I do not have a kid, but I plan to someday. I have nannied off and on for years and also just have my own opinions which I have reached after many observations. But if you think that I have no right preaching about kids, I totally understand. I get it. You can stop reading now.
Again I do not have a kid, but I am so sick and tired of seeing kids today make the rules. For some reason many kids now rule the entire household. You see it at the mall on the streets, mom and adorable baby totally enmeshed with the depressed and beaten down father trailing 30 feet behind. What happened to that idea of an entire well-rounded family...? Where mom and dad are the parents and make the important decisions and the kid is actually...the kid?
Instead of creating centered loving creatures, little monsters are running around with their mother's apron strings gripped tightly in their little hand. Your child does not make the dinner, you do. So you need to set the rules. You make what you know your kid needs, not always what your kid wants.
Listen, I am pretty sensitive and to some, a hippie, but in other ways when it comes to kids...I am pretty strict. And you know why? Because it works. I was an only child and was very well cared for and given a lot, but I also ate all my veggies every night because I was told to and had rules and a set bedtime. Kids need structure to feel safe and time alone to learn how to self-soothe, play and think by themselves. And they also need to be shown how to EAT WELL.
On recent travels, women kept telling me how their kids will not eat veggies and will not eat fruit and this and that...and I think thats bullshit. They keep hoping it will get better and you know what, its only going to get worse! You think they will learn to love to eat broccoli at their friends' houses? NO. Or at school? NO.
You think you as a parent always loved eating leafy greens? Or your parents? Or their parents? etc. etc.
No. Most people would choose pizza over steamed veggies at any age on any day. But we learn to make better choices because we know our bodies need it. That eating crap sets you up for a lifetime of sickness, allergies, constipation and obesity. Kids' fat cells develop early and even the food eaten during pregnancy make a difference (see links below). I am not saying its easy, but its one of the biggest gifts you can give to your child, to learn how to eat healthily. Please check out Natalia Rose's books and website for more anecdotal evidence of how she raised her kids and what she fed them. www.detoxtheworld.com.
She is a true inspiration. She controlled what they ate as newborns and toddlers but then taught them proper nutrition and how to make good choices. When they didn't, they felt the difference. No dogma, just reality. Cause and effect, thats how kids learn. Thats how we all learn. It is never too early to start teaching children how to eat well. The earlier you start, the easier it will be.
There are so many great new books and mommy blogs out there dedicated to helping parents feed their kids. Great food made of veggies and fruits. It's not hard, it just takes more time than microwaved chicken sticks and lunchables. And I know that finding ANY extra time is sometimes impossible but this is important. If you make it a priority, it will become a priority.
I even do an easy trick for myself and its awesome and so easy and you cannot taste the greens.
Banana "milkshake":
1-1.5 frozen and cut up frozen bananas
1 c. liquid of choice- water or almond or rice milk, or mix of both
any other frozen fruit you like- optional
1 c. frozen spinach for ease and smoothie thickness OR any fresh greens
a TON of cinnamon (kills green taste)
some sweetener to taste- raw honey or raw agave or stevia
Other tricks- yummy baked or dehydrated salty kale chips, sweet potato home fries, roasted broccoli, raw vegan desserts and puddings, homemade all natural fruit sorbets, wheat-free crackers and cookies, sprouted breads, sunflower nut butter instead of peanuts (moldy and full of allergens).
And as much freshly juiced veggie and fruit juice as you can get them to drink. Almost nothing better!
Great recipe: "Chocolate Milk"
-1 cup freshly juiced carrot juice
-Chocolate Stevia - add to taste. A few drops to an entire dropperful. (Can find at whole foods or other health food stores or order online).
Sounds crazy but its true. So good!
I do not mean to sound harsh/ bitchy and you have the right to discount what I say as I do not yet have children of my own, but our food sources are not what they once were. It has grossly changed since we were kids, teenagers and even young adults. This new generation of kids cannot and will not get away with what we got away with eating. The toxins in our food, water and environments are contaminated beyond what we are even aware of. So please, give your kids the biggest gift of all, health.
http://www.parenting-advice.net/nutrition/good_eating_habits_begin_in_the_womb.html
http://rootsandseeds.com/archives/managing-weight-in-utero-nutrition
Best of Luck and Lots of Love-
xoxox, McLean
Monday, November 22, 2010
Thankful For.....
Hello Turkies and Tofurkies!
Sorry have been radio silent, went back home for 10 days and have now spent a week just trying to get everything (mind, body, house, fridge, laundry) back in order. Wow. Going home....
Many of you may be doing that very thing this week. I wish you safety in your travels, no airport delays and no mental breakdowns. But know that if any of those things do happen...YOU will survive.
Going HOME can bring up so many physical, emotional, spiritual issues. I speak from experience. For some reason this trip home brought up A LOT of buried feelings and deep resentments and fears. I basically did not stop moving for 10 days, so all of that on top of zero personal time and not great sleep ended in a 5 hour crying jag. Which in hindsight was good. During, it sucked.
