Parenting with Spirit includes interviews with such experts as:

David Spangler
Brian Biro
Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn
Joan Borysenko
Alice O. Howell
Steve Biddulph
Don Miguel Ruiz

Contributions from such well-known teachers as Jack Kornfield and Pema Chodron, and many more.

Every issue of the magazine includes columns on: Animals as Teachers, Mindfulness in Practice, The Wisdom of Children, Creativity as Therapy, and Storytime. Each issue contains wisdom from the “real experts” on this subject—our children! And there are plenty of practical thoughts for dealing with daily parenting concerns!!

Parenting with Spirit is the only national magazine dedicated to honoring the spiritual paths of both parents and children. By “spiritual” we mean “the awe-based search for meaning and magic in response to our deepest needs for love and peace.”

Parenting with Spirit is the only magazine looking at daily child-rearing issues from the spiritual and holistic perspective.
Parenting with Spirit includes interviews with experts in fields of spirituality, psychology, education and child development. It also includes the wisdom of children and the guidance we can receive from animals!
Parenting with Spirit includes ideas for family fun as well as creative exercises.
Parenting with Spirit is going into its seventh year and is highly regarded. Therapist Linley Solari writes, “This magazine is the most heartfelt, the purist and the wisest…”
Parenting with Spirit comes out quarterly: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Between hardcopy issues you may—if you request this service--receive supplemental e-zines. Please send us a note with your e-mail address to: Judith@parentingwithspirit.com
Parenting with Spirit is a part of the Institute for Spiritual Living which includes: the formation of support groups (PWS Affiliate Chapter start-up information costs $58.65) a newsletter called Spirituality in Business (available for $29.95, this comes out ten times a year), and an upcoming book on Zen Parenting. The editors of the magazine are also available for workshops.

How can a magazine help?

We believe that the universe intends for us to have joy. Not the hedonistic joy of what one teen described as the meaning of life:  "I just want a juicy burger and enough money to take my girl to the movies." The universe, the Creator, the Great Spirit intends that we feel the warmth and light of connection to all life. God wants us to enjoy life with the pure wonder we had when we started out in this existence. Despite our stresses, we can re-learn to experience life as a wonder-filled quest for meaning, values and connection...and we can share this beautiful journey with our children.

Why do we need a magazine like this?
The rate of depression, especially among children, is ten times worse today than it was in 1950. We are confronted now with a fast-paced world of many stresses...and our children feel it. At the same time, our children are grappling with what it means to live in a global community. Every day we see people who look different, dress differently or follow different customs and beliefs. Our children are crying out for a way of life that makes sense of all this.  They desperately need tools for fitting all the pieces together. They want to hang on to the magic of early childhood. They want to be reassured that there is more to life than Nikes, hamburgers and TV.

"Spiritual parenting" is a process of remembering that children have an innate spiritual sense. It means that adults need to give children the opportunity, the time and the assistance they need in pondering the big questions of life. It means that parents also have an innate connection with God that we can tap into through prayer and meditation.

Spiritual parenting is a reminder that:
God is too big to fit in any one religion."

Parenting with Spirit looks at the big picture of what unites all beings with the universe and something beyond. It is a resource, an inspiration and a challenge. It is designed for anyone who wants to think deeply about how spirituality can help both parents and children deal with the stresses of the modern world.

Is this practical?
At age two, Peter used to run away whenever I tried to get him dressed in the morning. He thought it was a game and would run around the table. Then he'd cry and kick and squirm when/if I caught him. The closer I was to appointment times, the more frustrating and irritating this game would be. One morning I was getting very angry. I took a moment to consult my inner guidance and to say a prayer. I wanted this time of getting dressed and leaving the house to be pleasant and easy.  I visualized how much I love Peter.

I visualized the times when two-year-old Peter says "I wuv you, Mommy" before he goes outside with Daddy. Or when he says, "Mommy, hug, hug" and has his eyes closed and arms out waiting. Or when he stood up on the bleachers and danced during his first experience at the circus. Or when he looked up with such pure joy the first time he got the tricycle to move by his own efforts. Visualizing these things helps me to slow down and feel love. I said a prayer, asking that I do the right thing.

Then I realized that Peter wanted to do it his way. He wanted some involvement in the process. So I set his clothes on a chair and stopped chasing him. I explained that we needed to leave soon and he probably wouldn't want to wear his pajamas. Then I went about getting myself ready.  Pretty soon Peter brought me his clothes and asked for help in getting dressed.

The key was not in leaving the clothes on the chair. What I DID is not really the issue. Setting the clothes down and waiting would probably not work at all for a lot of kids. It's not a technique that worked. IT WAS A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE, A CHANGE IN MY ENERGY. I GAVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN WITH ME. The problem with techniques is they often don't work for our children. Kids know when we are trying to manipulate them. The key is in MY change. My attitude changed and I stopped the chase game. Peter wanted to cooperate because he could feel my love.

Spiritual parenting is hard work. It doesn't mean easy answers. That's why we need support. That's why we need Parenting with Spirit.