What is the Difference?
What is the difference between smoking cigarettes and eating food that is loaded with artificial flavors, colors, salt and sugar? In my opinion, not much. I grew up hearing smoking was bad for us and I was even told that it was a sin b/c it corrupted our temples. Aren’t we corrupting our temples with things that we put into our mouths as well? Did you know that artificial colors are made from coal tar and petroleum? Did you know that many of them are banned in Europe b/c they are proven to be carcinogenic? Is this something you want your kids to eat? I wouldn’t think so. So stop feeding it to them.
Scientists have found 287 chemicals in the umbilical cords of newborn babies in the U.S. This should frighten you. These chemicals come from pesticides, GMO foods, artificial flavors/colors, outgases from your furniture, carpet, car upholstery, hair and body products and more.
As a mother, what should you do about this? It is overwhelming, so like me you might feel like giving up sometimes. But you can’t. You may not be able to control all the toxic factors in your life, but you can control your food and the food your child eats. You can also control what they put on their bodies. Giving them heavily processed foods and skin products laden with poisins isn’t helping them. It is setting them up for the failure of their health. This is sad. Am I saying your kids should never eat sugar or goodies? No. I’m saying feed them clean organic foods. You are what you eat and so are your kids. They might look fine now, but you can’t see at the cellular level. And if you feel like they are missing out, they won’t. My kids get offered junk all the time. I let them have it since I realize we don’t live in a perfect world. I just don’t let these types of toxic foods dominate their diet. By limiting their consumption of these pseudo foods maybe they’ll be fortunate enough to miss out on a disease.
So what is the difference between smoking and eating toxic food? Nothing, really. They both lead to disease. They both trick you into thinking nothing will happen to you until it’s too late.
With all my heart,
Bridgette
For more in depth information on this topic please read Dodging the Toxic Bullet How to Protect yourself from everyday environmental heath hazards by David R. Boyd
The Tickle Cure
I have a very strong willed 6 year who is constantly pushing his boundaries. Figuring out ways to diffuse his anger is always a challenge. Recently I have found that a good tickle gets him over his madness and into gladness. If he is being ornery I tell him the meanness must’ve built up in him again and I will have to tickle it out. It has been working like a charm. I call it the Tickle Cure.
With all my heart,
Bridgette
School on a Blanket
One thing I love about home schooling is its versatility. Now that the weather is so warm, I have taken home schooling outside. Today, Finn and I did school on a blanket. It was great. So if you are tired of the same old scenery, grab a blanket and bring your homeschool out doors. Everyone will love it.
With all my heart,
Bridgette
The Power of Transformer Prime
My 6 year old son loves Transformer Prime and hates to read. When I suggest teaching him to read, the poop hits the fan. I have tried different ways of coaxing him to read. I have used clever books, fun computer programs and even bribery. A trip to JumpStreet or McDonald’s was not enough of a motivator for this kid to want to learn to read. And then something magical happened today. I noticed that he likes to type Transformer Prime into the Roku search engine when he wants to watch the show. So, I capitalized on this revelation. I took the dry erase board and some colorful markers and we got down on the floor for some “play” time. This play time included sounding out the letters of the words Transformer Prime. We did this a couple of times and the kid was in heaven. We even concluded our little disguised reading lesson with going over all 26 phonograms. Success. When my kids came in the house and asked what we were doing I said we were hanging out. I didn’t dare say reading, or doing school. We were hanging out and it was working. My son was reading, writing and sounding out words and letters like a pro. I never thought I’d be thankful for Transformer Prime. I guess TV can have some benefits.
With all my heart,
Bridgette
10 Minute Workout of the Week
Here is an intense 10 minute workout for you. Watch the preview to learn the moves first, and then warm up and do the workout. You will be dripping with sweat by the time you are finished. This workout will burn fat and tone you at the same time. Enjoy.
You will need two weights. Light weights 3-5 lbs. if you are a beginner 5-10 lbs. for advanced people.
With all my heart,
Bridgette
Reflections on Anger
James 1:19-20
This you know my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
This is the scripture that I went to Saturday morning with journal and magic marker in hand. How can this scripture help me? Am I beyond all hope? Am I just normal? I don’t really know. I read this scripture over and over again like I have many times in the past to try and find new insights into it. I began to ask myself many questions: Do I get angry wrongfully? Do I get angry too quickly? Or do I get angry at the right things, but just too quickly? Do I expect too much from my children? Is it okay to be angry, but just to express it in a calmer way? I then made a list of triggers for me. These are the things that set me off.
1) Disobedience
2) Forgetfulness
3) Lack of respect
4) My kids wanting things that are bad for them.
5) Not being aware of others.
6) Throwing, hitting, name calling, screaming. I’m putting these all together because these behaviors usually happen in clusters.
7) Ungratefulness
8) Messing up my bedroom
9) Interrupting my workout
10) Complaining and arguing.
13) Mean disrespectful faces
14) Tons of noise, movement and chaos.
As I looked over my list, I realized that some of these things should rightfully make me angry. Some of the behaviors though, are just kids being kids and I need to get over it. Like making tons of noise and creating chaos and wanting things that are bad for them. They lack wisdom and cannot yet see the value of good choices. So I realized from making my list that I don’t get angry for no reason, but for good reason. I just get angry too quickly and I forget to be the guide and mediator and become the commanding officer instead.
Then I made a list of statements to help me understand my kids better and see them in a different light.
What is true for me is true for them.
Just like me they are still learning certain lessons and truths.
They are just younger sinners.
They are smaller versions of me.
They are my children, not my enemies.
They aren’t perfect and never will be.
It is my job to teach and train them.
