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Mommy Tips

Oct 08
0

I Will Never Homeschool My Kid

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness Mom | No Comments

I Will Never Homeschool My Kid

I remember God nudging me to click the Yes, Going box on the Facebook Invite for Mom’s Night Out for local homeschool moms. I saw that one of my acquaintance moms was going so I got the courage to click YES. But as the days grew closer I felt more and more intimidated about going. It’s ironic that I can attend huge Chamber events where I have to speak in front of 200 plus business owners, but to attend this moms group I had sweaty palms and butterflies.

Why is it I feel intimidated by other parents?

Maybe it’s their Facebook pictures of their amazingly decorated homeschool rooms. Maybe I feel inadequate because I consider them SUPERMOMs because they stay at home, manage their houses, and homeschool their kids and I have a home helper that helps with household chores and watches my kids everyday.

But mostly I think I was intimidated because I know my son isn’t like all the other kids. He is unique, very active, amazing and socially and developmentally slower than others his age. He can memorize things in minutes, carry a tune and stick with a beat better than his 40 old mother but if you ask him to sit in a chair for 20 minutes you are lucky if you get 5 minutes.

I Said I Would Never Homeschool My Kids   

At the Homeschool Moms night out I was shocked to hear how many moms said that they would never homeschool. Some fell into it because of circumstances like mine where one of their children had unique challenges which needed more one on one support than public or private schools could provide. Some fell into it because of their lifestyle in the military and moving all the time. Some were called by God to homeschool their kids and some just knew it was right. Ironically out of this group of 14 women none had been homeschooled growing up yet all had made the decision to homeschool.

Not All Homeschooled Kids Are Brilliant  

Prior to this night most of my exposure with homeschooled kids was that they are incredibly talented, top of their classes, Ivy League material. Just last week the, homeschooled 5 year old kid in my son’s Awana’s class was giving me a biology lesson on flowers. And the last homeschooled family I had to my house, well the 9 year old girls drew me pictures like this in 5 minutes FREE hand out of their imagination. I have a stack of 12 pictures like this one below. Who wouldn’t want their kids to be homeschooled if they are going to be this talented? Right? (Did I mention they also didn’t watch any TV.)

I Will Never Homeschool My Kid

But that night I learned it’s a MYTH. Although statistically, homeschooled kids do out perform public and private school kids on things like SATs and ACTs (or at least the HC curriculum I use), these women shared with me that it’s a myth that homeschooled kids are brilliant at everything. Each child is unique and struggles and excels at different things. And sometimes a D in Algebra in a sea of As in other subjects is okay. Note my son’s coloring job below… not sure if artist is in his future.

I Will Never Homeschool My Kid

Home Schooling Is Character Building For Both Parents And Kids

Your child and their behavior is a mirror to your own behavior and character.  “Do I really sound like that?” Through this close daily personal one on one time with our kids, we learn about our own character flaws and hopefully learn to improve them.

So far in the few weeks of homeschooling my kids we have learned about attentiveness, faith, giving, honesty, and obedience… now do they really understand what they are saying… maybe some but I know I have been blessed by the reminder of these character traits and am working on living them more fully in my life.

Deeper Relationships

Many of the moms shared that although the teenage years might be the most difficult in the homeschool journey they are also the most crucial for solidifying relationships amongst parents and kids and siblings. In fact several moms shared how much deeper relationships are because you have to learn to communicate with, understand, and love each other daily.  Feelings and issues come to the surface and can be dealt with now rather than them turning into relationship problems later on in their adulthood.  Although difficult at times it is a blessing to have this strong connections amongst children and parents.

It’s Okay To Get Help

I think one of my biggest fears is labeling my child. I have watched parents and family I love label their child that then becomes part of that child’s speech and label of themselves… in some ways giving themselves permission to be less. I don’t want that for my child. I got to see Kyle Maynard a man born without legs or hands this summer. I was so impressed with how his parents never enabled him to be less than his full potential. His story is incredible. But it made me realize I was doing too much for my son and that he needed to grow and learn to do more things on his own.

But after this meeting and listening to some moms who had challenges with their unique sons I realize that getting some more help might be helpful in the sense that an outside person may be able to push Joshua to his full potential in ways that I can’t. It doesn’t have to be about labeling but rather about helping my son learn and grow.

So all in all I am so glad that I went to learn more about homeschooling from veteran moms and moms just starting like me. They were an incredibly special group of women who made me feel very welcomed, encouraged me, and are helping me navigate this new journey of homeschooling. Now I wonder how many of them reading this will pick out all my grammar and spelling mistakes… LOL!

 

Mary Starr Carter
the Total Wellness Doc and now Homeschooling Mom

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Oct 06
0

6 Quick and Easy Tips for a Happy, Healthy Family

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | No Comments

6 Quick and Easy Tips for a Happy, Healthy Family

One of the privileges of doing Young Living business is the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. I learn so much…and I’m always reminded and encouraged to share more about living a healthy lifestyle.

Today’s article is written by my friend, Golda, a single mom, living a healthy lifestyle with 2 children in Brooklyn NY. I met Golda in one business seminar several years ago. She is a health coach, a personal trainer and also an essential oil user.

Let’s learn from Golda 6 Quick and Easy Tips for a Happy Healthy Family. If you have any healthy tips please share on my Facebook wall. I look forward to hearing and learning from you too.

To your health,

Mary Starr Carter

the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

**************************************

6 Quick and Easy Tips for a Happy, Healthy Family

By Golda Smith

It really blows my mind sometimes when I sit and realize that my babies are no longer babies. Yes they will always be MY babies but they are no longer those helpless little cuddly beings needing to be nursed every few hours. Now they are walking to school without momma, washing their own clothes and other tasks.

The last few years have been a learning process for all of us but as the head of the household, for me especially. Earlier this year I began leading a fitness group for moms because I wanted to encourage them to take care of themselves. Let me say that I am not perfect nor do I want to come off as having it all figured out because I don’t. However, I have figured out what works for my family and I do have to say that we are a beautiful happy, healthy family.

If you are struggling with bringing balance into your home please allow me to share my six quick tips to creating your happy healthy family.

Daily prayer time- It starts with self, taking time preferably before the daily hustle begins to sit still and talk with God which is what I define prayer to be. Something else that we do as a family is to pray before we head out the door.

Sit down for a meal together- In today’s hectic world, it’s almost impossible to sit down and enjoy a meal for one much less as a family but pick one and stick to it. Research shows that families that eat at least one meal together tend to be closer knit, have more conversations and eat healthier.

Make exercise play time- No matter how old your children are, you can always turn exercise into play time. When my children were toddlers, we made a game out of tidying up their room. Now on the playground we do pull ups and push-ups, we squat with the laundry basket. Just have fun with it and don’t use your children as an excuse. Let them be your reason for being happy and healthy.

Get everyone on board with meal planning- People often ask me if my children eat what I eat and the answer is yes. They may not love everything I prepare and that’s all right but I do get their agreement as to the upcoming weekly meal plan. Planning ahead saves me from stressing over what to prepare and making unhealthy choices.

Keep healthy tasty snacks on deck- “Preparation is the key to success.” -Alexander Graham Bell. If you want you and your children to eat healthy then there really is a simple solution…don’t buy crap! You as the head of the household hold the purse strings. Keep some fruits (dry or fresh) on deck. There are some healthy snack choices as well, one of my favorites are Whey Thins. Perfect for the late nights when I want to crunch on something a little salty and I feel great giving it to my children as well.

Praise 10x more than you criticize- Certainly if you have children you know that sometimes they can try your patience and you may have found yourself in constant correction mode where you are constantly criticizing them. It’s sometimes done unconsciously but it happens. What I want to suggest is that for every criticism, you look for ten ways to praise your child. It could be as simple as letting them know how much you appreciate the fact that they close the door quietly, that they are caring and compassionate. Look for ways to lift them up and watch them rise to the level of your expectations.

