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MUM-e-Mail
- a newsletter to enthuse, educate, and entertain
mothers of pre-schoolers and their supporters
November 2004
Mothering Maxim - Planning for ‘Spontaneous Fun’
Today, I create memories for my child’s tomorrow. Plan.. ponder.. premeditate.
Mum Moment - With Your Children at Christmastime
December
5. Put up your Christmas tree – get everyone around to decorate it.
6. Teach the children about St. Nicklaus, the generous 4th century Turkish bishop.
7. Set up the Nativity scene – remember Baby Jesus isn’t there yet, nor the Kings.
8. Christmas is a season – not just one day. Enjoy it.
9. Simplify. Alter traditions to suit YOU and YOUR family. Simplify.
10. Put aside (hide!) or make biscuits and other treats to put in the freezer now.
11. Invite your neighbours over for a barbecue – be as lights in the world.
12. Have a gift card making session with your children, maybe invite some friends over.
13. Wrap the presents and place in a ‘safe’ place.
14. Make an Advent chain today with 10 loops of paper and countdown – take off one each night and read the Bible verses or love notes (from God) you’ve written inside.
15. Together recall the enjoyable memories of Christmas past.
16. Sing carols or put on a music tape to play through the day.
17. Sit outside in the countryside on a fine dark night silently. Think of the shepherds, angels, Mary waiting.
18. Have a family only (half-) day to sit and be and do. Relax – in the park, on the beach.
19. Have an Advent candle lighting ceremony.
20. Go on a pyjama ride with the littlies to see the Christmas lights around suburb streets.
21. Oohh! The anticipation – Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Light, is coming.
22. Visit or volunteer at an old folks’ home, women’s refuge, Night shelter.
23. Watch a Christmas video or DVD with your children, telling the story of Jesus’ birth.
24. O Holy Night, … the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
25. Happy Birthday, Jesus – Emmanuel, God born as man. Who is coming to your party?
Shalom, God is with us!
© 2004, by Johanna Whittaker for MOPS (NZ) Inc.
[could print out this advent calendar]
From A Mother’s Heart -
Help me keep it simple, Lord. Help me to consciously teach my children the values and traditions that I really want to teach them – not just go with the flow. ‘Tis the season of love, joy, peace …
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I've sent a copy of this to a few friends with young children. Feel free to forward this MUM-e-Mail in its entirety to your friends, mothers of pre-schoolers and their supporters. Currently there are 219 subscribers from NZ, Australia, England, Canada, and USA.
If your friend has forwarded this to you and you wish to subscribe, it's easy. Click on this hyperlink and send blank e-mail to: mum-e-mail-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
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Mum's Mail -
What’s a favourite advent ‘activity’ in your household?
You're invited to answer this question and reply to mumemail@... [you could click on this hyperlink and do it now?]. We'll publish responses in a couple of weeks - next time in MUM-e-Mail.
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... from last time : A successful day is …
… when my children have been kept happy and busy all day long. That usually involves me playing games with them or jumping on the trampoline! - Karen, Manurewa, NZ
… one where I have listened as much as I have talked, where I have problem-solved instead of dictated, where my needs have been met alongside my husband and children's, where I have celebrated my progress instead of despairing about my faults, and most importantly, have remembered that God is with me every step of the way. - Nicki Debreczeni, Australia
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Mum – Etc : Snippets and e-bits that may interest you …
[these websites and all their contents are not necessarily endorsed by MOPS NZ]
· For those who believe that modern culture, has robbed our children of some of the best things in life that God has to offer.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/simplifiedparenting/
· http://www.familyshoppingbag.com/christmas_gift_tags.png
http://www.familyshoppingbag.com/christmas_bookmark_printables.png
· http://kingskidstuff.home.att.net/christmas.htm - stories, activities, scroll down for more children’s Christmas material
http://akidsheart.com/holidays/christms/nativity.htm - arrange the Nativity scene
· http://www.silk.net/RelEd/lessonplans4.htm - Christian colouring pages
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Check out the regularly changing www.mops.org for locations of global MOPS groups, mum’s forums, MOMSense radio transcripts [free subscription], courses, etc.
Any and all ‘articles’ in this newsletter, unless otherwise stated, are MOPS © material and, when used in a non-profit publication, should be given due credit.
Other users, please first contact Johanna, mumemail@... .
MOPS NZ - mopsnz@... MOPS Au - www.mops.org.au
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Remember to enjoy your children today … and thank you for reading MUM-e-Mail,
Johanna Whittaker
on behalf of MOPS (NZ) Inc.
© 2004 by MOPS New Zealand Inc and MOPS International.
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