Spunky Mama

Humbled by Hypoglycemia

You know how when you are IN something you just can't fathom your way out? I have a really hard time understanding WHY it took us literally YEARS to leave a city we arrived in by default - and that just never seemed to fit our size.

Well, we finally did. And we've shed the rat race (my dh still gets to participate in it every other week - but with a much healthier perspective on life).

Instead of breathing smog, rushing around (or trying to rush and mostly being stuck in traffic) and feeling wrung out like a rag most of the time - we are now surrounded by peace. It is such a drastic change that it feels really weird. Like I'm off the hook - and I don't remember what the hook was???

I feel a lot little less like an ant in an ant hill.

It's not all bliss though.. I wish it were - but I'm still stuck in getting to the bottom of my eldest daughter's hypoglycemia. She had another crash this am. Not fun. I have some more bruises to show for it. She skipped breakfast (without me noticing) and that was it. Her adrenals have been working overtime since she was really, really young. She doesn't deal with stress well (or at all). I have tried EVERYTHING - but short of always being by her side ALL the time (that works - but isn't a life for me OR her) and feeding her the best nutrition ever (that she despises btw) I am at a loss for holistic solutions???

This child of mine has NEVER been fed junk food. We learnt early on that she thrives on routines and that anything out of the ordinary would trigger stress for her. (enough that her ND was concerned about her adrenal function at the tender age of 2)

Since moving she has been feeling MUCH better. But this morning episode reminded me that her condition still exists and that I can't slip (or mistakenly think that she can monitor herself) ever. My sweet, sweet daughter - with the smile that can melt an iceberg - turns into the devil if she misses a meal, has too many fast-ish carbs, or feels stressed. It's very humbling to understand that there are some things that I can't figure out and resolve.. but DARNED if I am going to give up ;)

If I could convince her to swallow supplements I would probably try Mulberry. I already sneak homeopathics, flower remedies and nutritional yeast (for the B's) into her water/meals.

Sigh.. just need a brighter memory to finish off this post - here is one of those last BLISSfilled days of fall. 

This Raw Mom

This raw mom is a lot less raw these days.. Not because I feel so great about including more cooked food, but because I gave in to (no not cravings - never had any) the SOCIAL pressure. I was getting really tired of being difficult or demanding, always turning down whatever food people were offering.

I don't feel entirely bad about it either (although I would like to find the ideal way of boosting my health and socialize at the same time) and once my digestive system readjusted, I could do it without obvious consequences. I really love the feeling of community that a shared meal gives me.

Beyond socializing - I never did get my husband or my kids to love raw food (I did my best) - and cooking "regular" vegetarian food (and meat for the two carnivores in the family) as well as raw food prep, turned feeding my family into a nightmare. I've always said that LOVE is the main ingredient in a healthy diet, and there was a lot less love going into my food prep with trying to please all the extremes. 

I still hover around 80% raw. I typically stay raw until dinner (fruit, sprouted buckweat, almon mylk for breakfast, large salad or green smoothie for lunch, sprouted nuts and fruit for snacks and raw vegetables (that everyone likes) a dollop of that veggie dish that the others are eating and perhaps a bit of the cooked whole grain to go with that for dinner.

I know there are lots of other moms who also struggle to stay raw with a cooked dad and cooked kids. There are a lot of other moms who struggle to simply eat healthier, let alone raw, when the others in the family are reluctant to change and improve their eating habits. Just getting off the junk and the processed stuff is a huge step for many families.

However, I'm always hopeful that more raw will become more mainstream and I'm planning to take in Raw Mom's "raw mom cooked dad - keeping peace on the plate" program for inspiration and information to help boost my motivation :) It starts October 10th and it's free.

http://www.rawmom.com/rawmomcookeddad/

Green Guide Families

Click to read a preview of the "Green Guide Families". This book promises to clarify a lot of questions an aware parent might have.

Walpurgis Night

In my life BC (before children) I lived in Sweden. Spring is a wonderful time of year over there. Tonight is the night of Walpurgis. Vikings celebrated the arrival of warmer weather too, so the custom predates Walpurgis herself, who was a German saint.

In those days the night would have been celebrated with friends and bonfires organized by the town. Walpurgis Night is a good old fashioned party day, in other words - with the day after being Labour Day, a day off for all.

Today, I am at home with a barfing child. As I have spent 5 hours holding her head over the toilet bowl, and read "Little Fur" to her between bouts of puke, I've had some time to ponder life and it's changing seasons. Life is just such a fun, interesting, challenging, rewarding and rich journey.

