Moments Away from Kids

So take a moment to get into a comfortable seated position where you can rest in stillness. If you'd like, you can close your eyes or leave them open and rest them on a spot in front of you. And sometimes when we get time to ourselves, the busy-ness of the day catches up with us as the mind is swirling with thoughts, making it hard to enjoy the breaks in our day. If your child is away at school right now, you may notice worries about how their day is going, or just a bit of restlessness from being apart after spending so much time together. So let's take this moment to check in and enjoy this precious moment of solitude and stillness. And so we'll start by asking ourselves, "What am I in the middle of right now? What's going on around me?" And then bring to mind what was happening right before you started this meditation. And now bring to mind what might be happening right after this meditation. And see if you can imagine yourself transitioning to the next activity with more ease and feeling centered. And now just invite your attention to rest in this present moment. Notice your eyes and how they feel, they might be fluttering or feel tight, whatever you notice, just invite that delicate area around your eyes to soften and release. And invite a smoothness across your forehead as you imagine that you're gazing upon something beautiful, like a sunset or a field of flowers. And now let your awareness rest on sensations in your neck and shoulders. See if you can invite your shoulders to melt down away from your ears. And now we'll check in with our senses. So start by noticing what you can hear around you, listening to sounds as if you've invited each one to be here. And then notice what you can smell in the air, noticing any subtle sense or just the sensation of breathing at your nose. And then notice any tastes or sensations in your mouth. And finally notice what you can feel on your skin. Maybe you notice the feeling of your clothes against your skin or a breeze against your face. And notice the support of the surface underneath you and the points of contact between your feet and the ground. And now bring your awareness to your body and any sensations that draw your attention. Maybe you notice restlessness or comfort and the stillness of your posture. Whenever you're noticing, allow it to be accepted just as it is. And now slowly begin to scan through your body from the top of your head, through your torso, down through your lower body and all the way down to your toes. Imagine that for now the future and the past are far, far away and invite your mind and body to be fully immersed in the stillness of this present moment. And give yourself permission to rest in the...