2734: Why Your Child's Health Starts With You by Crystal Karges on The Value of Self-Care & Well-Being

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[00:00:30] [SPEAKER_01]: This is Optimal Health Daily. Why Your Child's Health Starts With You by Crystal Karges of crystalkarges.com and I'm Dr. Neal Malik.

[00:00:40] [SPEAKER_01]: Hey there and welcome to another bonus Sunday episode where I share an article from one of the other podcasts in our network.

[00:00:47] [SPEAKER_01]: Today's post comes from Optimal Relationships Daily where articles covering all types of relationships are read to you every day.

[00:00:55] [SPEAKER_01]: So with that, here's an article from Greg as we optimize your life.

[00:01:03] [SPEAKER_02]: Why Your Child's Health Starts With You by Crystal Karges of crystalkarges.com

[00:01:10] [SPEAKER_02]: As mothers, we are often able to do for our children what we cannot do for ourselves.

[00:01:15] [SPEAKER_02]: No matter how many times you feel you may have failed in the past, mothers have an incredible, God-given strength when it comes to our children.

[00:01:24] [SPEAKER_02]: In the midst of all of life's demands, we make it a point to take care of our children and their health.

[00:01:29] [SPEAKER_02]: We get them to their doctor's appointments, make sure they brush their teeth, and worry if they're eating enough vegetables.

[00:01:35] [SPEAKER_02]: We scour parenting books, blogs, and research to stay on top of the latest and greatest.

[00:01:41] [SPEAKER_02]: But what if in the process of caring for our own children, we've neglected to take care for ourselves?

[00:01:49] [SPEAKER_02]: Prioritizing Self-Care in Motherhood

[00:01:52] [SPEAKER_02]: Learning to care for yourself in the trenches of motherhood is a complex thing.

[00:01:56] [SPEAKER_02]: After all, there are tiny humans who rely on you completely.

[00:01:59] [SPEAKER_02]: So it's easy to let your own needs go to the wayside.

[00:02:02] [SPEAKER_02]: Mama, you are doing such a great job nurturing your children.

[00:02:07] [SPEAKER_02]: Why is it difficult to give this same level of care and attention to yourself?

[00:02:11] [SPEAKER_02]: For most women, it's counterintuitive to put self-care in front of the needs of loved ones, including children and spouses.

[00:02:18] [SPEAKER_02]: Generally speaking, mothers are nurturers and givers.

[00:02:22] [SPEAKER_02]: But this can easily become a situation where mom's own needs become neglected.

[00:02:26] [SPEAKER_02]: While it might seem like this is just how things are and that there is little that can be done to change this, this is simply not the case.

[00:02:33] [SPEAKER_02]: A mother who doesn't prioritize her own health and wellness risks damaging not only her own well-being, but the longevity of her own children and family.

[00:02:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Mama, you are the gasoline that keeps this car or minivan running.

[00:02:48] [SPEAKER_02]: If you're not taking care of your vehicle, everyone riding inside is going to suffer when it has a breakdown.

[00:02:54] [SPEAKER_02]: Don't let yourself get to the point of a breakdown.

[00:02:56] [SPEAKER_02]: You can do everything possible to keep your children healthy and thriving, but if taking care of yourself is not part of the equation, your efforts are nulled.

[00:03:05] [SPEAKER_02]: In an effort to offer your best to your children, it's important to make taking care of yourself a priority.

[00:03:11] [SPEAKER_02]: While self-care is an overused, trendy phase, in my opinion, I think it's important to reframe the ways you can care for yourself in a busy season of motherhood.

[00:03:20] [SPEAKER_02]: What are life-giving activities that fill you up and bring you joy?

[00:03:25] [SPEAKER_02]: What are ways that you can replenish yourself during a time where you are constantly pouring yourself out for others?

[00:03:31] [SPEAKER_02]: Here are some ideas.

[00:03:33] [SPEAKER_02]: Learn how to say no.

[00:03:35] [SPEAKER_02]: Take an honest look at your schedule.

[00:03:37] [SPEAKER_02]: What is filling your time that causes you to feel burned out or drained?

[00:03:41] [SPEAKER_02]: What's on your calendar that doesn't bring you joy?

[00:03:44] [SPEAKER_02]: Do yourself a favor and find a way to remove it.

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_02]: Your time is too precious to say yes to everything.

[00:03:50] [SPEAKER_02]: Choose activities that help you thrive and learn to say no to things that don't.