My little girl declared herself healthy at noon, proceeded to eat a big meal and drink plenty of fluids and topped it all off with her favourite yoga pose - head stand.

Ohhhh- the spunk of that child.

What's left for me to deal with today is cleaning out any germs left behind, and to shake off that queezy feeling you get from being too close to someone else being sick..

I thought I'd share one of the things that help to perk me up.

Food Matters - You really can't be too busy to cook good food.

Food Matters in a BIG, huge way. If you're looking for FUEL - look down at your plate. Your food determines whether or not you will be filled with energy, have a positive outlook on life, good health, glowing beauty, strong bones, and the BEST chance to be ALL that you can be, or if you are going to have to be satisfied with the lack there of.

In all seriousness - WHY do we find the excuses to allow ourselves to slip time and time again?

I've heard them all (and used some of them myself):

1. My kids are such picky eaters - they just won't eat what I'd like to feed them.
2. My husband likes his usual food. I can't cook two different types of meals.
3. Life is just so busy - some days I just HAVE to feed the family fast food.
4. Healthy food is too expensive, we can't afford it.
5. I can't cook. It seems to take up too much of my time.
6. Name your own: ____________

Well - from my own experience (and having believed all of the above myself) I can tell you - NONE of that is true:

1. Kids eat what they are used to eating. If we consistently offer more of the healthy stuff (unprocessed, unrefined) - WHEN THEY ARE HUNGRY - and have no other choices - they WILL eat. They won't LOVE it over night - but if you love THEM, make this a battle worth fighting 98% of the time. (don't cook complicated healthy recipes - just gradually up the ante, especially with kids- just modernize and healthify their favourite dish one ingredient at a time)
2. What a load of garbage. Husband can cook his food if he doesn't want you (him and the kids) to experience your best health.
3. Nope. We have the choice to feed them junk, but we don't have to. With a touch of preplanning such as slow cooker, prepping done ahead of time, left overs, a creative mind with a healthy fast food last resort - ours is spelt pasta with premade tomato sauce, a meal can be provided in minutes. Fruit and veggies are easy to cut up and bring along for snacks if the kids are STAAAARVING on the road.
4. Healthy food is NOT more expensive. Cut out all the junk/processed food you normally buy and you'll end up saving a lot. Even more savings are to be had if you cook and prepare your food from scratch.
5. Dis-ease, feeling tired, having unhealthy food cravings, kids with mood swings and sugar rushes, struggling with weight, pms, premature aging and shortened lifespan will take up a lot of our time if we don't choose to invest it in cooking healthy. There might be a wee bit of a learning curve but with easy access to the internet and various healthy recipe sites and cook books for beginners - just DO IT :)
6. Regardless of the excuse of the day - WE are worth it. Our kids are worth it. Future generations are worth it. They will thank us one day. 

There is a movie, that I have mentioned before, that helps us feel so inspired to make the healthy switch, that any fears about change, will evaporate. The movie Food Matters deserves a major motivation alert!!

Watch Food Matters online here - but check out this trailer first!

Queen of MY castle

A few years ago my children's school (the Calgary Waldorf School) hosted a talk by Penni Sparks. I remember her as a very dynamic speaker, and I highly recommend her talks.

What has stuck with me, for years now, is her phrase:

"Imagine you’re a noble queen, a ruler of the castle. Lift your head, imagine a jeweled crown and have fun with the fantasy. Understand that all children long to learn from adults who model confidence, kindness, and benevolent power. My task is to help to remind you to be the ennobled parent you are and to remind you that you are not the slave girl to your castle. You are the ruling royalty."

It tied it all together for me. The teachings of the Law of Attraction (Esther and Jerry Hicks), the solution focused coaching methods I use, the power of our subconscious minds - all of that is summed up by her encouragement to imagine that you are a noble queen.

It DOES help to visualize the crown and the castle - as the kids dump stuff on you - words, books, bags, dishes, dirty clothing, attitude - whatever it is that they do (and my own response prior to Penni, would have been to accept the "dumping" but complain, nag or sigh - while thinking nasty thoughts about your kids behavior and how little they respect you. (and that's not attracting the outcome I want)

As I have created a new habit of regarding myself as the Queen - a benevolent ruler - seven times out of ten - the dump doesn't happen.

Two times out of ten, it does - but the look on my face, my posture and my response is keeping my energy intact, showing the kids that there is no use pushing me any further.

One out of ten times the dump still happens - and turns into mayhem - but that's great improvement for me ;)

You can check out Penni in action here. And her website is www.pennisparks.com

I was reminded of this talk tonight, when I was snuggling with my soon to be 4 year old before he went to sleep. "You are the best in the world" he said, as he gave me a big kiss and a HARD hug. That felt as the biggest paycheck ever. That is the salary I get for the parenting work I put in.

