I think I know too much.
The Climate Crisis. Processed food. Screen addiction. Forever chemicals. Fast fashion. Political turmoil. Drinking water quality.
These have been my daily diet for at least the last five years and I will admit, I stepped up my intake after having children.
I used to read fiction for pleasure but all of the sudden, it felt like I was overtaken by this need to know everything so I could protect them. I ingested these topics as fast as I could. Just ask the folks at Lunenburg Bound and Good Dog Books. I was there A LOT.
And then something broke. Me, I guess.
It must have been week 109 of bad weather in February. Our house was entombed in ice and all four of us had Norovirus. We were having a TV day because truly, what else do you do when you’re catching your kids’ throw-up in bowls for hours?
I would have felt guilty about this screen time but in the moment, we needed to get through it and I leaned into it.
Taking the pressure off felt so…free?
It was then I started to get less intentional and more present. I’m glad I know what I do and I wouldn’t change it. But I am much more careful with how I implement that information. You have to build the child for the road, not the road for the child.
They see behind the curtain. They see all the effort going into making their lives smooth. I want them to see a mom who can model rest, joy and flexibility so that they are more equipped for their lives when I can’t protect them.
Our kids will treat themselves how we treat ourselves. So we can nurture and protect them all we want, but if what they’re seeing is a stressed out mom furiously reading labels, they are more likely to become that than a blissed out adult who prioritizes grounding and organic.
Whole foods= good. The occasional hot dog= also okay.