Now comes the fun part…it’s your turn. Tell us how these tips are sitting with you and how you are creating a happy healthy family.

golda smithGolda Smith is a mom, health coach and certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She has a passion for helping moms look and feel their best through a balance between faith, food and fitness.

 

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Sep 29
0

Back to School Tips: Soda, Kids’ Health and Behavioral Problems

By | Essential Oils, Kids, Mommy Tips, NingXia Red, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | No Comments

Back to School Tips: Soda, Kids’ Health and Behavioral Problems

“If you want kids to be less violent, stop giving them this,” said the headline on Twitter. To find out more, I clicked on the link and found an article titled “Soda drinking tied to violent behavior in kids” by the Daily News.

The news said that children consuming four or more servings of soda per day are likely to display bad behavior. Studies show that these kids may have withdrawal and attention problems, destroy other people’s belongings and get into fights and physical attacks.
 
Here are six more problems related to drinking soda and sugar drinks:
 
Sugar overload
A 20 oz. Mountain Dew contains 77g. of sugar and a 7 Eleven 64 oz. Double Gulp Coke contains 186g of sugar. Dr. Mercola has an article on What Happens to Your Body Within an Hour of Drinking a Coke.

He said within the first 10 minutes, you get 10 teaspoons of sugar in your system, within 20 minutes your blood sugar spikes and your liver responds and turns the sugar overload into fat. By 40 minutes, your blood pressure rises and your liver dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. After an hour you’ll start to have a sugar crash. (Read more here.)

Read:
The Truth about Sugar Addiction
The nine benefits of drinking water

Additives and artificial color
A question, “Do you use additives in Coca-Cola?” was posted on Coca Cola Britain’s site. The answer was “We do use additives in some of our drinks, including Coca Cola.”

What are the additives found in your soda drink and why are they harmful? The Consumer Report said caramel color is added to many soft drinks to turn them brown and some of these contain carcinogenic chemical called 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI). They tested the 12-ounce samples of Pepsi One and Malta Goya to have 29 micrograms per can or bottle of 4-MeI. They tested on 81 cans and bottles of popular soda brands from five manufacturers.

Read more about 4-MeI on FDA’s website.

Bad for the teeth
PubMed’s report on “Dental erosion and severe tooth decay related to soft drinks: a case report and literature review” said that the acids and sugars in soft drinks have both acidogenic and cariogenic potential. In layman’s term, it will result in potential tooth decay and enamel erosion.

The publication said sugar-free soft drinks have the same erosive potential as sugar-containing soft drinks. So those with artificial sweeteners will pose the same problems.

Dehydration
We may have come to the assumption that any form of liquid will help hydrate our body. Soda and sugar water may give us an immediate quench of thirst but the reality is the sugar and caffeine inside will speed up dehydration.

Dehydration will then lead to tiredness and mood swings.

Increase obesity and diabetes
“If a child drinks just one soda a day, it will lead to 15.6 pounds of weight a year,” said UCSF. These are empty calories loaded with sugar, additives and caffeine. If a child drinks one soda and two glasses of Kool-Aid each day, he or she would have consumed 390 calories a day.

One pound of fat is 3,500 calories. If the child drinks that amount every day, he or she would potentially increase 40 pounds of weight from drinking soda and sugar drink.

Are sugary drinks the major contributor to obesity in America?

To Harvard School of Public Health the answer is YES. The study is poignant and here are some highlights of why sugary drinks including soda are dangerous to our children’s health:

1. The standard size soft drinks before 1950s was 6.5 ounces.
2. By the 1960s 12-ounce cans were introduced.
3. Early 1990s, 20-ounce plastic bottles were normal.
4. 2011 the 1.25-liter (42-ounce) bottle was introduced.
5. In the 1970s, sugary drinks made up about 4% of US daily calorie intake
6. 2001 risen to 9% and by 1999 to 2004 the average was 224 calories (11% of daily calorie intake) per day from sugary drinks.

Kids ages 6 to 11 consume 130 to 209 calories per day by 2008. (Source: Harvard School of Public Health)

It is not surprising when I saw the chart on CDC showing:

Between 1976-1980 and 2007-2008 obesity among children ages 6 to 11 rose from 6.5% to 19.6%.

Bad behavior
The Journal of Pediatrics reported on August 16, 2013 “Soft drinks and behavioral problems in young children.” In the study, the journal finds that aggression, attention problems, and withdrawal behavior are all associated with soft drink consumption in young children.

This study assessed about 3,000 5-year-old children from 20 large U.S. cities, and 43% of children consumed at least one serving of soft drinks per day, 4% consumed four or more.

Poor diet, obesity, bad behavior, dental problems, type 2 diabetes and poor health have been linked to sugar drinks and soda.

Are your kids drinking soda or sugar drinks?
 
What are the alternatives to soda and sugar drinks for your kids as they are heading back to school?

Surprisingly more soda and sugar drinks are being consumed at home than outside.  I found a Math Project by an elementary school in Waikele Hawaii. The Math Project showed on average the 464 families consumed four cans of soda per family per day. A total of 1,856 per day, 12,992 per week, 55,680 per month and 668,160 per year.

The average cost per can of soda was 31 cents. The 464 families spent $575.36 per day, $4,027.52 per week, $17,260.80 per month and $207,129.60 per year. That’s almost a quarter of a million dollars on soda for an average size elementary school with 464 families.

That’s just one case study. How about your kids’ school?

What would happen if they drank pure water, added a drop or two of pure 100% therapeutic grade
·  Lemon
·  Orange
·  Tangerine
·  Slique
·  Peppermint essential oils to the pure water or

NingXia Red to the water?
 
I would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave me a comment below.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Sep 04
0

Recipe For Organic Beef, Broccoli & Brown Rice Casserole

By | Food, Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

Organic-Beef-Rice-Casserole

September brings in a new season for most families. Some of us have kids going to a new grade level or new school, some are going to school for the first time and yet others find themselves empty-nesters with kids going off to college.

Busy mommas are always looking for ways to get things done faster without compromising on wellness. This month, I will be highlighting some of the mommy bloggers I’ve been following. These blog posts will include recipes, overcoming challenges and encouragement written by busy mommas who work from home. They partner with Young Living and share their stories through their blog and social media platforms.

Today I would like to introduce you to Catherine Slezinger of www.theorganicmomma.com. She is known as the organic momma to her community, an oiler and mom of young children. I’ve selected a recipe she shared on her website on how to create a one dish meal with beef, broccoli and brown rice.

For your total wellness,

Mary Starr Carter
the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

Recipe For Organic Beef, Broccoli & Brown Rice Casserole

By: Catherine Slezinger

In case you need something easy, nutritious and filling to make tonight, here’s a yummy recipe for a delicious comfort food dish- organic beef and rice casserole. (This is my adaptation of all the beef & rice casserole recipes I looked up that called for cream of mushroom soup) 🙂

This is also an excellent recipe to make and freeze a double batch for later!

Ingredients:

2 tbsp organic butter

2 lbs organic grass fed beef

1 organic onion, cut into strips

1 head organic broccoli, cut into florets

1 organic bell pepper, cut into strips

1 cup cooked organic brown rice (I use my Vita Clay)

2 cups organic sour cream

1 can organic diced tomatoes, such as the Bionaturae Organic brand

1 teaspoon sea salt, such as Real Salt or Himalayan Salt

2-3 teaspoons organic dried parsley

Shredded organic raw cheddar cheese

Directions:

Saute the onions in butter until soft and translucent, then add peppers. Saute the peppers until soft.

