When Do We Have The Real Discussion About Health With Our Children?
When I was still single, I saw a bandaid or Neosporin commercial of a mother taking care of her daughter’s bruise on her elbow. I knew then that I wanted to be knowledgeable and well-equipped to take care of my children’s little booboos. Now, as a mother with 20 years of healthcare under my belt (hospital, clinic, and pharmacology instructor, etc.), I want to keep our children well, limiting unnecessary pain. Children should not have to wait until they become adults to know how to decrease their chances of developing chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and mental health conditions. I want them to see things before they happen, so they can prevent them from happening.
Often, my mother told us we didn’t have to continue the past. If you didn’t like something or learned something the hard way, why do your children have to go through the same thing? For example, if I know that heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and the host of other conditions run in our family, I need to do what I can to break the cycle of pain. Now, I get it; as a mother, we have way more stuff on our plate, but if my children get sick, I have more things to do than less. My best bet is to keep them well as much as possible.
Over COVID, all of us put on a few pounds, and I dropped a few of my balls (motherly tasks), juggling all of my responsibilities. The past few weeks, Cam started asking about the tapes Carl and I used to work out in Ohio. Both Carl and I benefited from the P90 routine; we lost weight and had toner arms and legs. I had a flatter abdominal area.
Initially, I thought the exercise routine would be too much for the children, but then, the thought came to me that the children will know when they need to rest. And they did. When they felt tired, they sat on the couch or slowed down.Â
I want our children to have a healthy view of health and wellness. I know, just like anything else, it’s easy to obsess about our body and achieve the opposite results (not liking yourself and feeling like you have to work out to receive acceptance. I want our children to have a perfect balance of activity and rest.
I’ve seen the regrets on people’s faces after hearing diabetes or heart disease diagnosis. I’ve cared for people who can’t wash their faces without experiencing shortness of breath or other limitations. I want our children to love their bodies, mind, and spirit.
Pain doesn’t only exist physically but mentally. We discuss Bible verses, their feelings, affirmations, and others. We discuss scenarios and possible solutions to the scenarios. I cannot stop life from happening, but I can help prepare them to withstand some of life’s storms.
So, when do we discuss health? We have the health discussion as soon as we call. We use teachable moments (playtime, mealtime, bedtime, and others) to share our knowledge and wisdom. And if we don’t know something, we use reliable resources (healthcare providers, etc.) because we want our children to be in the best health possible.
What kind of discussions can we have? We can:
1.Teach our children about the known relationship between sugar and health (i.e., cavities)
2. Teach our children how to read food labels and show them what serving sizes look like,
3. Encourage our children to eat balanced meals. If you need help with this, speak with your healthcare provider about community resources. For example, some hospitals hold family cooking classes.
4. Keep the education on balanced meals by asking your children to identify what food groups are on their meal plate and what they are missing? Then, how can you add what’s missing to your plate to achieve balance?
5. Use the grocery store for teachable moments. For example, what should healthy fruits and veggies feel like?
6. Include our children in meal planning and grocery list planning.
7. Teach our children healthier coping with life issues (talking things out, drawing, dancing, or other activities).
8. Include our children in our fitness routine, even with something so simple as walking.
What other things have you with your children to create a cycle of love?
Our children should desire health and fitness because they know how priceless their body, mind, and spirit are. When we take what we know to build a better foundation for our children, we break the cycle of pain by creating a cycle of love.
You can catch the children exercising with Tony Horton’s P90 video (46 seconds) on our YouTube channel, On The Oregon Coast With The Chambers.
You can also check out my podcast, Create A Generational Love Cycle, which airs every Tuesday, for more tips on breaking the cycle of pain.https://atomic-temporary-47223352.wpcomstaging.com/media/28193b85b47a4cf7d3b2486375d5fefa
Make this lifetime great!
Timika
Our children should have a desire for health and fitness because they know how priceless their body, mind, and spirit are. When we take what we know to build a better foundation for our children, we break the cycle of pain by creating a cycle of love.
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Make this lifetime great!
Timika
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