[00:03:55] [SPEAKER_02]: You deserve to eat too.

[00:03:57] [SPEAKER_02]: For many moms, mealtime becomes eating whatever leftovers are available on your kids' plates while you simultaneously pick up the house and answer emails.

[00:04:05] [SPEAKER_02]: Mama, if you're not nourishing your body well, your health will suffer.

[00:04:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Your kids will be better eaters and understand the importance of taking time to feed themselves if they observe you doing it for yourself.

[00:04:18] [SPEAKER_02]: Schedule a pause in your day to sit down at the table with your kids, eat your food, and enjoy the opportunity to feed your body well.

[00:04:27] [SPEAKER_02]: Move your body in a way that feels good.

[00:04:30] [SPEAKER_02]: For many women, exercise doesn't count for anything unless it involves burning a certain amount of calories.

[00:04:36] [SPEAKER_02]: But where's the joy in that?

[00:04:38] [SPEAKER_02]: You could choose activities and movement that you enjoy and don't dread doing.

[00:04:42] [SPEAKER_02]: This can be anything from gardening to playing tag with your kids in the park to wearing your baby and taking a stroll around the neighborhood.

[00:04:50] [SPEAKER_02]: Activity should serve your body, not feel punishing or burdening.

[00:04:54] [SPEAKER_02]: Put yourself on the schedule.

[00:04:57] [SPEAKER_02]: You schedule out important appointments for your kids and make time in your calendar for things that need to get done.

[00:05:03] [SPEAKER_02]: Why not do the same for yourself?

[00:05:05] [SPEAKER_02]: It's easy to feel guilty for taking time away from your family for things you enjoy.

[00:05:10] [SPEAKER_02]: But ultimately, you will come back feeling refreshed.

[00:05:13] [SPEAKER_02]: Make some time for things that you enjoy, even if it's only for a couple of hours every month.

[00:05:18] [SPEAKER_02]: You deserve it, mama.

[00:05:20] [SPEAKER_02]: Quiet the diet for good.

[00:05:23] [SPEAKER_02]: Women who continue to chronically diet will often have a chaotic relationship with food, struggle with body image, or even battle eating disorders.

[00:05:32] [SPEAKER_02]: But that's not even the worst part.

[00:05:34] [SPEAKER_02]: Mamas, if we don't put a stop to the cycle, dieting can become a generational problem, passing on problematic eating behaviors to our children.

[00:05:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Cultivate a positive understanding of health and what it means to care for and nourish your body and your children.

[00:05:48] [SPEAKER_02]: Diets not included.

[00:05:50] [SPEAKER_02]: Helping your children grow into healthy, contributing individuals will naturally come when your own well-being is made a priority.

[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_02]: Does this have to be perfect to be meaningful?

[00:06:00] [SPEAKER_02]: The motherhood journey is never about perfection, but rather learning in the process and giving yourself grace upon grace along the way.

[00:06:12] [SPEAKER_02]: You just listened to the post titled, Why Your Child's Health Starts With You by Crystal Cargis of crystalcargis.com

[00:06:21] [SPEAKER_02]: And thanks so much to Crystal for this post.

[00:06:24] [SPEAKER_02]: Definitely a motivating piece for mothers and fathers alike, I'm sure.

[00:06:28] [SPEAKER_02]: And I would say that just as health is something we'd like to see our children do well with,

[00:06:33] [SPEAKER_02]: we can apply these same principles to any value that we want to exhibit to them.

[00:06:38] [SPEAKER_02]: For example, if you want your children to grow up and be kind,

[00:06:42] [SPEAKER_02]: how can you break kindness down into different subcategories the way that Crystal has with health,

[00:06:48] [SPEAKER_02]: and then seek to exemplify them for your children?

[00:06:51] [SPEAKER_02]: We're ultimately talking about setting a good example, which is such a meaningful part of parenting.

[00:06:56] [SPEAKER_02]: You hear it come up over and over again.

[00:06:58] [SPEAKER_02]: So use this episode not only to learn about how you can do that health-wise,

[00:07:03] [SPEAKER_02]: but follow the same structure and let it help you with other important areas of life too.

[00:07:08] [SPEAKER_02]: That's it for me today though, everyone.

[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Thanks a lot for listening to the end and definitely come back tomorrow,

[00:07:14] [SPEAKER_02]: where we will have another parenting post, this time from Healthline.

[00:07:18] [SPEAKER_02]: Looking forward to seeing you all there, where your optimal life awaits.