New Home

Greetings All!

Please join me as I have a new blogging home:  http://mimidoe.typepad.com/my_weblog/.

Also, do head over to www.SpiritualParenting.com and see the tools for rasing your children and nurturing your own spirit!

Best,

Mimi

Magical Day!

 

2-11-11

DREAM BIG BABY!

 

Today is a special day...  In the realm of human gestation, whatever you create today will be "birthed" on 11.11.11!  Just 9 months from now!

3rd Day of Advent

 

December 3

3^rd Day of Advent

 

The Trip of a Lifetime

 

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem."

--Luke 2:4

 

What an incredible trip I too am on in this lifetime.  What's most joyful is the journey itself, not the destination.  There is more wonder, love, success, bliss and sparkle than I can even begin to imagine.  It's not about getting somewhere, it's about bringing myself to this moment and knowing what a gift lies here waiting to be opened -- no matter what I’m doing.  On this journey I uncover my talents, interests, abilities and I get to experience others and their unfolding.  Love runs through my journey like a stream, motivating me to my divine potential day by day, mile by mile, inspiring me to live my life to the fullest.  This moment in my grand trip, I am at ease and know that regardless of circumstances I am where I am supposed to be and supported by the loving, always available presence of God.  All is well. 

First Day of Advent

 

December 1

 

God is My Power

 

Today, on the first day of Advent, my every need is filled in positive and wonderful ways.  I allow the light of the season to infuse me and trust that I am fully fueled by the magnificent energy of God within.  Today, peace and harmony are the themes of my every action.  While my life might look overscheduled and full, I keep a core sense of calm inside as I always remember I am never alone.  There is not a spot where God is not.  A new Advent season has begun...A new life for me is born today.

 

 “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”

--Psalm 36:9

This and That

Warmest December Greetings!!!

If you're a ClubMom visitor you have probably heard that they are shifting away from hosting blogs.  SO...this one will simply move to my website: SpiritualParenting.com. 

I will make sure to let you know before we pack up and move...but in the meantime...feel free to come on by.  Our December newsletter has just been posted and we'd love your feedback on the site...

I've really enjoyed being a part of ClubMom and all the amazing women I've met through this blog.  I've heard from so many of you recently about "blogs going away" and questions about my past postings, my family, and my new books...Let me answer some of the top questions here:

1.  Yes, the cool positive word blankets I raved about last year are still available, in fact, there are even more choices...Check out Affirmagy!  That's the owner holding a sample blanket below:

2.  The Healthy Cookie recipie is in an old post, just click Cookie.

3.  My family is happy and healthy!  Thank you for asking.  Whitney is a sophomore in college and loving the life she has made for herself.  She has incredible friends and I only wish Nashville, TN were closer to Concord, MA.  Elizabeth is a high school senior and continues to make her dad and me proud.  We truly had much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.  Oh...and Comet...who has appeared in the pages of this blog, our Cocker Spaniel, is snoozing right next to me and doing just fine...thank you very much!!

4.  What's my next book?  Well...for those of you who have read my progression of books you know that I teach what I want to learn.  And, my most recent book on creating a stress free college admissions process for kids has launched me into more work in that area.  You can check it out by heading over to DontWorryGetIn.com. 

Have a great month of December and stay tuned for the new blog's home.

Warmest wishes,
Mimi

Cozy Cooking

A big storm is swirling outside.  NPR had warned me as I made a cup of green tea early this morning:  "Hurricane force winds and rain..." 

I had no plans to cancel, no outdoor furniture to lash down.  So, I did the next best thing: assembled ingredients for a day of cozy, comfort cooking.  Well, maybe not the entire day...but a sliver of the day...so that the house would be filled, as it is now, with a harvest, spice aroma that seals out the whipping outdoor drama and soothes the senses of those tucked inside.

I created the following recipe for pumpkin muffins, with a healthy twist.

 

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour
¾ cup white unbleached flour
1 tablespoon wheat germ
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
½ cup sugar (or pure maple syrup)
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 15-ounce can solid-pack organic pumpkin
1 egg
½ cup soy milk
1 cup walnuts

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, wheat germ, flax seed, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl.

Add pumpkin, soy milk, and egg. Stir until just mixed. Add nuts and stir again.

Spoon batter into oil-sprayed muffin cups, filling to just below tops.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until tops of muffins bounce back when pressed lightly. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and cool on a rack

 

 

Halloween Frights

I don't love Halloween!

I love the traditions, rituals, and soulful rhythm around most other holidays...but Halloween is just plain scary for most little kids.

I recall the year one of my daughters was so frightened by the ghosts and goblins showing up at our door that she threw up right in the big bowl of goodies we were handing out.  Well, that shut down Halloween in our household...

Tune into your young children this year and make sure you pace your plans according to their comfort zones.  There's nothing wrong with choosing to stay in rather than trick or treating if your son or daughter is frightened.  There are no SHOULDS here...only fun if fun is warts, broomsticks, and a ghost or two.

Stressed Out Teens

I surveyed about 1,500 teenagers 5 years ago when researching my book, "Nurturing Your Teenager's Soul" (Perigee).  I was shocked, at the time, to learn that the number one source of stress was school and future schooling (i.e.: college admissions).

So, it was no surprise when I read the recently released Associated Press/MTV survey that indicated the same results:

"Among 13-17 year olds, school is by far the most commonly mentioned source of stress."

