I admit that personal care hasn’t been at the top of my priority list for much of my life. I was lucky enough to be able to allow it to be a second thought unless it came down to my pants size, propelling concern over my appearance into overdrive. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve spent a lot of time and energy trying to develop a healthy routine that makes sense for my lifestyle, my priorities and my preferences. Despite being told incessantly, it wasn’t until I became a mother that I began to realize that my children’s wellbeing was directly related to my own and how well I cared for myself both mentally and physically. I want to model myself what I want to see them emulate, especially my daughters.
My pregnancy with Evangeline signified the beginning of significant changes for my personal wellness routines. After a year of not eating meat prior to getting pregnant, my iron deficiency hit an all time low and so I began to incorporate more chicken and pork into my diet. I started to notice more and more how much my mind would respond to what I consumed and how much I exercised-perhaps it’s my body’s response to aging or my mind just starting to be more aware of it. Whatever the case, I knew that establishing a healthy routine for after Evvie was born was going to be one of the most critical components of my wellness and postpartum success. For my future and the future of my family.
My acupuncturist and doula came up with a routine of vitamins and herbs, as well as a diet that made sense to me. Through kale & banana protein shakes in the morning, steamed vegetables and baked, lean proteins in the evenings I started to feel human again both mentally and physically. The daily hormones started to feel less like an amusement park and more like a manageable stream of normal enough feelings.
Now that Evvie is 7 months old, I’ve run the gamut on all of my nicely adjusted routines. I started staying up really late to work and eating a ton of sugar- I’m a sugar nut normally, but when I’m breastfeeding it feels like I crave it even more. The caffeine in the morning, sugar in the evening was a terrific combination for disaster mentally and I felt the impact in my waistline and my mental stability. It only catapulted me into finding a healthy routine that I could stick with. I started scheduling bi-monthly acupuncture & cupping sessions (try it, trust me), walks with Evvie, Beau and Theo on days that the big kids were in school, and I cut out meat again entirely. Everything seemed to change slowly, but more than anything I started to feel so much better; I was clearer mentally and more energetic physically.
I am more present and patient with my children, and there’s nothing more important to me than that.
When one of my dearest friends was told to cease consuming any animal products in order to make sure she was doing the very best thing for her body and situation, I decided that was just the push I needed to do the same. So together, we decided to take the leap into our vegan futures, she cut out meat, dairy and eggs immediately and I hope to be there towards the end of the year. I’m putting it out into the universe to make it real, to announce and proudly state this new mission for health and smart decision making for myself and eventually my family.
I’ve learned so much from being a part of this community, and from inadvertently opening up the dialog on some of the decisions we’ve made as parents and a family. I appreciate this space for all of those things and look forward to using this as a diary and inspiration board for the different avenues we decide to venture down on this lifetime journey. I want to be mindful of the decisions I make as a parent and a human being so that those intentions are reflected in my goals for raising good, happy people and taking care of each other and our planet in the process.
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