Add the ground beef and brown until just browned. Don’t overcook because it will be going in the oven 🙂 Season with the salt.

Add the sour cream and diced tomatoes and mix well. Add the parsley.

Transfer to a large bowl, and add the cooked rice and mix well.

Layer the broccoli on a large baking dish, and scoop the beef & rice mixture over the top.

Top with the shredded cheese, and bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes, covered.

Sprinkle some more parsley on top before serving and ENJOY! 🙂

With lots of love,

Catherine Slezinger

New-Bio-Pic-Megan

Catherine Slezinger is thankful to be a wife to Mark, for 7 years, and a happy organic Mommy to three precious children- Nathaniel, almost 4, Micah, almost 2, and Grace, 8 months.

After battling a chronic digestive illness at the young age of 19, Catherine found a health plan that revolutionized her life and restored her health, giving her a newfound hope for the future. Because of this dramatic turnaround, she is passionate about seeing others experience the optimal health that she has attained.

For a free guide “How to Eat Organic On A Budget” go to Catherine’s website, The Organic Momma, at http://www.theorganicmomma.com/

 

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Jul 31
0

Could Zyto Compass Be The Answer to Your Parenting Needs?

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

Parenting is tough. I didn’t grow up with my brother and sister. I was my mom’s only child. I did babysit but I have to admit I wasn’t that good. It was exhausting to me and I used to count the minutes until the parents got home.

Then I had kids and I really understood what EXHAUSTED meant.  Parenting isn’t easy if you want to do a good job. It takes Physical Stamina, Mental Clarity, and a whole lot of Holy Spirit Help.

Becoming frustrated and even ANGRY at our children can become a daily experience. Especially for moms with the stress of being at home by themselves with the kids all day (in my opinion the hardest working job there is — is STAY AT HOME MOM).

You can kind of go batty. I was really distressed when I heard about a mom screaming and swearing at her kid every morning. At first I was shocked but then I thought about it and realized this is a single mom who has no one to help her no one to talk to, NO BREAK, no peace… I can’t judge. I know what a difficult day with lack of sleep does to my mood… sadly so does my family.

Anger, frustration, moodiness they all can have a nutritional imbalance. Lack of B Vitamins can not only throw our energy down the drain but can cause our hormones to be whacky. Eating sugar daily, not eating regularly, or overeating can cause blood sugar imbalances that translate to a DRAGON like behavior. Mineral deficiency can cause havoc on the body but also our energy and moods. And constipation… well if you are constipated let’s just say you will most likely have a crappy attitude because of all those toxins stuck in your body.

zyto compass

It’s important to see where your body is out of balance. I like to use my ZYTO COMPASS to see where I am at in my health or my family’s health.

Lastly I just wanted to share about being an ANGRY MOM. This came in my inbox from my friend and Mommy Blogger, the Thriving Mom. It’s worth a read if you struggle with parenting, feel alone sometimes, or just need some encouragement: http://thethrivingmom.com/are-you-an-angry-mom/

You are not in this alone. God’s got your back and we are praying for you.

Mary Starr Carter

the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Jan 26
0

How I Got in the Best Shape of My Life

By | Losing Weight, Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

How I Got in the Best Shape of My Life

By: Christine Parton

For the past two years I have been on a journey to better health. I have always been of a “health conscious” mindset and knew the importance of eating well and exercising, yet more often than not, LIFE got in the way. It’s such an irony that often on our quest to live a good LIFE, a healthy LIFE, many of us are derailed by everyday LIFE. The long workdays, kids and family commitments, etc. that we are left feeling defeated, exhausted and frustrated to the point that we start to accept the unhealthiness of our LIFE and feel trapped.

Fortunately, with enough determination, support and commitment, we can all find our path on the road to a healthy LIFE. As I previously mentioned, I have been a health conscious person most of my adult life. I knew I had a terrible family history of heart disease, cancer and obesity, among others that if I didn’t take control of, I would soon become another statistic. There have been periods of time in my life when I was more “in shape” than others, when I ate a healthier diet and took long daily walks. I worked in a job once where all I did was promote organic, natural food to the community in which I lived. Yet again, LIFE took over. I had two babies in two years, worked stressful corporate jobs and commuted long hours. I did what I could to be healthy. I exercised when I could, I tried to eat right but most importantly, I never gave up and I knew that a time would come when the “stars would align” so to speak and I would finally get onboard the express train to the “me” I always dreamed of.

For me that time came when, mostly out of necessity, I became a stay at home mom. The cost of daycare for two children was astronomical and we had no local family support to provide childcare. Don’t get me wrong, I was very excited and wanted to stay home with my kids and spend time with them. I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown working and commuting for 12-14 hours a day, nursing my youngest (and all that goes with that commitment-pumping while at work, transporting breast milk, etc.), taking care of the home chores, finances, and everything else that happens in LIFE. Fitting time to exercise into my daily routine was almost impossible for this time in my life, yet I never gave up hope that one day, my circumstances would change and I would take hold of the reigns. I did just that in February 2012.

One of the first tasks on my “list” once I quit my job was to find a good gym. I had belonged to other gyms in the past but never stuck to it and would eventually cancel my membership. I researched and visited several local gyms, comparing my criteria and meeting the staff. I eventually settled on an amazing gym, BodyPlex. The have a wonderful staff in the kids’ area whom I felt comfortable caring for my children while I exercised. This was key to my commitment to go almost daily. Again, without family and friends near us to provide childcare, finding a gym with childcare was a non-negotiable. I spent the first few weeks trying various classes and seeing where I fit in and what resonated with me. I also met with the fitness director for what I knew was a sales pitch to join personal training sessions, but for a reason that eventually became clear, I talked to him anyway. I will never forget the words that rang truest to me, “a trainer will push you farther than you will push yourself. They hold you accountable when no one else will.”

It was a stretch financially with only one income however, my ultra supportive husband knew I was committed and encouraged me to go for it. Having a trainer has made ALL the difference in my journey. I decided to meet a trainer once a week and supplement my time with her by taking classes at the gym taught by the trainers. I now work out 5-6 days a week, two days high intensity cardio and 3-4 days weight training. Lifting weights burns more calories than cardio alone. Weight training helps develop lean muscle mass that cardio alone will never achieve. A body with more muscle mass will always burn calories faster. There are just so many reasons to ensure weight training is part of your “get fit” lifestyle.

Working with my trainer has also provided so much insight into diet and how the foods I consume directly impact my ability feel stronger and more successful at the gym. We have all heard it but a high protein, low carb diet rich in fruits and vegetables will do more for you than any fad diet. I rarely stray from my tried and true staples for breakfast, lunch and dinner but I will also add that I never make myself feel “guilty” if I want a special treat once in awhile. I teach this to my kids, a special treat is just that, a treat, it’s not an everyday occurrence.

On my two year journey, I let go of 30 extra pounds of weight that were holding me back from living the LIFE I always wanted. In the process, I discovered a body I had never known before, I am in the best shape of my life as I enter my last year in the 30’s. I didn’t look this good as a twenty-something. My husband, family and friends are incredibly proud and I am too. I made the commitment to make this my new LIFEstyle and eating right and exercising are my new norms.

If there is a day I don’t make it to the gym, the first thing I do is not feel guilty, but then get right back on track the next day. We live in a busy world, there is no doubt about it, but taking time now to make changes will only benefit you down the road for so many reasons. I think of the positive role model I try to be for my children, especially my daughter. I pray she learns healthy living tips from me that she can carry through adolescence and into her teenage years and beyond. I pray that I inspire my family and friends who have been struggling on their own journey to get fit. I strive to share my tips for success and encourage others to discover what works for them.