Instead of getting angry when they misbehave, I need to see it as a way of giving further direction and instruction.
And…
What questions can I ask my kids to help them figure out why they are acting the way they are.
This is the list:
1) What is wrong in this situation?
2) What could you have said and done differently?
3) Is this how you want to interact with me, your siblings and others?
4) What and how are you feeling?
5) Why do you feel this way?
6) How can I help you?
7) How can we settle this argument or end this dispute peacefully?
8) Did you do anything wrong?
9) What did you do right in this situation?
Making all these lists helped me. It enabled me to step back and see the situation in my home more as an observer, not as a participant. It also helped me not to be so down on myself. My kids do misbehave, I just need to learn how to react to their madness in a more effective manner. I know my anger doesn’t achieve the righteousness of God. It usually achieves more chaos and more hurt. This is what I want to nip in the bud. God has nipped plenty off of me since I became a mother, but more nipping is on the way. The scarier part is that I am partially responsible for pruning my own children. And just like me, they do not want to be pruned.
With weeds sticking out everywhere,
Bridgette
Mommy Madness
Some days I suffer with mommy madness. These are days when I can’t be patient for some reason. It could be that I am hormonal, or it could be that my children seem to gang up on me and make me crazy. Whatever the reason, I hate mommy madness days. They make me feel like a crap mom. (Sorry for the word crap, but it most closely describes my true feelings.) I don’t feel I have the tools to be a mother. I do work on being the right kind of mother, but I don’t ever seem to measure up to my own lofty standards.
There is a philosophical argument by a philosopher named Plantiga that states if Adam and Eve were put in the garden of Eden again with the same set of circumstances, they would inevitably choose to sin. Since God is omnibenevolent and man is not omnibenevolent, man would inevitably choose sin at some point along the way. For Adam and Eve were only created good, not perfect, not omnibenevolent like God. Now I am not here to defend this claim, but only to say that I see this happening to me every day. Every day I wake up in the same set of circumstances with the opportunity to be good, but I somehow make the wrong choices over and over again. When I am presented with the temptation to get frustrated with my kids or yell at them for their disobedience or disrespect, I may choose the right response the first 10 times, but then the temptation gets hold of me and I choose mommy madness. In these situations, this philosophical argument becomes real to me. I am Eve in the garden of good and evil. My feeble goodness is so apparent to me. My lack of omnibenevolence is apparent to me. No matter how many opportunites I am given for goodness, I will still choose to sin. I am only human.
Is this argument supposed to comfort me or frustrate me? I’m not sure. For me, it does both. I have to realize my limitations and not expect perfection from myself. But I also realize the frustration of living in a sinful world and of being a sinful mommy and suffering with mommy madness.
With all my heart,
Bridgette
When your kids are sick…
When your kids are sick they are….
1) Too weak to fight with one another.
2) Too weak to fight with you.
3) They don’t get into the refrigerator.
4) Even though they are making “messes” they aren’t capable of destroying the whole house.
5) They don’t complain since they are sleeping most of the time.
6) They don’t eat as much.
7) They don’t have energy to jump all over the furniture.
8) They are too weak to yell and scream.
So, although I was truly worried about my kiddos last week when they were sick, I did notice a sense of peace in the house. I don’t think I raised my voice a single time. Today, they are all well and I am thankful. But there is a return to all out mayhem in my house. I kind of miss last week. I know that’s a terrible thing to say.
With all my heart,
Bridgette
Hospitals and Carcinogens
Today, while my son was being hydrated via the IV, the nurse asked him if he wanted a popsicle. She was trying to get him to eat something and keep it down. But, I have a problem with popsicles. The red, blue and purple ones, usually have RED 40 in them, which is a known carcinogen. You wouldn’t think a child would be given a carcinogen at a hospital would you? Well, think again. The next carcinogen came in the form of red JELLO. It also contained RED 40. And if those snacks weren’t enough, he was also given saltines. What is wrong with saltines you ask? For one thing, they are just completely devoid of nutrition. They are basically sugar. They also contain corn and soy, both of which are genetically modified in this country unless they are organic. My sick child who was suffering with dehydration was given salt, sugar, fat, RED 40, and genetically modified foods. Although the nurses were rescuing him from dehydration they were most likely unknowingly and ignorantly giving him foods that are harmful to his little body. And I am ashamed to say that I let it happen. He had to eat some food and keep it down in order to be released from the ER. Plus, I didn’t want the nurses to think I was cuckoo.
With all my heart,
Bridgette
PS: I love nurses, doctors, and hospitals. They are miracle workers. I am so glad they were there for my son today.
The Mommy Update
Homeschool Update: According to Colorado state law I have to educate my kids for 172, 4 hour days over the year. I am currently at 163 days. I was relieved when I figured this out. This includes school at home, soccer, swim lessons, Classical Conversations, and field trips.
Kid Update: I have two sick kids. They have the flu. So although we are off today, I am not in a panic, since I know we are ahead of schedule. It is a day of diarrhea and throw up.
Mommy Update: I am hanging in there. I feel the weight of homeschool and how heavy it can be at times. I always feel like I could do more or I should do more. Public school is very tempting because you can put the pressure of your kids education on someone else’s shoulders.
Workout Update: I am working out 5 or 6 times a week. I do the Tracy Anderson Method and Zuzana. I also discovered a method called Tonique. It is extremely challenging. I tried it yesterday and sweat was dripping into my eyeballs. It is the most any workout has ever made me sweat. I have also started studying to become a personal trainer. I think it is about time.
Marriage Update: My husband is in his second year of seminary. He is loving the experience. He is a devoted husband and father.
Overall, we are great.
With all my heart,
Bridgette
