Nurturing Closeness in Your Family

Sometimes it’s nice to have someone to follow.

When you’re new to parenthood, you look around, taking and using what you liked from your own parents’ style of parenting, and sometimes looking for new mentors from whom you can gain fresh ideas and perspective.

And, most importantly, you listen to your instinct.

I feel lucky to have stumbled across the path of Mimi Doe, the author of a phenomenal range of parenting books, a mom herself, and the creator of the “Spiritual Parenting Newsletter”, a monthly newsletter that I’ve received for a couple of years now. My instinct tells me that Mimi’s advice is immensely valuable.

I love receiving these newsletters, and reading them feeds my soul, inspires me, centers me and reminds me of what is really important in life – connection and joy. I always close the newsletter feeling so grateful for Mimi’s timely reminders and positivity.

I’d love to share an extract from Mimi’s most recent newsletter. She calls the following list a “Family Unity Checkup”:

• I have a scheduled, predictable time to gather with my family for fun.
• I have discussed family rules and consequences, and evaluate the appropriateness of these rules every 6 months or so.
• I tuck my young child into bed each night I am home, or spend time with my older kids.
• We eat at least one meal together most days.
• Put-downs and mean-spirited teasing are not allowed in my home.
• We have laughed together at least once this week.
• We listen to each other with respect even when we disagree.
• I know what my child worries about.
• We talk about our family traditions, history, and ancestors.
• We have predictable opportunities for each family member to be heard, family meetings, a family journal, open discussions at mealtime, carpool conversations, etc.
• I know my child’s favorite song, music group, or sports team.
• Our family watches less than 7 hours of television a week.
• I don’t expect perfection. Trying hard is applauded, and lessons are learned from mistakes.
• Our family strives to live agreed-upon spiritual beliefs, and we often discuss how to do so.

Because our children are young, Darren and I are very involved in their lives and find it easy to connect with them, but this checklist reminds us to make sure we retain that level of connection as they grow older.

Is there something in this list that resonates with you? Maybe there’s an area you feel could be improved upon in your family – if so, perhaps you could think about positive solutions, or chat about solutions with your partner?

I love the Spiritual Parenting newsletters (can you tell?), and if you’d like to subscribe, just head to www.SpiritualParenting.com. I’ll be reviewing one of Mimi’s books in an upcoming blog, but her newsletters are a great way of discovering what she’s about (you can check out newsletter samples at http://www.spiritualparenting.com/archive.htm).

We’re all following our own paths, taking a bit of this advice, and a bit of that, and ultimately making a life guided by our own inner compass. But how wonderful to have reminders that help us stay on track…

Mimi Doe is the founder of Spiritual Parenting.com and the award-winning author of Nurturing Your Teenager’s Soul, Busy But Balanced, 10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting, and co-author of Don’t’ Worry Get In. Mimi’s free newsletter, Spiritual Parenting, has more than 30,000 subscribers from around the world. Sign up on the website: www.SpiritualParenting.com.

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