It’s important to realize what works for one person isn’t necessarily going to work for someone else. The key is perseverance and determination, push forward, cultivate your destiny and take the path that your are drawn to. As a result of getting healthier I have gained so much confidence. I can now go clothes shopping without the tears that once accompanied me. I am also finally teaching yoga, a path I first embarked on 7 years ago yet never felt confident enough to be in front of a class. I am excited to see where my path, my journey continues to take me in life.

If I were to sum up my experience in 5 tips that really “clicked,” I would say:

1. First and foremost getting a personal trainer was the single more successful venture I embarked on. My trainer has become a great friend. She pushed me when I wanted to quit. I cried during our first meeting recalling how much I wanted my life to change. I cried and screamed during our workouts and the countless wall balls, kettle bells swings, push ups and pull ups she coached me through. She also analyzed my diet and continues to give me recipe ideas to stay on track. Words cannot express how I feel about her support, she is the best.

2. Decide when the time is right and when you can really stick to your plans and until it’s the right time, incorporate little things like cutting out one crutch food or taking one walk a week, something is better than nothing. I have always said, “to get anywhere you need to start somewhere.”

I also read recently how crushing New Year’s Resolutions can be to a person. Resolutions are so black and white, you succeed or, more often you fail. In my yoga class, we set “intentions” to start our practice. An intention is something you are focusing on, something you are working towards. You may take one step forward and two steps back but your intention is still set on that idea, that goal.

3. Because I have children, I had to find a way to include them in my lifestyle change. I made sure the kids’ area at the gym was clean, safe, and the staff attentive. I also recently invested in a double stroller. When my son was an infant I put him in a baby carrier on my back, my two year old was in a single jogger and the dog was on a leash. I garnered many raised eyebrows from the neighbors but I just said, “We all needed to get out of the house!” Whether you have children our not, if there is something you may feel inclined to use as an excuse not to exercise, find a way to deal with it. I often think my house might be cleaner if I used my gym time for house chores instead. But in the end, what is more important, a spotless home or your health.

4. I am incredibly blessed to have a loving, supportive husband and my wish for everyone is the same support from home. But, I have also developed some friendships at the gym. Not necessarily people I would see outside the gym but people who I interact with at class and enjoy being around. We talk about our sessions at the gym, we sweat through tough classes together and wish each other well as we depart. I found a great community at my gym and this was key for me.

5. Most importantly, I know that I am human and I am not perfect. I do not strive to be something I am not. I strive to be healthy, to be a role model and live the life I was born to live. I try to practice compassion and forgiveness and know that if I want to eat pizza today, it’s okay. I just don’t eat it everyday. I think we have all fallen victim to the notion that once you “fall off the wagon” you are doomed and you failed. It’s important to get right back on and know that temporary setbacks are part of life and to learn from the experience.

I sincerely hope my stories inspire others and ignite that spark necessary to begin a journey to a better LIFE.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Nov 25
0

Moms of Faith: Annette Filmer Landers

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

moms of faith

I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. – Psalms 6:6

Has God heard your voice, moms? Or are we being deceived, entertaining faithless, negative and desperate thoughts every hour and moment of our lives? Recently I started a series on Moms of Faith and will be featuring one mom each month on faith and how they live a life of faith.

Annette Filmer Landers is a mom and I’ve known her for many years- I’ve seen her walk through challenges, turn it around and embrace a life of faith. I asked Annette “How does a faith filled life look like to you?”

A faith filled life is one in which you live your life trusting God for all things in life… health, provision, family, needs and wants, guidance about direction and decisions big and small. Faith is putting your hope in Him and is the opposite of fear. They can’t co-exist.

God’s Word is where she finds the antidote for fear. Here are 5 tips we can learn from Annette about faith and fear:

1. Apply and believe in TRUTH written in God’s Word.
2. God knows we are struggling with fear and he said it 365 times “fear not” and “do not be afraid”. So fear is present in the world and He has given us tools to conquer fear.
3. Fear can stop you in your tracks or paralyze you. So we need to move forward despite our fears.
4. The more you train yourself for battle, the better you master the fighting techniques when encountering fear.
5. Rely on God’s wisdom, guidance, assurance and peace to cope with each day.

Just like many moms who take care of kids of all ages, sickness, disease and injury can be a scary situation or a long lasting problem. Coping with our own problems and our kids’ health issues require endurance and faith. Annette goes to the Word of God to feed her mind and spirit with TRUTH. As the Bible says,

“By Jesus stripes we are healed and made whole, nothing missing, nothing broken.”

My next question for Annette was: Do you suffer from the lack of faith? If yes, which areas of your life?

Annette continues…

Sometimes it seems as though my faith has diminished, is totally gone or is just plain dry as toast. It seems like nothing good is happening and everywhere I turn is a brick wall stopping my progress in all areas of life.

However, I know enough to know that this is

1-just temporary
2- all a matter of perspective

My mother’s words often ring in my ears, “this too shall pass.” That isn’t scripture, but it does contain some truth to it.

We must know in the scriptures of Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die, a time to laugh, a time to cry…

And on it goes.

The cycles of life! Just because we doubt our faith or feel down and not at all spiritual, we must remember it’s ok, and it will pass.

New seasons come, old seasons that no longer serve us, go…(even though we may want to cling to the old because it’s familiar and we are creatures of habit). We must trust God and His direction knowing everything happens for a reason. Often we do not know what that reason is at the time, but we can know that God knows.

There is great comfort in this knowledge. God has our back. He loves us too much to keep us from growing and stretching. It says in His Word that “we will face troubles of many kinds”, but this is Divinely designed for the development and maturity of ourselves.

Growth can be painful. But growth is part of life and fully living out our lives of purpose. If we really can grasp this concept, it is what makes life exciting and adventure at every turn!!

It’s a perspective that can help us find joy in all situations.

What about worry or feeling “worried sick” about our situations and our children’s future?

Worry is fear. Period.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. I want to make that plain first of all. I don’t want this to weigh heavily like guilt on top of your shoulders; I want you to be free!!

Free from that lower energy and way of living in fear. However, having said that, we also must learn the Truth that worry is the same as fear.

When we are “worried sick” we are not trusting God. It took me YEARS to figure out that we can have moments of worry, and that is TOTALLY normal. It is when we live a life FILLED with worry everyday about everything with questions like,

Will it rain today and ruin our family picnic plans?
What will we do then??
How will the kids adjust to the new school?
Will my husband ever find a new job he likes?
How are we going to pay the bills this month?
Where will our next meal come from?
Will I ever get better from this chronic disease?
Are they going to repossess the cars tonight?

Worried sick questions will KILL you! And those around you that you have influence over!!

Stop the worrying! Seek God’s Word! See what His promises hold for you. His Words are life and light. Let’s cast ALL our cares in Him for He cares for us affectionately and watchfully. We have God, the powerful blood of Jesus shed for our freedom, and all His angels protecting us and our family!

That is the good news from my friend Annette. We are to cast away those worrisome cares and the Word tells us to make our requests known to God.

Making our requests known to God or prayer can take several forms. Prayer can be kneeling by your bedside at night and saying thanks for good things, asking for other things… but that is not all there is.

A relationship with our Heavenly Father and personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the key to faith-filled living.

Communication is key in a healthy relationship. Our relationship with the Father is no different. He wants us to come to Him in prayer. Just talking to Him all day long. And listening.

Listening is a skill that most of us are not exactly taught. We just learn it. Practice it. And allow God to speak to us as well.

This means creating a priority of time everyday to be quiet. Quietly listen for His still small voice to show us where we should go.

moms of faith

Annette’s action plan for a faith-filled life:

1. To have faith is to expect a good outcome, positive and a blessing or opportunity.

2. Roll the TRUTH from the Word over and over and over in our minds until we act on it with expectation.

3. Do not quit!! No matter how long it takes. No matter what it looks like.

4. Keep believing. That is faith. That pleases God!!

5. Trust Him on His Word and promises for YOU!!

6.  Speaking Life to negative situations is how we can do our part to turn things around.

7. God’s Word is light and life. It is a lamp unto my feet, a light into my path. As we speak, we expel energy into the atmosphere.

