Let's All Take a Deep Breath!

I was standing in a long post office line today and the young mother behind me was talking on her cell phone and I could not help but overhear her. She was telling someone about her very difficult day and how she did not know if she could get everything done. She said that doing errands with her three children was a "nightmare". I couldn't help but look behind me to see a sleeping baby, a well behaved 7 year old and a quiet 4 year old. Oh my goodness! What is the nightmare?? This poor woman was so anxious that even this apparently simple situation was a "nightmare". She went on to complain bitterly of her fate in life. So I decided to turn and smile at her and her children and she smiled back. Then I started to practice my deep breathing and hoped that just by breathing deeply near by an anxious person, I might help her to re-regulate. Let's all of us take a deep breath or ten, realize the blessings right in front of you, hug your children, thank whomever you like to thank during these moments that you have so much in so many ways. I recommend a book entitled Buddha's Brain: the practical neuroscience of love, happiness and wisdom. Take a deep breath, exhale slowly and know you are blessed just to be alive.

Feed Your Precious Children Precious Food

I was looking for a good recipe for gluten free granola, which I plan to make for Christmas gifts instead of bread this year, and I found a great blog: whattofeedyourkids.blogspot.com I hope that more and more mothers will investigate the role that nutrition plays in their child's health and behavior. When I raised my son in the 70's, we were just entering the era of "health food" and I am glad that one of the things I did right, (there were so many that I did wrong!), was to introduce him to healthy good food. He still eats healthfully and so this gift will hopefully last a lifetime. But we did not know then, what we are discovering now, that besides sugar, some food contains toxins, carcinogens and that some children are uniquely sensitive to other innocent nutrients like gluten. Check out this blog, make changes in your children's diet, and for heaven's sake, stay away from fast food!