Another Halloween has come and gone. I’m sure we aren’t the only parents who watch what their kids eat, including the candy they get at Halloween!
We had some ah-ha moments in our home this past week that I wanted to share.
We do let our kids enjoy Halloween and their candy… and use this as an opportunity to educate. I can admit I used to come at them in a much more authoritarian manner. Being a mom of two kiddos who are less than 18 months apart, this was the norm for many years, and well just having young kids, you, as the parents make the majority of the decisions for your kids. As they get older however it’s so empowering for the kids to be educated on WHY we choose this and that, and if they experience something negative it’s the perfect opportunity to grow and learn. Right, because we are all, always learning!
So our ah-ha moments this week that really made me feel like a rock star parent…
Last weekend, after a slightly crazy week with hockey, our boy also had a hockey tournament. During the week (last week and this) he was responsible for making something healthy for his dinner before his games due to timing and let’s face it at 13 there is alot he can make himself. On the weekend however, he and my husband were away at his hockey tournament, which also meant staying at a hotel and eating out. When the boys came home and we were all chatting about the weekend, our son made a comment about how he could FEEL that they ate out alot and ate alot of different food… take out pizza, take out burgers and fries, chips etc.
Of course as his, much more health conscious mom, then pointed out to him, he was being very conscious and aware about how he was feeling after being away and eating out, getting less sleep etc so I made sure to honor that feeling he was having.
Last night, the day after Halloween, the kids obviously enjoyed some treats. Our girl, bless her, went trick or treating for both of them! Our boy had a hockey game, which kudos to his coaches for giving the players some treats, that was really awesome. When he got home, she had everything divided up in what she likes and what he likes, and it legit was divided up that way, not just stuff she didn’t like. When we went to family’s homes (who knew the boy was playing hockey) and they told her to take some for him, she purposely picked what she knows he likes.
As the kids get older I want them to be aware of their actions, which also includes indulging in things that might not be the best for them, but honestly guys it doesn’t happen much. I’m so much more now about empowering them, you make this decision and this could be the result or the options for dealing. I’m also all about setting an example and learning from that. I’m not perfect, ahem no one is. I’ve had health challenges I’ve been very upfront with and do not hide, it’s my life. I use this as a learning experience for the kids as well. I have no problem admitting to them if I made a bad choice and thus paid the consequences of that bad choice, for me its been typically food choices, which up until October I was still being slightly ignorant myself about. I shared with them how I was choosing to eliminate some foods from my diet to help me learn what is best for me and what I should avoid, more on that later!
Enter in candy hang over… for the past 5 years we have shifted our family’s health in a holistic direction. So we always have had our holistic options as an option for soothing this “candy hangover”! Yesterday morning before the kids went to school I made sure they not only took their vitamins but also their probiotics. Its SO important to get healthy bacteria in the guts and we have noticed many positive shifts when we do this!
We also oil the kids everyday, I’m honestly SO much better at my kids oil routine than my own! 🙈 Yup I can admit it, it seems more challenging to get myself in routines BUT I’m working through that and have already mastered the daily supplements! 😉 Oiling everyday helps boost their immune system, help keep them grounded and also supports healthy sleep! Win win for the kiddos and win win for the parents when our kids can name how they are feeling and walk up to our oil rack and support their bodies.
This was our experience last night. After returning home from the arena, our sweet girl was experiencing a candy hangover… headache and all! She knew the first steps were water and oils to help hydrate and boost her immune system… and that’s exactly what she did before having a warm shower and going to bed!
Being a parent isn’t always easy, but you know what this feels good! To know that you are empowering the next generation to not only be mindful of mother earth and the products they are using but to LISTEN TO THEIR OWN BODIES! Its huge!
Today, I know the candy hangover could continue so we will continue supporting with water, our oils, pro-biotics, vitamins and getting some healthy food options out and easily accessible for them! The more we have these things in the house as options, the better choices we will all make!
Educate VS Mandate! ✌
Kudos to their dad for capturing this before leaving early for his hockey game on Halloween! Being the oily photographer he understood how much having this photo meant to me!😘 Feeling slightly sentimental on how big they are but also feeling like a rock star proud mom! Cause guys no one is perfect and the more we embrace this life and just be… the happier we will BE! 💕
Your Life As Art Essentials 