Sounds have various frequencies at which they vibrate. This is not just a theory, it is scientifically proven. There have been studies shown by Dr. Emoto, “the Hidden Messages in the Water” that when various positive or negative words with concentrated thoughts are spoken into the water and frozen, they form orderly, beautiful, perfectly coherent patterns.

Conversely, when negative, angry, or hostile words were spoken into frozen water, they would form disorderly or chaotic, random, misshapen forms.

As she spoke these words Annette felt the power over some negative situations and circumstances. She said,

“Whew!!! I’m getting happy already! We must regularly speak Truth, Gods Word over our family, finances, health & bodies, neighborhoods, jobs, businesses, spouse, food, pets… You name it!!

Here is one example from Annette:

There was a time in my life when I was completely disabled. I had fallen ill and became bedridden for several months. Doctors could not help me. We had no idea medically what was wrong.

I HAD to rely on Gods Word as medicine. It was all I had. That and some essential oils. I would cover my feet, back, neck, hands with those oils and confess Gods word over my body… “By Jesus Stripes, I am healed!” “I speak order to my body. I command my body to line up with Gods word!” “No weapon formed against me shall prosper” “my body prospers, even as my soul prospers” and I have booklets I would read out loud… Over and over and over…

I memorized those little books. When I was too exhausted to read them… I played CD’s all day and all night. They were just scriptures being confessed throughout the atmosphere, throughout my home. Those days were the darkest days of my life.

I wouldn’t see changes at all for DAYS… even weeks sometimes, or months… Talk about enduring the race put before you! Ugh! And all this time my body felt like it was dying.

It had manifested all kinds of signs of aging, aches and pains before my time. I was only in my mid-late 30’s!

I continued to confess. I continued to seek after answers and pray for guidance. God has brought answers and help all along the journey. We never did go without one meal.  You see, God is all sovereign and can do all things. He could have just reached down and touched my body in one single instant! BOOM!!

I could have been healed like that. A miracle. And I kept expecting the day for that to happen. I would envision it from my bed. I thought about all the things I would do when I was well.

Remembering the time my body was pain free.
Easily moving.
Sleeping restfully.
Having energy.
Running.
Walking.
Driving.
Playing outside with my kids.

I would think about those things. I would say prayers of thankfulness about when I would enjoy those things once again. I planted seeds of faith. Confessed words of healing truth. Spoke about my body as if it were already healed.

I never owned this disease… I didn’t like to say, “I have___” instead I would phrase it.” I’m overcoming __” or “I’m healing from ___” it’s not mine. Disease doesn’t belong to this body. I’m NOT staying here in this place. I’m conquering this even though the medical community says it “incurable”!! My God is bigger and stronger than any earthly dis-ease.

That’s one example from Annette. You can apply those tips and ways she used to conquer fear, worry, negativity, sickness and pain.

Lastly Annette said, it has been over seven years since her health decline really compromised the quality of her life and her family’s lives.

She is indeed more than a conqueror and overcomer. Please connect with Annette Landers and here is her information:

Annette Filmer Landers is a woman of extraordinary courage, faith and conviction for Total Wellness. Suffering devastating health challenges she sought diligently for answers.  She has researched, traveled and invested countless hours and tens of thousands of dollars into her education and health recovery. She not only discovered how to recover but how she became so sick and debilitated.  Her discoveries have not only enabled her own health recovery but today she helps hundreds of others in her private phone coaching, encouraging teleclasses, and her weekly radio show soon to be launched.  If you are looking for answers Annette Filmer Landers may be able to help.

Visit Annette at her Facebook link at https://www.facebook.com/annette.f.landers.9
Or website: http://annetteshealingjourney.com/

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Jul 22
0

Got Milk? Tips For Increasing Your Milk Supply

By | Mommy Tips, Natural Remedies, Pregnancy, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

breastfeeding

This video is part of my personal story and journey and struggles with Breastfeeding. I think God planted some of these challenges so that I could understand more Mommy stuff and struggles as well as be driven to find solutions.

Please share this video with women you know who are going to have babies or those that are struggling with breastfeeding.

Thank you,

Dr. Mary Starr Carter
the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

May 16
0

Your Mommy Tips

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | No Comments

mommy tips

With this past Sunday being Mother’s Day I wanted to celebrate with all the women who have blessed me via the Internet with their mommy tips. Sharing knowledge and things you have learned through trial and error of parenting and using natural remedies for health care can help hundreds or even thousands of moms if we share through the Internet.

Below are tips and techniques from Total Wellness moms. Some of them will encourage you, give you some new tools and some might even make you cry!

Enjoy!
Dr. Mary Starr Carter
the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

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I have used lavender and eucalyptus since Jamie was an infant. Lavender to sleep and eucalyptus to help with stuffy noses.

My tip is: There will be many people who will give you advice… Think of a standard response like “Thank you, I will take that into consideration.” And be ready to say it every time

Just do the best you can with what knowledge you have, when you hunger for a different way, the teacher will always appear. I learned this the hard way when I was a mommy to my 6th baby and I didn’t want to do something the doc recommended. I searched and found alternatives

Tip: deep breathes and remember the days may be long but the years are short!

Cut yourself some slack. No mom is perfect. No parenting “style” is perfect. Just love your babies and give them your best. Oh, and nurse your baby when YOU feel like you should. Regardless of when a book/friend/internet says you should. Go with your gut. (ok, so that’s more than 1 tip, but, you know…) :0)

The best investment of your time and resources is in your child(ren). The returns are priceless.

Nap when your baby naps:-)!!!! Those dishes will be there when you’re rested, or hey daddy will probably do them!!!!!!

Fennel to increase milk production for breast feeding mother

Start chore teaching at a young age so the teenage years are easier!

Due to our lovely New York State weather many children have been getting sick this year. We all have different essential oils we use. I use nutmeg, clove and frankincense. Putting them on your feet and spine is fantastic, but did you know your child’s thymus has a lot to do with the immune system working properly. Place your oils of choice on the thymus area. Dilute according to the oils label and then some with younger children. This method works sooo much faster. Amazing for a child battling MRSA.

DIY Natural Safe Sunscreen for you and the little ones: 1 ounce Coconut oil (spf 4-10), 1 ounce Raspberry Seed oil (spf 28-50), 10 drops Carrot Seed Essential Oil (spf 38-40) 5 drops Lavender. Warm over hot water until melted. Stir and use all summer long!

My best mommy tip is to arm yourself with essential oils and stay away from pharmaceuticals! Keep your family healthy naturally.

Don’t wish away the days~ love and appreciate the stage you are at. When my children were younger, I found myself longing for days when they could dress themselves and be more independent. Now that they are and the toddler days are long gone, I find myself wishing for the days when we could just play and play and push them in the stroller and my kisses fixed everything. Be grateful for each stage. Don’t wish away the days, because they will come and go and you will have been too busy thinking of different times and miss the “last’ times. We all look for the “firsts”~ first steps, first words. Don’t be too busy to miss the “lasts” ~ last time I was strong enough to hold my son, the last time he crawled up in my lap… TREASURE EVERY DAY!!! It is a gift from God!! Celebrate each day.

Mommy Tip: Avoid tubes in the ears. Mommy Beth took my advice and placed 3 drops of Melrose in palm of her hand; rolled Q-tip in the oil and swabbed gently opening to ear canal and applied Melrose to mastoid bone. She alternated with Lavender every 2-4 hours. Broken eardrum completely healed in 2 days (Confirmed by pediatrician).

