Teaching Toddlers About Acceptance

The theme of Tuesday's Parent and Toddler Yoga class was acceptance. Being ok when you're upset because you can't go outside to play or when you can't have a toy at the store. We opened our hearts with a gentle sitting backbend to look at what life brings, then we bent forward in a gesture of acceptance for what is. One of the ways we can practice acceptance is by being present. And to practice being present, we can focus on what we are experiencing through our five senses.

The usually active toddlers sat quietly and turned on their listening ears as I played sounds inside a magic bag. Their task was to identify what the sounds were, like the revving up of an engine, the quacking of a duck and the jingling of silver bells. Then we moved on to what our noses told us as we rubbed rosemary in our palms and breathed in its aroma. Then we smelled candles and many of them recognized the smell of peppermint oil.



After a great class, I couldn't help but feel a little more spiritual, mindful to practice more acceptance in my own life. But then today Pedro told me that he will be going to the Masters in Augusta, GA in April--for business, of course--and my heart sank, forgetting all about the peace that glowed from me yesterday. A long-time golf fan, I have always dreamed of going to the Masters, but now Pedro gets to go. Just when I think I've climbed another rung on the ladder of enlightenment, the Universe tests my attainment. I'm working on it. Where's my lavendar?