Busy But Balanced: Practical and Inspirational Ways to Create a Calmer, Closer Family

by Mimi Doe

Book Overview

The ideas in Busy but Balanced are for the people who need them the most-those of us out in the world putting our longings, goals, and ideas into action and balancing that with creating a nourishing home and deeply connecting with our children. It's not about giving up desire but, instead, creating a right relationship with all aspects of ourselves and our world. Rather than breathlessly grasping at the shards of our lives, we can boldly and calmly...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312272219
• ISBN13: 9780312272210
• Release Date: November 2001
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

tons of great advice

Mimi Doe writes with clarity and grace about what we as parents should be doing but don't always make time for. She organizes the book by months and seasons and gently guides us through the maze of parenting. The tips are not only useful but inspiring as well since they are all doable if we make time for them.Parents should keep this guide right by their bed and refer to it on a daily basis to keep their lives balanced and to be a strong force in their kids' lives as well. While reading this book, I wanted to go hug my daughter and say sweet things to my baby son. Must reading for parents with kids of all ages.

Readable and rewarding!

I found this book to be extremely easy to read, especially in my "busy" life. The chapters are broken into months but can be read at any time. The ideas are explicit and concise and realistic. Mimi writes with the knowledge that readers will pull ideas from her book that will work for each family individually. There is no "must do" chastising in Ms. Doe's work, simply suggestions for things that will help every busy person feel more balanced about family life and taking control of what may feel like an out-of-control situation. Definitely worth the time!

Permission plus!

Finally! Permission to relax and enjoy with real suggestions for keeping priorities clear, making good choices and creating space in the day, week, month to really DO things with the kids and the family. I love it! With summer plans taking control of my family's life, I discovered Ms. Doe's suggestions just in time. Now our summer will be full (busy) but enjoyable and rewarding (balanced). We all sat down and read portions together and used Ms. Doe's strategies and ideas to REALLY plan and think about our summer! Thanks to her, we look forward to a fun, new and exciting vacation season and the kids will honestly have something to talk about when they return to school in the fall! I will too!

How Busy But Balanced Helped Me

Busy but Balanced is a wonderful book for the mom who thinks she has to do it all but cannot possibly accomplish even half of her list. This book is very easy and calming to read. The book is broken up into seasons and can be read at any time of the year when you are feeling most frantic. The author has many suggestions for coping with everyday life in a very realistic manner. I found that the ideas for getting closer to your family were creative yet not too cutesy. We have simplified our breakfast "hour" by turning off the tv, listening to some pretty music and sometimes even lighting a few candles. At first my kids thought I was losing it - now they look forward to this little time together. Thank you Mimi Doe.

Wonderful suggestions! I'll refer to it over and over!

As a parent, I know how easy it is to get caught up in a ton of activities and loose track of the little things that keep me grounded. I never realized that by making just a few changes in my daily routine, I could create an atmosphere of peace within my own family.So where do you begin to find ideas to help balance out your life? The book, "Busy But Balanced," by Mimi Doe, is one place I recommend you start. One great thing about this book is, that you don't have to sit down and read it from cover to cover in order to gain knowledge from it. You can just pick it up and open to any page to get inspired. The book is categorized by the twelve months of the year, and you can just open it to any page and find a useful tip or wonderful suggestion. Parents, you'll find many ideas that will help you better connect with your family.My ParenTime highly recommends the book, "Busy But Balanced" - the suggestions are easy to implement, and the ideas are creative. Many of the ideas will no doubt become new traditions in your own family. You're sure to enjoy sharing your new sense of peace with others. This exceptionally uplifting book includes supportive resources, quotes, experiences from other parents, and gentle reminders on how to appreciate life, yourself, and your family.