Celebrate Spring

Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month (SM)

Brought to you by Mimi Doe

April, 2008

V10 #4

Celebrate Spring

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This newsletter is my gift to you in the hopes of empowering children and parents everywhere to live more joyful, connected lives.

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A SEASON OF RENEWAL

- Welcome From Mimi

- Celebrate Spring

- What's New

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April greetings to you all!

Spring has arrived and with it new beginnings for us all. Dust away the cobwebs of any winter rut you might have dug and open to incredible delight and surprises. When you begin again – spiritually, emotionally, physically – you open the way for your dreams to manifest and you just experience more happiness.

This month’s newsletter is full of simple tips to celebrate spring and bring yourself and your family to the joy of THIS SEASON…THIS MOMENT.

It all starts with your thoughts. Today, choose to see the good in everything around you. When your busy, judgemental thoughts begin to negate any person or situation, immediately switch the “lazy thought habit” of criticism and find something positive to focus upon – the sound of birds singing, the way the sun slants into the room – the smell of fresh spring air – the vintage fedora perched atop the head of the person you were judging.

We have a choice in how we feel and our thoughts are ours to rein in. What you think is what you get! Wouldn’t you rather experience joy, light heartedness, and delight than judgment, criticism, and disappointment?

BEGIN NOW. Spring is here. The new opportunity of bursting forth life!

Watch my blog, http://mimidoe.typepad.com for an upcoming segment called Order in My House Order in My Soul. Spring is the perfect time to declutter and simplify and with the help of an organizer I will share some tips on organizing my kitchen.

Blessings and light from my heart to yours,

Mimi Doe

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“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”

--Voltaire

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CELEBRATE SPRING

In our busy lives, most of us have little time to connect with the outdoors. And yet, marking nature’s predictable rhythm can be a touchstone for our families. During a recent talk I gave, a mother of three, who yearned for her kids to maintain their relationship with nature, approached me. She said: “When my kids were younger I always took them to the playground, on hikes in the woods, outside to play with the dog or to look for animal tracks in the snow. Now there is no time for them to be outdoors unless it's organized. I think they miss that lovely time in nature, I sure do.”

Celebrate the magical shift of seasons – even if you never step outside – spring has indeed sprung. The following ideas don’t take much time, but by honoring nature’s cycles everyday life takes on a richer meaning.

*On your way home from work, pick up some flowers or small flowering plants for each child’s bedroom.

*Let tonight’s meal be the first picnic of the season – even if you’re dining on a blanket in the living room.

*Write a spring poem and tuck it under your child’s pillow to find at bedtime.

*Set aside an upcoming Saturday and organize and clean out your garage to make room for shiny clean bikes, rollerblades, and badminton sets for the spring. Click here for some great tools to make it easier!

*Create a list with your child of all the spring treats the earth delivers — robin’s eggs, green grass, warmer air, blue skies, purple crocus...and post it on your fridge so you can be on the lookout.

*Throw open the windows and imagine that the breeze, even a cold one, is blowing out stale energy and old habits that you would like to release. This can be the day to spring clean your psyche.

*Get our your favorite mail order catalogs and have each child select a new bathing suit, shorts, or an outrageous beach towel.

*Create a spring parade around the neighborhood. Give the kids markers and a piece of poster board to make a sign that says, SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

*Create a collage of your family’s dream garden using pictures you and your child cut out of magazines and catalogs.

*Write your own myth. What might Father Winter say to Sister Spring as she knocks upon his heavy wooden door? Does he want to leave just yet? How does Sister Spring make her way in?

*As the sun goes down, light lots of candles, turn up your favorite music, and dance together to celebrate the beginning of spring.

*Head over to the nearest playground after dinner regardless of your children’s ages. Swing into the spring air even if there is snow on the ground.

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"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in."

--Rachel Carson

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~*~WHAT'S NEW~*~

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO THESE DAYS

Lately I've been listening to Steve Halperns OM Zone on my laptop as I work. It transports me to ease and calm. Check out this instrumental CD and I promise you will find a new serenity.

MIMI BLOGS

Click HERE to visit my Blog. You can bookmark it on Google to receive updates of new posts. Do leave comments and suggestions so we can have a virtual conversation.

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CREATE A YEAR OF DREAMS

Make ALL your dreams for 2008 come true with the Dream Manifesto!

For YEARS I have been creating vision boards or treasure maps using poster boards and images of what

I would like to manifest in my life...Literally for about 24 years...

Up until now...

Now, since I'm on my computer so much of the time...I've installed this easy to use software, literally I had it up and running in less than 5 minutes, and my images are scheduled to appear with sound...that I've created...every few hours...reminding me of what I wish to focus upon...

It's crazy cool! In fact, I have had to delete most of the images I first put up as they HAVE COME TRUE. Time for new dreams!

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TREAT YOUR TEENAGERS TO STRESS FREE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS!

If your children are in high school, pick up a copy of my book: Don't Worry You'll Get In: 100 Tips for Stress Free College Admission. I believe that knowledge is power and have created various ways to help make the application and admissions process less stressful.

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CREATE A LIFE LIVED ON PURPOSE IN 2008

Busy but Balanced

Begin 2008 by committing to crafting a more balanced life!

This book takes you through the year, week by week...Full of tips, tools, ideas and inspiration for crafting a family life that is calm, centered, and full of joy!

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Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month (SM) is written and produced by Mimi Doe and Karen Adolphson. If you have any stories to share, questions or comments, please send them to: Editor@SpiritualParenting.com. We'd love to hear from you!

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Mimi Doe, Author of:
"Nurturing Your Teenager's Soul"
"Busy But Balanced"
"10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting"
"Drawing Angels Near"

http://www.SpiritualParenting.com