Smirk, smile, laugh… try to remember to take each moment of the day as you can and treasure the moments before they slip by. Our “go-to-oil” for my daughter is wintergreen.

Don’t Stress the little things my GrandMother used to tell me, she was right! Life is to short enjoy the kids and use Essential oils like Stress Away, Peace and Calming, Lavender and many others that work.. Enjoy each day with a Smile and Loving heart.

Having lost my son at 15, my advise to moms with children driving them crazy is: enjoy it while you can. They won’t be there forever.

Puppy moms try peace and calming for thunderstorms and fireworks. Put a couple drops in your palm and rub it on the bottom of paws. My poodle asks for his oil when there is thunder.

I just learned MRSA does not like RC! Success 100% now all cuts get RC.

Thanks! That’s kind! My tip might be this; love your children and they will love you back. Love is the great healer. I used lavender for nearly everything but now that’s all so I got to use the next ones I guess.

Remember that you are the right mother for your child!

Make a Thieves oil spritzer (with distilled water) to keep your family well. I made one and sprayed all through the house all winter/early spring when the flu was going around. Nobody in our household got the flu! Actually, the worst thing any of us got was a bit of a runny nose and low-grade fever (and the fever lasted less than 24 hours)! And, that’s even with a little one in preschool!

I wish these oils were around when my children were small, but now I get to use them on my grandchildren, last month my 16mo.old granddaughter was stuffed up and coughing, I showed her mama how to apply Lavender to her feet and I also diffuse Thieves in a vaporizer, and made a muslin cloth and dab Thieves on it and hang it in the corner of her bedroom. And has made a world of difference. Now her mommy puts it in her closet now to.

The BEST mommy tip I have ever used is peppermint and DiGize.When my son Luke was in 8th grade, he would get migraine headaches and I would be called to pick him up from school. We would come home, use the peppermint on his forehead and neck, and the DiGize over his tummy to stop the intense vomiting that came with the migraine. We found out(through our association with YL people) that is was the soda and sugary foods in the machines at school. I started homeschooling him in 9th grade.  Glad that is over!

Be sure to use enzymes as your kids get bigger and on solid foods. They are so important to keeping their digestion working well since we generally don’t get enough enzymes from our diets.

Thyme and purification on ears and purification on bone behind ear and jawbone for ear infection then put thieves on feet, then for the fever lemon diluted on back and chest with some peppermint to cool the body

When it comes to your children trust your heart over the advise of others. God gave us intuitive knowledge about our children. Pray and trust.

If you have tips to share, please comment below. If you would like receive our weekly Total Wellness Newsletter with more great tips and natural wellness, parenting, nutrition, and more be sure you register below too.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Apr 25
0


Time Management Tips for Busy Moms

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

We are all busy but it’s no excuse my coach said. We all can find a way to wrap the water around the marbles. She explained our busy life is a jar of marbles that is full. We can’t add any more marbles but we can pour water in.

Water in this case was the personal and professional development I needed to grow my business. Back then she encouraged me to use my drive time, shower time, dish doing time and TV time to listen to trainings on tapes. (Am I dating myself?) Well she was right, listening to those tapes over and over again in the background not only taught me, but encouraged me and raised my skill and eventually my income.

It works.

Today’s tips will help you too especially if you find your jar is full and the only thing you can do is pour water in your jar.

Dr. Mary Starr Carter
The Total Wellness Doc and Mom
www.thetotalwellnessdoc.com

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Time Management Tips for Busy Moms

Sometimes busyness and being occupied with the doing of things each day for our kids, home and work or business leave us without any time for ourselves or for our own personal growth.

In this video I will share with you one important time management tip for busy moms that not only will help you think more positively, it will also motivate you to be the person God called you to be and not live a life of regret or dread.

We only have 24 hours. Here is a chart showing how American adults spend their time:

When you look at the chart, it shows we really do not have any time for personal development, reading or self care. Unless you take into consideration the hours spent on Leisure and sports, Eating and drinking and Others.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans spend an average of 2.8 hours per day watching TV.

Busy mommas, let’s be creative in the way we use our time. Please share this post with busy moms and dads that you know. Let us know what you learned from this video and blog post. Remember, we are in control of our destiny.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Apr 22
0

Busy Pregnant Momma Shopping Prep Tips

By | Mommy Tips, Pregnancy, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

If you are like me I don’t like wasting time or going to multiple places just to get necessities for the family. So I found a way to get the things I need in my home without having to travel.

In fact with a little planning, the amount of time you will spend can be less than 5 minutes! That’s right…less than 5 minutes.

Today’s blog post highlights two short videos about online ordering and being prepared for those times when you will not be able to get out of the house. Whether you are a busy mom with young children or a busy dad with a career and business, these tips will help you stay more focused on things that are important and still serve your family’s needs well.

Let’s watch the video now. You will save money and time and stay healthier with just these two videos.

Let me know how these videos have helped you. Please leave me a comment below after watching.

Dr. Mary Starr Carter
The Total Wellness Doc and Mom
www.thetotalwellnessdoc.com

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Busy Pregnant Momma Shopping Prep Tips

To a busy pregnant momma or momma with young children or anybody at all, time is equal to money. But the combination of saving time and money can really sweeten our days.

Most of us find ourselves compromising on the food we eat and the things we do for our family because of the lack of time or the need to save extra cash. What if there are ways for us to do both, that is saving money and time and still being able to get quality food for our family each day?

I have found a way to do so by shopping for quality food and household products online with two trusted website. Best yet, I get free shipping and handling and my groceries are at my doorstep in 48 hours.

Here are 2 short videos I did on online ordering and being prepared for those times when you will not be able to get out of the house.

The first video is Busy Momma’s Prep Tips For Online Ordering where I will show you websites that I use to buy quality food like coconut oil, gluten-free products and many more and how I save on shipping, time and money.

I will also show you the products I purchase and why we use or consume these products at our home. How these products keep us healthy as well.

My second video shows you how to stock up with household cleaners like dish detergent and a book to use to be chemical free at home even when you are a busy pregnant momma or busy momma with young children.

Enjoy the videos and please share with other busy mommas that you know and care. Let me know what you learned from these videos by commenting below.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Apr 18
0

Busy Pregnant Momma Prep Tip: Preparing and Freezing Food

By | Food, Mommy Tips, Pregnancy, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

busy pregnant momma prep tip

When I had Joshua my mother in law flew in about 2 weeks before he was born. She helped us get organized, get the rooms ready and most of all cooked and froze about 12 meals for us. It was great.

As I am becoming a little more domestic or should I say as I am hanging out with some domestic friends like www.betterlivingessentials.com mom, Mary Simmons.  I have learned that you can actually prep up to 20 freezer meals including shopping and cooking all in one day.

Really… with the use of a crockpot and freezer there are ways to prepare for times when you won’t be able to cook way in advance for many days. It involves planning and preparation but it is doable.

Here is a video tip about freezer food. Go to my website to view it.

Enjoy,

Dr. Mary Starr Carter
The Total Wellness Doc and Mom

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Busy Pregnant Momma Prep Tip: Preparing and Freezing Food

Preparing meals ahead of time is ideal for a busy pregnant momma and any momma who has young children. It sounds difficult but it is possible. There are books devoted to ways to prepare, cook and freeze meals.

In this video Busy Pregnant Momma Prep Tip – Freezer and Food, I will show you how I am preparing meals for my family during this busy season of my life.

Here are six things you need to get started:

One: A meal plan that includes favorite foods, balanced diet and easy to freeze food.

Two: Shopping list that includes healthy ingredients and enough ingredients for preparation. Combination of ingredients and buying meat, vegetables and other ingredients in bulk can save you time and money.

Three: Make sure you have space in your freezer and that your freezer is in workable condition.

