I love your pimples!
You smell like
candy!
You are my
sunshine!
My heart is always
yours!
I love you!
…….
give CONFIDENCE
is TRUTHFUL
is ENCOURAGING
is LOVING
is BEAUTIFUL
is GENTLE
is HELPFUL
is BENEFICIAL
is TIMELY
is HAPPENING !!
SMILE,
Use Such Words Generously,
And MEAN IT!

24. IN PEACE / HARMONY, A MOUTH IS AT WORK …
Conflicts and wars often start
from wrong things said.
Mindfulness in speech stem
from a CONSCIOUS mind.
Right views are conditions for
kind, gentle and beautiful
speech.

25. YOU ARE BEING WATCHED & HEARD; ALL THE TIME …

26. ON SICK / DEATH-BED, NO ONE EVER SAID “I MISS WORK”

27. WHEN YOU SAY YOUR FINAL GOOD-BYE …

28. YOUR ACTIONS SHOW THE WAY OF WHAT’S ACCEPTED …
How spouse treat one another?
How you treat your helper?
Your reaction to traffic ?
Are you the traffic bully?
Kids these days don’t have table manners ?
Blame who?

29. YOUR ATTITUDE, VALUES & BELIEFS ARE WHAT BUILD YOUR
LITTLE MEN & WOMEN…

30. LOVE OF A PARENT FOR A CHILD IS BOUNDLESS …

31. HOW WE LOVE OUR PARENTS SHOW OUR CHILDREN
HOW WE LIKE TO BE LOVED…
饮水思源

32. HAVE PEACE EVERY MOMENT WHEN WE ARE BREATHING …

33. FACE IT,
THIS IS LIFE!
YOU ARE ONLY A
VEHICLE FOR
YOUR CHILD’S
BIRTH

34. YOU,
CHOOSE TO BE
HAPPY
&
BE TRUE TO
THE BEST THAT
YOU CAN BE!


36. FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.brahmcentre.com