Feelings of inadequacy run rampant among mothers. I can’t blame Time for creating a compelling headline around this universal truth:
“Are You Mom Enough?”
The most interesting part of this media bruhaha has been the comments I’ve read all over the web. Some are funny, some are ignorant, some are defensive. For my part, I’d like to use this opportunity to shed light on the realities of breastfeeding a toddler. As a first-time mom, I’d like to think I’m still “green” enough to talk about this topic through fresh eyes.
I remember when my son was so tiny, I’d nurse him in one arm while typing with the other. Now his legs flop over mine, his free arm plays with my hair, and he takes occasional breaks to clap his hands. Then he’s off and running again. As he eats more food, we nurse less. I hear that eventually some babies lose interest in nursing…we’ll see how that goes!
Anyway, I’m noticing how many interesting habits I’ve picked up through this whole pregnancy/breastfeeding thing. I’m assuming a big life change throws off anyone’s game, right? Time to bring back some mindfulness. For me it’s this:
My friend emailed me the other day, as my friends often do, asking if I’d heard of the latest weird health trend:
“You didn’t eat your placenta did you? I am just reading about January Jones doing that. Dude, i have seen that thing up close and personal and I just don’t think I could do that.”
Just because I talk about kids liking real food does not mean, in any way, that Danny eats everything I give him. Sure, he likes green smoothies. But he’s discovered the power of choice, and makes sure to exercise it at each mealtime.
For me, it’s an exercise in patience. Case in point: A month ago he was shoveling scrambled eggs in his face at top speed. He loved nothing more than cheese.
This week? The only food he doesn’t spit out is broccoli or banana.
While one part of my brain screams, “He has to eat some PROTEIN!” the other part of my brain knows that I can’t force him to eat what he doesn’t want. And yet another part of me knows that there is a method to this madness, that his likes and dislikes are probably related to what his body needs right now.
My husband and I used to have a lot of ideas about children and what our future would be like. I think it’s safe to say we had no idea what we were talking about.
Then: Kids don’t need a lot of stuff. They’ll get 1 toy each to avoid clutter.
Now: We should really get Danny one of those play kitchens, he’d love it. But is there room next to the exersaucer, rocking horse, music table and toy boxes?
Then: We don’t need a car. Ok, maybe a Prius.
Now: We need a van.
Then: People put the most boring videos on Facebook of their kid doing nothing.
Now: I just put a video on Facebook of Danny smiling, it’s soooo cute!
When I was a kid my mom always made me a special birthday cake in the shape of different characters. I guess I always knew I’d bake Danny a cake for his special day too. But the thought of serving him sugary sweets made my heart feel sad. As I continuously say and believe: It doesn’t make sense to celebrate our lives with food that makes us weak and sick.
Off I set on a quest to find a birthday cake that I could feel good about. Maybe it would be a slightly adjusted layer cake recipe, maybe it would be a meatball with a candle stuck in it, I didn’t know. But I knew I was not going to make a normal white sugar/white flour cake.
(Hey, this is his first birthday we’re talking about. He doesn’t know the difference. I expect I have a year or two before I’ll have to sometimes give in to his requests for the white stuff.)
Anyway, I started searching for the perfect recipe. Let me tell ya. Not a lot out there. But I have an old cookbook from Annemarie Colbin (author of books like Food and Healing) that had just what I was looking for.
Whole wheat flour. No processed sugar. None. Not even honey or maple syrup. Just bananas and apple juice for sweetness.
And you can see in the photo, we’re talking a full-on layer cake with icing. Hello, dream come true!
Gettin’ Real About Food & Health for Breastfeeding For women new to the world of breastfeeding
Location: Virtual! Wherever you are.
Date: April 3, 2012
Time: 8:00pm ET Can’t make it? That’s ok. A recording of the call will be sent along with PDF materials to everyone who registers, so you can listen later.
When I was pregnant, I took a breastfeeding class.
Which was really hilarious. They had a stuffed boob to demonstrate. Let’s be clear. No one will ever be able to learn to breastfeed from a stuffed boob. It’s really a learn-on-the-job thing.
And while you and your baby fumble around and learn what’s what, you’re going to be hungry. Really hungry. And probably pretty tired. And I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some tears. It’s normal, and beautiful, but you might not notice the beautiful part in the beginning.
So on this call we’re going to talk about nutrition in an easy-to-understand way. A way you can implement even in those early, sleep deprived days.
I’m also going to get real with you about nursing a baby. Why it’s awesome and why it can sometimes be hard, and why it’s so rewarding.
There hasn’t been a whole lot of baking going on around here lately. I burned a couple batches of Christmas cookies back in December and I think that was about it. Mostly I’ve found it hard to keep little fingers away from the kitchen cabinets and dishwasher. I really don’t need a hot oven in the mix!
Other places little fingers end up:
Pinched in drawers
In my mouth
Up my nose
In the toilet
Poking the hole in a raspberry
Pointing at every screw in every piece of furniture like it’s the most fascinating thing he’s ever seen
Gettin’ Real About Food & Health for Pregnancy For women considering and already pregnant
Location: Virtual! Wherever you are.
Date: March 27, 2012
Time: 8:00pm ET Can’t make it? That’s ok. A recording of the call will be sent along with PDF materials to everyone who registers, so you can listen later.
There are a lot of things no one tells you when you’re pregnant.
And sometimes, they tell you too much! Like exactly how many grams of protein you need per day. Or that you should only gain 25 lbs. or else you risk all kinds of complications. Or that you need 47 tests and screenings performed on your 10 week old fetus.
Of course we want to be healthy during our pregnancies. But let’s cut through the blah blah blah and get real.
For instance, there were days when I could only stomach raspberries and chocolate pudding. Really.
On this call we’re going to talk about nutrition in an easy-to-understand way.
I’m also going to give an overview of your choices when it comes to prenatal care – an essential piece of your healthy pregnancy.
A few weeks ago I was talking about natural remedies for sinus infections and many people responded with the idea of eating raw garlic – nature’s antibiotic. I loved that input, as (on my friend Hannah’s recommendation) I had been giving Danny garlic oil in his ears for weeks to treat and prevent ear infections.
If you’ve ever had an ear infection, or if your child has ever had one, you know they can be insanely painful. The worst.
Danny had one a few months ago and now every time he’s a little upset I bring him to the doctor to assure myself that his ears look fine. I want one of those ear-looky tools so I can look myself! Can you buys those…?
Anyway, doctors seem mixed in their use of antibiotics for ear infections. The doctor we saw prescribed them, and I felt desperate to do anything and everything I could to get the kid better! But I also gave him garlic oil, in addition to the meds. Now, my game plan is prevention.
I help busy people find balance in their over-worked, over-stressed lives. Trust me, it's not an all-or-nothing situation! A few shifts in diet and lifestyle can rock your world like they did mine. (And if you're a health coach, I can help you do the same for your own clients.) Read on