What is interesting about this  survey is the following stats:

"45 percent of girls and young women reported experiencing stress frequently, to 32 percent of boys and young men. Those from urban areas experienced it more frequently than those in rural areas, and surprisingly, those from middle-income households had it more frequently than those from both lower and higher-income households. (Middle-income was defined as between $50,000 and $75,000.)"

And we wonder why eating disorders and alcohol abuse is at an all time high with our teenage daughters. 
What to do?

-Talk to your daughters about school and what is and isn't working

-Talk to your daughter's schools about how they are addressing stress issues

-Make sure your daughter has ways to release her stress: sports, yoga, quiet time in her day, order in her home, an adult to talk to other than her parents

-Advocate for girls

-Read about the psychology of teens and girls in particular

-Knowledge is power...the college admissions process is NOT transparent...learn all you can so you can thoughtfully guide your daughter.  Check out:  www.DontWorryGetIn.com

-Read my book, "Nurturing Your Teenager's Soul" and start doing so

-Read my book, "Don't Worry: You'll Get In" and help your high school child gain clarity on the murky terrain of college admissions

-Visualize your son or daughter calm and at peace

Coming of Age

I love the idea of coming up with a family tradition to honor and acknowledge a child's 13th birthday. 

When my daughter Whitney turned 13 I asked all the wise women I knew at the time to write her brief thoughts or stories from their own lives to become her road map to the journey ahead.  I called this collection "13 Candles" and presented a bound copy to my sweet girl who  was on the threshold of her teen years. 

Whitney just turned 20 and all that wisdom came in handy as she moved rapidly through from 13 to 20. 

Two summers ago, at age 18, Whitney spent time with a remarkable boy in our town of Concord, Mass. He was born with one leg and yet at age 12 had the strength and tenacity of someone well beyond his years.  This boy, Nico, has a wonderful family who have their own tradition to mark their children's  13th birthday. 

For an inspirational story read about how Nico crossed the threshold to his teen years:

http://www.boston.com/yourlife/articles/2007/10/08/kilimanjaro_one_of_teens_many_heights/?page=1

What would you like to do when your child celebrates his/her 13th birthday?  Or, if that day has come and gone, what did you to to mark it?

Take Care of YOU....

Ok, your kids are back in school and you’ve begun adjusting to the new fall rhythm. Or, perhaps your kids are adjusting better than you are. Do you find you are so busy taking care of everyone’s needs you can’t catch your breath? Do you feel responsible for so much at work and home that you don’t think you’ll ever be able to come up for air, much less pause and connect to Spirit? 

 

It doesn’t take a trip to Canyon Ranch Spa or an esoteric revelation to feel better. It simply takes a little imagination, the intention to care for yourself, and a willingness to actually take the time to do so. When you feel cared for, your kids enjoy the happy repercussions.

Make taking care of yourself a priority this week by choosing one of the actions below and following through.

 

*Dive into some soulful reading.  Turn down the volume of your racing thoughts and pick up an inspirational book or a great piece of fiction.  I love “Peace Like a River” by Leif Enger and “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd. Both stories are full of spiritual significance, rich characters, and swiftly moving plot lines. 

*Call that friend who makes you laugh until you cry. A huge belly laugh can zap you right into bliss.

*Refresh and revitalize by giving yourself the gift of 15 minutes of creative think-time. Yup, just you, a notebook, and a good pen. You might grab this time while waiting to pick up a child or on your lunch hour. Sink into the solitude and allow the ideas to fill  the page. You might explore by writing your response to the following questions: How do I feel? What do I need? If I could, I would………………… !

 *Plan a trip. Even if you don’t have a date in mind or savings in the bank, pretend you are traveling to the destination of your dreams. When you need a dose of “feel good balm,” get out your trip folder and add tidbits from your research on the internet or simply look at what you’ve gathered and visualize yourself there.

*Fill a pitcher with purified water and lemons and allow yourself to pause throughout the day to take in the healing liquid. You will quench more than just your thirst.  

*Dig in the garden. For some parents, taking care of one more living thing sends them over the edge. For others, getting their hands in the dirt is an immediate mood lifter.

*Call your spiritual mentor. Don’t have one? Call a prayer hotline and allow the person who lovingly answers the phones to be with you for a moment in complete focused prayer. Not only will you feel better, but you will open your armor a crack for miracles to slip right in. One organization that is there to support you through prayer is Silent Unity. Prayer is for anyone who requests it, whatever denomination, creed, or location in the world. Each prayer requested is held within the daily vigil for 30 days.Call: 816-969-2000.

I'll be with you in seeking spiritual nurturing!!!

 

Family Connection -- 7 Core Concepts

As you start this new semester of your life...shifting gears into "school mode" and out of that lazy summer rhythm...Make sure to keep my 7 T's for Connected Families somewhere you can see them.  When you make a decision, refer to the T's -- doing so will help keep you grounded and balanced.

Yes, we are all busy but by choosing to embrace the 7 core concepts, the 7 T's, our lives will become balanced. When we are living balanced lives we soar.

 
1. Tolerance: let the little things go.

 

2. Time Together: being together is what it’s all about.

 

3. Trial and Error: never give up just keep trying new approaches for a deeper connection with your kids.

 

4. Take it Out Into the World: practice compassion in action as a family.

 

5. Teach Less Listen More: honor each other’s viewpoints and dreams -- learn from your kids.

 

6. Tools For Living: agree on your family’s unique toolbox of beliefs for life.

 

7. Total Love: you can’t go wrong when you love deeply.