Sarah Napthali Knihy

Raising school children is a radically different experience from tending children under the age of five. With children at school, life is both easier and harder and there are very different challenges on the horizon—mothers are often thinking of going back to work, or juggling work–life balance issues. They are questioning what they want out of life, how they want to interact with the world, and creating new definitions for themselves. Children are more demanding too, asking questions, testing boundaries, and beginning to define themselves as separate from their parents. Sarah Napthali explores the distinct issues arising from this phase of motherhood and how Buddhism can play a role in providing answers and direction, in her usual warm, wise, inclusive, and accessible style.

Focusing on spiritual and mindful parenting, this guide weaves personal narratives with stories from various mothers to illustrate how these practices can enhance openness, attentiveness, and contentment in parenting. It serves as a resource for all mothers, regardless of their spiritual background, to foster deeper connections with their children and cultivate a more fulfilling parenting experience.

Addressing the often-overlooked spiritual needs of mothers, this book discusses Buddhist teachings as applied to the everyday challenges and stresses of raising children. Offered are ways for mothers to reconnect with their inner selves and become calmer and happier—with the recognition that a happier mother will be a better parent. This realistic look at motherhood acknowledges the sorrows as well as the joys of mothering and offers real and achievable coping strategies for mothers to renew their lives on a deep level.