"Grand parenting" Overcome the potential clash you may face learning how to parent despite your own parents... I call this "grand parenting". Knowing how and when it is appropriate to bring to your parents attention that things they are doing around YOUR children is unappreciated.
In our case we face donuts, among other things, but let's start with donuts. Eric and I try our best to limit the sugar intake throughout the day as Holden can be quite spunky without sugar. Give him a little sugar and you have a 3 year old monster on your hands. When the sugar packing starts at our regular Sunday dinners, it all seems okay because, hey, they don't have to be there for the crash. However, part of being a parent may be having these hard conversations with your own parents because it is in the best interest of your child. Spinning the issue: Yes, it is a fact WE do not allow a bunch of sugars in our house. This is not a decision based only on our preference, but true facts of what sugar does to your adult body. Now, let's talk about sugar packing for a tiny human. General consensus is that some children and adults are sugar-sensitive, meaning their behavior, attention span, and learning ability deteriorate in proportion to the amount of junk sugar they consume. This blurb encompasses all children, but our Holden falls into these circumstances: While studies show that activity levels go up in both hyperactive and normal children on high- sugar diets, the hyperactive children also become more aggressive. Now when we get home and Holden can't handle himself, how are we supposed to regulate this sugar induced monster? It is important to lead with education and general concern for your child's well-being because your parents likely want the good things for your child. So, when the "...I can do it because I am grandpa strikes..." lead with concern and education. If it comes down to general concern and education not working. Remember you are the parent. You set the rules and limitations for your child. This can be sad and painful for both sides, but it is your job to set the boundaries as the parent. I personally feel strongly about issues that affect development of my children. I do not feel bad for setting boundaries if developmental process or safety is a concern and neither should you.
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We all take off baby weight differently. If you find a formula that works for you, stick with it until you see the results you are looking for or you hit a wall. This does not mean try something for a week and not see pounds lost so quit and try something else. You know what? THROW OUT THE SCALE! Take pictures bi-weekly, pounds don't tell a story. It is hard to find a formula that works. We all look for that overnight solution. There is no overnight solution! I have created a formula for myself that I know works for me. This formula is YEARS in the making. My personal formula took about 2 years to master, almost 3 years to the body I knew I wanted, and lots of hard work with a hint of determination. After I had got to the body I wanted, I found out I was pregnant with my son. After my son was born I went back to what I loved, fitness. After Holden fitness seemed to be the only thing that was the same and the me time I needed to find myself as a mother. Why fitness? Fitness has been my savior in a time where life had let me down. Not only did fitness clear my mind, I believe it played a huge part in being able to make babies. It was not until I was healthy physically that I got pregnant with my first. Why fitness still? This answer is the easiest. My children. I want to live longer, I want to chase and set an example. Most of all I want to be able to pick up in one arm a trantruming thirty seven pound toddler and console my twenty four pound middle baby in the other while walking with them back to where we need to go if needed. FITNESS is a way of living your life that encompasses exercise and food intake, a DIET is temporary. For the moms that do not think they have time. When you want something, you make time! Wake up before the kids, wait until the kids go to bed, or workout with the kids. My 3 year old will workout with me for about 10-15 minutes before loosing attention. My workouts are only 30 minutes. Holden will then play and jump back in on and off throughout my workout. My 16 month old daughter, Gretta, enjoys watching, having a snack and she might try to participate on occasion. My 2 1/2 month old enjoys kisses on push ups, to sit in her bouncer, and sometimes my 3 year old will make sure she is occupied if she gets fussy. There are times I need to stop to help the kids which can make a 30 minute workout last an 45 minutes to and hour with pausing. Ultimately, the kids are watching my drive and persistence.
Eric and I speak about this often... Think back to when you were little... How often do you remember your parents sitting down with you to play? Now, I do remember a few times easily, but I remember doing a lot of helping with whatever my parents where doing and ENJOYING it. My parents were never into fitness. I actually hated gym class and would get out of it whenever possible. I do remember enjoying suntanning with my mom with baby oil and a spray bottle (I know these days you would never subject your children to the UVs like this, but I enjoyed it). I remember working on the snowmobiles with my dad. I remember washing vehicles in the driveway. I remember cutting wood for bonfires and so much more. All FUN! Do we cater too much to our children with less focus on doing daily tasks that need to get done?
THROW OUT THE SCALE & TAKE PICTURESMy number one regret from the start of my fitness journey is not taking pictures to begin with. I have no pictures from when it all started. When I started my journey I had hired a trainer and he had recommended pictures. I couldn't bring myself to taking pictures of my body when I started. Let alone share then with what might be LOTS of people. Bring yourself to do it! Pre-baby #1, Holden:
Between baby #1, Holden and baby #2, Gretta (22 months between the two and only 13 of those months I wasn't pregnant): I was in the gym still a bit, but started to realize between work and the gym I didn't want that time away from Holden. I was choosing my son over being fit and having me time as a single mom, which was fine, but I had nothing for me at that point. I was introduced to Beachbody programs by my cousin. A side note here: Amy has an amazing life changing story behind her fitness journey.
Between baby #2, Gretta and baby #3, Myla (13 months between the two and only 4 of those not pregnant):
After baby #3, Myla:
EATING PLAN  Image is a screenshot taken from a macros calculator found on annavictoria.com I know a can plan to eat between 5-6 times a day. My body thrives on a protein driven diet, but I still need carbs for energy. I also know I need to limit my fats, however, when I am nursing I am less concerned about the amount of fats I intake as long as they are healthy fats. WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE?
**I am not a professional, I am merely offering insight as to what has worked for me.
 A beginners guide of things to consider when taking your little ones out to the beach or a pool:
Planning ahead can make life a lot smoother when dealing with kiddos. making sure to ask the right questions ahead of time can ensure you are not telling your children something that cannot happen due to rules of certain facilities. Happy swimming!
These videos put a hilarious twist on developing connections with other moms. I can relate to at least one part from each of these videos. Reminder, I was the mom that no one ever thought would become a mom. Yes I am a mom of 3, but I am a mom of 3 kids age 3 and under. I am still learning a great deal. My experience with making mom friends was challenging initially because I was a single mom working. I have always had a flexible position in the companies I have worked for to be able to do Early Childhood Family Education with each of my kids. Developing a connection with stay at home mom's has been hard for me because many times they do not want to hang out later in the evening or on weekends because their husbands are home. That doesn't include everything I need to catch up on during the week. After Eric stepped into the picture I was able to join a MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers) group, which was fun to get away by myself. Shortly after I had joined MOPS the leader stepped down and I was at a loss. I hadn't even developed any strong connections yet. I took the lead. A few other mom's and I took the reigns and developed a non profit for mom's in our community called Mom's Balance. TOP 10 TIPS FOR MAKING MOM FRIENDS:
Since the development of the Mom's Balance group I have met some amazing mom's. I have also created a network on my Facebook where if I have a mom question all I have to do is ask and I will get many responses from great mom's to help me along. Though I have a great network of momma's finding that one best bestie I am still working on. I have my sights on someone LOL, but even though I offer these suggestions it all really takes time. It is interesting looking at the dynamic of how long it takes to develop the right connections. Our Mom's Balance group has been in the works for just under a year now and I would say it has taken a good 6 months for mom's to really dive in to create strong connections.
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February 2019
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