Mindfulness for Prismatic Parents, Caregivers, and Educators

A prism divides light into the rainbow, a symbol often used to describe the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Prismatic parents, caregivers, and educators are themselves 2SLGBTQ+ and/or have 2SLGBTQ+ children in their care. Mindful relationships with youth reduce hyperactive, depressive, and aggressive behaviors without requiring them to change at all. When caregivers practice mindfulness, research suggests that youth behavior improves, and adults get benefits such as improved communication with youth, higher relational satisfaction, less stress and anxiety, and the feeling that parenting / caregiving is less work.

Bellingham Queer Collective is thrilled to host an eight-week mindfulness series designed for prismatic parents, caregivers and educators. Participants in this course will be introduced to mindfulness in the caregiving relationship and will experience both automatic and aware parenting / caregiving. In addition, mindfulness home practices and resources to support them will be explored.

Sessions will be held at the BQC Center (310 W Champion Street in Bellingham). We will meet on Sundays from September 13 - November 15 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Our session on Sunday, October 25 will be from 9:00 - 4:00 pm.

Participants will…

Define mindfulness, mindful caretaking, minority stress, and adultism
Identify the impact of the way participants were parented on their parenting, caregiving, or educating style
Understand how adults practicing mindfulness can reduce caregiver stress and improve both the adult-youth relationship and youth behavior
Experience and practice mindful lying down, sitting, and movement
Identify mindfulness resources to support ongoing learning and practice

Meet our Facilitator

The course is facilitated by Jill Stansbury, a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Facilitator certified by Brown University and a parent educator with 15 years of experience. She has been a co-parent and caregiver for family members.

Jill focuses on using curiosity to help individuals unearth their internal wisdom to support sustainable habit change. As support for queer health is vital in these challenging times, she appreciates the opportunity to partner with all to encourage radical acts of self-care!

Learn more about Jill

READY TO GET STARTED? Spaces are limited and registration is required. Sign up today!

QUESTIONS? Please email Jill Stansbury at jill@bellinghamqueercollective.org.

Course Schedule:

Orientation

Sunday, September 13 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm

Learn about mindfulness, get an overview of the course organization and requirements, as well as understand the risks and benefits of practice
Explore chronic minority stress and how it impacts the experience of youth, parents, caregivers, and educators in our culture
Read and sign a release of liability
Get oriented to Zoom facilitation
Set up Individual Meetings

Session 1: Automatic Caregiving

Sunday, September 20 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm

Experience the body scan meditation and mindful eating
Explore parenting stress through creative visualization and group discussion

Session 2: Beginner’s Mind and Adult-Youth Relating

Sunday, September 27 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm

Awareness of breath sitting meditation and standing mindful seeing
Learn about the power of perspective to limit our widen the field of awareness
Discover compassionate responses to stressful experiences
Engage in a gratitude practice

Session 3: Reconnecting with Our Body as a Caregiver

Sunday, October 4 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm

Engage in gentle yoga, awareness of breath and body sitting meditation, and the 3-minute breathing space
Explore bodily reactions to stress
Visualize self-compassion in stressful adult-youth relationship moments

Session 4: Responding Vs. Reacting to Adult-Youth Relationship Stress

Sunday, October 11 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm

Practice awareness of breath, body, sounds and thoughts sitting meditation, gentle standing yoga, and the 3-minute breathing space
Examine new reactions to the stress response

Session 5: Adult-youth Relationship Patterns and Schema

Sunday, October 18 | 4:00 - 7:00 pm

Experience walking meditation and awareness of breath, body, sounds, thoughts and, emotions sitting meditation
Hone the ability to hold strong emotions with kindness
Recognize one’s relationship patterns

Day of Mindfulness

Sunday, October 25 | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm