Parenting, Care Giving and other “Jobs”

Mother’s Day is a good reminder to take a little time out to acknowledge the people who mean so much to us. This isn’t exclusively a biological connection and it isn’t just about being a mother in the traditional sense. I have clients who aren’t mothers themselves but who are care givers for their own parents and many people are doing both – taking care of children and parents at the same time…the “sandwich” generation. Care giving, done by both genders, is about unconditional love and being present – the latter being harder than it sounds!

We often hear from older people that they don’t regret their life choices but rather they regret what they did not do. We can romanticize this into adventures not taken and dreams not pursued but what about “missing out” on what is right in front of us? If you’re not fully present aren’t you missing out?

Being present doesn’t necessarily connote a long time period. On a daily basis It can be a very short period of time but it’s one in which your focus and attention are undivided.

Care giving, though immensely rewarding, is a boatload of work. It’s a day to day, in the trenches “job” and the secret to staying in balance, thus being able to be more present, is keeping yourself sane! Here are some signs that it’s time to get more support:

Your kids stop looking cute to you!
You go to bed feeling exhausted and wake up the same way.
There’s no joy in Mudville…you’re having trouble recognizing the subtle joy underlying each day.
Your fuse is very short.
You’re not laughing enough!

If you have very young children and are doing the night-shift it can be hard to wake up feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed yet we have remarkable control over our physical state – it’s truly a mental game! The trick is to approach problems as a team and use the resources you have to create opportunities to recharge your batteries. Try to eat well, move your body and get some sleep – in short, add yourself into the care giving equation – this Mother’s Day, love Mom and Yourself a little more!

“Look Mom, I’m in the News…”

The Daily Record newspaper featured my book in the Table Section on April 27th…check out my Wellness Primer here.

Laugh more with Mom!

Even if you’ve seen it, if your Mom, Grandma or favorite care giver isn’t on YouTube, take a moment to watch this together – it will make you both smile!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB3xM93rXbY

In honor of teacher appreciation week:

My all-time favorite poem on Motherhood received from one of our all-time favorite teachers…to keep it all in perspective:

“If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again” by Diane Loomans

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.

I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.

I’d stop playing serious and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I’d do more hugging and less tugging.

I’d see the oak tree in the acorn more often.

I would be firm less often and affirm much more.

I’d model less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

What’s Cooking?

This is the time to eat seasonally and enjoy the produce bounty which is hitting the farmer’s markets in earnest this month.

Get my Pea Shoots and Strawberry Salad Recipe here:

Favorite Cooking Shortcuts

We all have them…I shared a favorite condiment in my recipe blog this month – What are your favorite cooking shortcuts? Share them on our Mad Nutrition Facebook Page.