Four: Get functional containers of all sizes for storing your prepared food. In the video I share which containers I use to freeze my food.

Five: Have the whole family or good friends involved in preparation, cooking and freezing process.

Six: Keep all your prepared food safe, labeled and packaged well. You don’t want to consume stale or contaminated food.

Enjoy the video and let me know how it has helped you. Please comment below.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Nov 08
0

Slow Cooker Suppers For Busy Moms and Pregnant Mothers

By | Food, Mommy Tips, Pregnancy, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | 5 Comments

I’m a mom of a two year old and carrying a baby in my womb. Making a healthy meal could be a huge task when you have to juggle between business, home and being pregnant.

Who wants to labor in the kitchen after working, taking care of kids’ activities, laundry, cleaning everyday? One of the most convenient, least time consuming and easy ways to create a healthy meal for the whole family is through slow cooking.

Picture this: putting all the healthy ingredients in a pot, set the timer and temperature and the aroma fills your home all day. Mouth-watering stews are ready for you when you are up from a nap, walk or work, your supper is waiting for you. No cold food, but warm comfort food waiting for you to devour with your family.

Here are four reasons why slow cooker suppers are the best ways to cook for busy moms:

One: Save time
All you need is the preparation time of rinsing, cutting and chopping the ingredients and adding them all in the slow cooker. Select the number of hours for cook time and dinner will be ready before you know it.

Two: Save energy
It definitely uses less electricity than the conventional oven or stovetop.

Three: No spilling or burnt food


Have you seen my burnt toast lately? Even toasted bread gets burnt sometimes with busy moms who need to attend to little kid’s needs. Your food will not spill or burn when you use a slow cooker.

Four: Less cleaning
You are only using one pot, chopping board and a knife. There is less cleaning to do like several pots, utensils, plates and bowls to hold cut meat and vegetables. Slow cooking allows you to place all your ingredients into the cooker without the need for multiple plates and bowls to hold raw meat and uncooked vegetables.

Most importantly, the whole family gets a healthy meal without compromising on time and effort. I’ve got a healthy Butternut Squash Barley Risotto recipe from GoodHousekeeping.com that I would like to share with you.

The preparation time is only 15 minutes and 235 calories per serving. Here are the ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter (can be substituted)
2 shallots, thinly sliced
2 fresh thyme sprigs (can be substituted with dried thyme)
2 cups pearl barley
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1 large butternut squash about 2 ½ pounds, peeled, seeded, cut into ½ inch cubes
Salt and pepper
1 oz. Parmesan cheese grated about 2/3 cups
2 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

Please get the entire recipe from the website.

A slow cooker could be a busy mom’s secret weapon for healthy homemade food. We have control on the type of ingredients we add into the pot and watch what we eat everyday. Do you have a slow cooking recipe to share? We would love to hear from you.  

The Best Slow Cooker recipe wins a TOTAL WELLNESS special gift! Send us your recipe from November 8th – November 28th and the best tasting and healthiest recipe wins.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

 

Oct 29
0

Healthy Smoothies and Snacks Kids and Parents Love Without The Extra Sugars

By | Food, Mommy Tips, Sugar Addiction, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

Will you be supercharged by sugar filled drinks and snacks this season or will it be filled with immune-boosting healthy drinks and snacks? There is no way we can totally eliminate sugar from our diet especially during this time of the year.

As you prepare your kids with costumes and treats to giveaway, I would like to share with you a video I did last year:

Read our article on Healthy Halloween Tips.

Like so many families, we want to be a great example to our children when it comes to the way we live and eat. Still, occasionally we don’t follow through. How about you? We give ourselves grace and room to improve each day.

I’ve found out the best way to stay and eat healthy is to have three meals and two to three snacks a day. This plan will help improve your mood, energy and overall healthy eating habits without room for binging.

Here are some smoothies and snack ideas for you:

I found this smoothie recipe online called Popeye Smoothie:
1 tbsp. honey or substitute Agave, Yacon Syrup, or a hint of Stevia
1 tsp. peanut butter or almond butter
1-cup strawberries
1 cup Greek yogurt plain
1 small banana
2 tbsp. ground almond or flax
2 cups spinach or kale or collards

A friend on Facebook, Anna Enders Noblit makes applesauce with Thieves essential oil. You can be creative and use Young Living essential oils with fruits and preparing healthy snacks.

For a creative way of using avocado and Young Living essential oils, check out Tara Rayburn’s website.

One of our readers, Claudia and her kids love Coconut-Pineapple smoothie (found in Family Circle Magazine July 2012 issue). Here is the recipe:

2 cups fresh pineapple chunks (freeze for 3 hours)
1 17oz. coconut water (found in store, we use Vita Coco)
2 Chobani pineapple flavored Greek yogurt
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes (or unsweetened)
1 6oz. can pineapple juice

Fruits and vegetables are great snacks for kids and adults. Most store bought snacks are filled with high levels of sugar, trans fat, fats, sodium, additives, coloring, and chemicals and artificially flavored.

Huffington Post has a list of 12 worst Halloween candy and snacks we absolutely must avoid. They are flavored Tootsie Rolls, Smarties, Good and Plenty, Candy Corn, Dots, Now and Later, Strawberry Hard Candy, Bazooka Bubble Gum, Wax Bottle, Hershey’s Symphony, Necco Wafers and Mary Janes. (Source: Huffington Post October 17, 2012)

Do you have one of those in your pantry ready to give out as treats? Think again. As much as we want our family to eat healthy, what we give out to our neighborhood children is important too. Many of our children are living dangerously because of unhealthy snacks and drinks.

All of us have a role to play when we give out treats. If have a healthy recipe or treat to share go to my Facebook page and let me and our readers know what it is.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

 

Oct 11
0

Mommy Tips for Weekend Playtime and Playdates

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

During our recent vacation in Florida, my son had days full with playtime and playdates with his cousin Will. During the vacation we did some fun things with the kids including going to the beach, hanging out at a cool playground, going to a neat diner, and their favorite riding around my in laws’ property on the golf cart.

Watching the boys interacting and having fun reminds me of the importance of having regular weekend playtime and playdates for kids of any age. They are exploring the art of sharing, learning and having fun with each other.

Here are 5 important tips for a successful playtime:

One: Let them be kids
It’s important to have boundaries and let the other kids know those boundaries especially if the playdate is in your home. But some of us are too involved with our kids. When kids are not sharing, we interrupt and give our opinions right away, never giving them a chance to work things out. It is important to supervise playtime and step in when necessary. But kids are kids, let them learn the art of sharing and work things out on their own and have fun.

Usually their little disputes are over within minutes. If the behavior is “ugly” or the other kid’s habits are not a good influence then it’s important to re-think who you have regular playdates with.

Two: Have a plan
Having a planned playdate will help enhance kids’ time together. A playdate at the beach or local playground requires different planning and toys. Kids may become frustrated without proper toys at the beach.

I made the mistake of going to the beach without a shovel, swimsuit, or floatation devices. Luckily we had cars to play with and enough adults to hold on to each child while we played in the surf.  It was fun but I “mom” ended up with wet shorts and when I needed to run into Walmart after the beach, I looked like I wet my pants…LOL!

Also have a backup plan incase things don’t go like you want. Keeping a stash of surprise toys, stickers, coloring books in the car or bringing to the playdate just in case is a good idea.

BONUS TIP: Don’t forget to pack your essential oil Mommy Kit. Joshie’s little body wasn’t used to the Florida environment. Lavender helped sunburn and Purification helped keep the bugs away.

Three: Snack and drinks
Remember when kids get together they can expend a lot of energy and need replenishment. Snack and drinks are important during playdates. They need to hydrate and refuel their little bodies.