But instead of trying to "fix" it all and deal with it all right then and tie it into a pretty little package with a bow, I let myself be really freaking sad. A deep dark hidden sadness that I still can't quite explain.
I awoke the next day looking like a swollen kabuki doll (which are cute in their own right but not as my face). My mom suggested a cold rag and cold cucumber slices, which did wonders by the way.
We often try so hard to muscle through and "man up" to get through the holiday season but what IF this year....you let things run their course...? I mean tend to yourself, do all the things that make YOU feel good but then maybe try not to worry about great uncle Ben getting shit faced at the table or your overbearing aunt Martha who makes passive aggressive comments. Be the flow. Let all of THEIR issues and insecurities BE THEIRS, NOT YOURS. Afterall, we can only tend to our own gardens. It is up to others to tend to theirs (but don't think I don't have the al anon home page on my desktop right now!).
Instead try to focus on what YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR and bask in those happy thoughts. Show more love to the ones that make you the happiest. Treat yourself to something that makes you truly happy. Figure out what will grant you serenity during the trip home- a 30 min. walk by yourself, folding laundry with your mom, cooking and talking in the kitchen, yoga in the backyard, walking the dog, a trip to the gym, a quiet time to meditate or chant your prayers, a long hot salty bath, etc.
Also, taking home foods that make you feel good or special teas that you love, will help you feel settled. I always travel with a ton of packed snacks and tea bags because I feel safe and nurtured when I know that I have exactly what I want/need.
Eat what you need to eat the days before and after to feel good and not gross. And then let yourself truly enjoy the Holiday and indulge in the things that you want without guilt! You can get on track the next day. One day of eating extra rich and yummy foods will not kill you. You can always do a juice cleanse in the following weeks ;)
It is up to YOU to tend to your garden, to do what will make you feel love, so you can give love.
If situations do arise where you need to defend yourself, then speak your truth. Be brave, be fearless. But also know that people can and do change, but not according to your watch. And sometimes not ever.
You cannot save everyone, only yourself. Happy Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!!
BE SAFE, BE GRATEFUL, BE LOVE.
xoxox, McLean
Sorry have been radio silent, went back home for 10 days and have now spent a week just trying to get everything (mind, body, house, fridge, laundry) back in order. Wow. Going home....
Many of you may be doing that very thing this week. I wish you safety in your travels, no airport delays and no mental breakdowns. But know that if any of those things do happen...YOU will survive.
Going HOME can bring up so many physical, emotional, spiritual issues. I speak from experience. For some reason this trip home brought up A LOT of buried feelings and deep resentments and fears. I basically did not stop moving for 10 days, so all of that on top of zero personal time and not great sleep ended in a 5 hour crying jag. Which in hindsight was good. During, it sucked.
But instead of trying to "fix" it all and deal with it all right then and tie it into a pretty little package with a bow, I let myself be really freaking sad. A deep dark hidden sadness that I still can't quite explain.
I awoke the next day looking like a swollen kabuki doll (which are cute in their own right but not as my face). My mom suggested a cold rag and cold cucumber slices, which did wonders by the way.
We often try so hard to muscle through and "man up" to get through the holiday season but what IF this year....you let things run their course...? I mean tend to yourself, do all the things that make YOU feel good but then maybe try not to worry about great uncle Ben getting shit faced at the table or your overbearing aunt Martha who makes passive aggressive comments. Be the flow. Let all of THEIR issues and insecurities BE THEIRS, NOT YOURS. Afterall, we can only tend to our own gardens. It is up to others to tend to theirs (but don't think I don't have the al anon home page on my desktop right now!).
Instead try to focus on what YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR and bask in those happy thoughts. Show more love to the ones that make you the happiest. Treat yourself to something that makes you truly happy. Figure out what will grant you serenity during the trip home- a 30 min. walk by yourself, folding laundry with your mom, cooking and talking in the kitchen, yoga in the backyard, walking the dog, a trip to the gym, a quiet time to meditate or chant your prayers, a long hot salty bath, etc.
Also, taking home foods that make you feel good or special teas that you love, will help you feel settled. I always travel with a ton of packed snacks and tea bags because I feel safe and nurtured when I know that I have exactly what I want/need.
Eat what you need to eat the days before and after to feel good and not gross. And then let yourself truly enjoy the Holiday and indulge in the things that you want without guilt! You can get on track the next day. One day of eating extra rich and yummy foods will not kill you. You can always do a juice cleanse in the following weeks ;)
It is up to YOU to tend to your garden, to do what will make you feel love, so you can give love.
If situations do arise where you need to defend yourself, then speak your truth. Be brave, be fearless. But also know that people can and do change, but not according to your watch. And sometimes not ever.
You cannot save everyone, only yourself. Happy Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!!
BE SAFE, BE GRATEFUL, BE LOVE.
xoxox, McLean
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