For the longest time I felt weird about prioritizing my children instead of a career - and then I began feeling weird about society instead.

Parenting (along with work of teachers and caregivers) deserves to be valued. It deserves to be at the top of the ladder. The wages we reap are happier and healthier children - as long as we do it right - with all of our hearts and souls - feeling like Queens.

I believe that if we value ourselves as parents (and allow all our "chores" to turn into "delightful duties", to quote my son's teacher) we can find it within ourselves to be the best we can be. To make the best choices, to lead with example, and show our children the genuine happiness that comes from healthy self love and self respect. We'll be happier as parents, and our children will thrive. Inner success leads to outer success.

I like to include a fitting youtube to convey what I am trying to share in another way. Here is an Esther Hicks/Louise Hay combo that I love. We can be as great at parenting as we want to be :)

Put a sling on Em!

I miss babywearing soo much. The snuggles, the closeness, the child's heart next to yours, convenient breastfeeding, no crying, ability to snuggle with babe and still chase toddler and cook, takes no room in your purse (try fitting your stroller in a purse) and keeps baby safe, secure and surrounded by LOVE. Sadly my babes are too big to sling, on the bright side they're strong enough to walk :)

Jet Lag

oohhh - 4 kids on Jet Lag and tired mom and dad too..

I know there are several smart ways of getting past Jet Lag FAST - but beyond drinking lots of water and taking the NO JET LAG homeopathic - we really didn't do much.

And we're suffering through it now.. Kids falling asleep on different schedules and me not sleeping much at all. I'll be happy when these first few days of our trip are over.

We DO manage several really great hours in the day too. Since moving away from Sweden, I am much more able to see the beauty in the grey, dark and rainy days.

I had to take a flashlight on my 4 PM run - and still turned back - I just couldn't avoid all the puddles and didn't feel reflective enough to stay safe.. it is DARK. AND I love it. The pace of life is much slower. The moisture is heaven sent for a Calgarian and the air is dense with negative ions. I feel at peace.

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YOGA

Mmm - my treat.

While my husband is at some football game that turned him into a green and white painted weirdo, with equally strange looking buddies (aka our accountant and a client/friend of his) in tow - I am baking the kids saffron rice pudding, playing in the melting snow, and putting out just a few Christmas ornaments for our house-sitters to enjoy. I have to admit that I'm not always so present in my actions today.

I am already in the heated room where I will be LOVING up a hot yoga class. (My two oldest kids will hold down the fort at home.)

Yoga has turned into an essential lifesaver for me. I go through serious withdrawal when I can't make it to class (not to mention back pain). Practising yoga at home, is just not the same - although if I can't make my schedule work around yoga classes I still do it at home. I just can't recreate the peaceful and mindful atmosphere with kids, pets and chores around.

Hot yoga is currently what I seem to prefer. The heat warms my bones, relaxes muscles, helps to sweat out toxins and seems to be a great compliment to my raw food habit.

Renowned raw food teacher and health inspirational GURU Tonya Zavasta, writes in her book Raw Food and Hot Yoga:

"My rock-bound belief: The raw food lifestyle can solve most health problems and almost all health issues for all people. But both practices combined can eliminate all health problems for most people. An additional bonus: raw food and hot yoga combined provide the most stunning and swiftly reaped anti-aging benefits." 

Tonya offers her the first chapter of her book for free - over here

Well - I'm off for my Sunday treat :)

Sleep is luxury

OH what a shocker to wake up 3 minutes before my alarm (at 4.57 AM) and feeling AWAKE and REFRESHED. It has clearly been a long time since I last felt that good.

I went through a list of "what did I do right" - and came to the conclusion that I went to bed a lot later than I normally do, I forgot to take my vitamins, I didn't drink enough water, I missed my yoga class, skipped dinner AND I drank red wine. BUT - I had NO walk-ins. All the kids slept in their beds ALL NIGHT. No nightmares, no colds, no cats climbing on them to wake them up, no thirst, no 3 yr old thinking that I had abandoned him -- an ENTIRE 5 hours of SOLID sleep. And wow - I could get hooked on that.

Besides not completely successfully fighting off an urge to go and check the kids, just to make sure they are all ok - I am really enjoying my morning so far :)

We're attachment parenting our kids. There are so many benefits to the family bed, to extended breastfeeding, to being with your children a lot - that I've been more than willing to sacrifice my sleep. Snuggles ANY time are welcome. It's just that it has been some 12 years since I slept through the night, more than a handful nights in a row.