Not all kids are alike. Knowing what your kid’s playdate likes and dislikes are important before the start of the playdate (if you are hosting and providing snacks and drinks.)

Healthy snacks can include fruits and nuts or cut vegetables, crackers and hummus. Sometimes having a variety is a good idea if you don’t know what the other children like. Interestingly Will, a picky eater, after hanging out with my son an “almost everything” eater started eating more diverse foods.

One of our favorite snacks was cut up peanut butter, banana sandwiches with Yacon syrup and a little Coconut oil blended in. They were delicious! Yacon is probably the best natural sweetener for you. It may be more costly than Agave and Honey but it really has more health benefits.

Four: Indoor physical activities
My son likes to run and jump A LOT. Will can play with cars for 30 minutes at a time. Joy another one of our playdate friends likes dressing up. A fun playdate that everyone can enjoy something is an indoor Play Place. These are great if weather does not permit outdoor activities, like here in Central NY most of Fall, Winter and some of Spring. I discovered a place here in Central New York called Kidz Club Indoor Play and Party Place. They have good deals and your child can play for a very reasonable price.

Although most indoor play places won’t let you bring your own food, if you or your child have food allergies, or really don’t want them eating processed foods, talk to the managers to see if they mind you bringing in some specific foods. Remember to patronize them for water and the things you can eat because like movie theaters, the majority of their profits come from food sales.

Although I don’t recommend not keeping an eye on your child, the Kidzplace has WiFi so bring your smart phone and you may be able to muti-task or go with a group of parents and take turns doing work.

Five: Time limit
There has to be a time limit in a playdate. Keep it short and sweet. An over extended playtime may create overly tired and cranky kids. We found this out the hard way on our way home from the beach; two tired little 2 year olds who missed their nap made the rest of the night not so fun.

Playtime is part of our kids’ development, learning and growing process. It is important to carve out time for playdates for our children. According to a USA Today article, since the 70s kids have lost an average of nine hours of free playtime a week. There is a playtime deficit.

Do you schedule playdates for your children? What type of activities do they like? Please share.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

 

Sep 27
0

13 Fun Indoor Things To Do With Little Kids on a Rainy or Snowy Day

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

To avoid boredom and listlessness, what do you do when the kids are home and it is raining or snowing outside? As a mom of an active two year old, I’m always looking for great ideas to occupy and spend quality time with my son.

With the help of some Facebook friends, here are 13 fun indoor things to do with little kids on a rainy or snowy day:

1. Scavenger Hunt
Get kids to look for all the blue, red and white crayons that you have hidden around the house with a timer or for the length of a song. Kids could run around the house looking for the crayons for hours. At the end a reward could be a snack time or small little gift.

2. Simon Says game
This idea came from Cristen Mulley Hammel. She suggested Simon Says game with red light, green light. Then get them to do jumping jacks.

3. Camping tent
Set up a tent, using a sheet over the table. Put a flashlight in there with some toys and snacks. Also make a trail using books or pillows laid next to each other. Let him hop on them like they are logs. This came from Aesha Adams-Robert of aeshaonline.com (read all about her blog on keeping kids busy through this link)

4. Dress up party
Get kids dressed up in super hero costumes and have fun acting as the superheroes. Mom and dad could do the same. You can tell stories, have car play, games or make crafts at the same time. (Idea from Kim Rinaldi –Robdy  and Cristen Mulley Hammel)

5. Wrestling Match and forts and couch cushion obstacle courses
Place pillows or cushion on the floor and organize a wrestling match between the kids. Or build forts and use couch cushions and play obstacle courses. (Contributed by Heather Pitcher and Sandra Garcia)

6. Balloon up in the air
Have several balloons and have kids bouncing the balloons without the balloons touching the ground. Play their favorite music or praise songs while you play with the balloons. Dance and sing at the same time and make joyful noises.

7. Film Festivals and Pop Corn Popping Contest
Get a favorite movie started, pop some pop corn or a favorite snack and start the pop corn popping contest, meaning see who could pop the pop corn into their mouth without dropping on the floor.

8. Indoor puppet show, dance and music play
Be creative, use old socks or pillowcases and make them into puppets. Or use existing toys. Cut up a cardboard box to make it into a theater with bed sheets as the curtain. Start your own indoor puppet show. Get the kids to sing and dance as the puppet dance to the music. (Part contribution by Debbie Twomey)

9. Baking and cooking
Time to bake or cook together in the kitchen. Make a mess and clean it up. Dinner is done while you are playing.

10. Build a fort
Use cardboard boxes and make forts or build playhouses with it. Kids could use their imagination with crayons and draw pictures of windows, birds, and trees on the cardboards. Add a flashlight inside the playhouse and kids will have loads of fun inside.

11. Picnic
Pretend you are having a picnic by the lake. Place a bed sheet, tablecloth or blanket on the floor. Get the basket out with snacks, books and little toys. Talk about fun imagery things you see at the lake or mountain.

12. Playdoh
Make your playdoh and have hours of creating shapes, things and pretend foods with your kids.

13. My favorite – Guess that smell?
Use Young Living Essential oils of Orange, Peppermint, Lemon, and others depending on your kids’ use of the oils.  It helps your kids distinguish smells and you can teach them the uses while they smell. Pretty soon they will be calling for this natural medicine by name when they have an ouchey.

These are thirteen suggested fun indoor things to do with your kids on rainy or snowy days. Do you have your own list? Please share. We would love to hear from you.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

 

Sep 24
0

Sports and Kids: Find The Best Outlet for Your Kids’ Boundless Energy

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | 2 Comments

Right now you are playing with your kids crawling around the living room as mommy bear and daddy bear.  The little cubs (your kids) are running after ‘mommy bear’ with their play foods and utensils trying to feed mommy meals of plastic corns and bananas.  Daddy bear is doing his daddy growls chasing the kids and they can’t get enough of it. The room is filled with toys and you two are exhausted but the kids are not done playing.

Ever felt like you have no more energy for another make believe game in your living room? Would you like to provide outlets for your kids’ boundless energy?

Some of us have high-spirited, high-energy and fully energized kids once they open their eyes. Halfway through your playtime you get tired but not the kids. With the fall season comes colder weather and kids are having more indoor time. How do you channel their energies?

Sport activities are best outlets to direct kids’ boundless energies. But not all sports are suitable for kids 5 and under. Kids are vulnerable to injury during sport. With precautionary measures most can be prevented. However here are three sports that are safe for kids 5 and below:

Karate – this Japanese martial art is a great indoor activity for kids. Kids 5 and below are usually being introduce with playful movements and kicks in these classes. They also work on life skills like focus, discipline and self-control.

Swimming – giving kids the opportunity to learn how to swim could be a lifesaver. Swimming is an important life skill since drowning is the second highest cause of death among young adults and children. Swimming is also one of the best workouts for children and adults. There are swimming lessons available in most YMCA centers throughout the United States at affordable prices.

Soccer – almost every kid in America has tried soccer before they turned ten. Soccer is a great team sport and can help develop a child’s social skill and sportsmanship. One of the benefits of soccer is it is not a contact sport like football, lacrosse, hockey or rugby. Because contact sports have higher incidents of collision and injury, soccer will be a better option for kids 5 years and younger.

A high-energy child with undirected energy may potentially cause problems at school or home. Sadly, some are given names like ADD, ADHD and the likes and were taken to undesirable routes or given ‘bad reports’.  Physical activities are important for kids of any age. It helps channel their energy and promotes better sleep.

Penny Leclair of www.pennyleclair.com has her high energy daughter bounce on a little mini trampoline for 10 minutes before school.  She says it helps her focus better, releases anxiety and pre-school stress.  Penny also says giving her daughter 2 ounces of NingXia Red, one before school and one packet in her lunch makes a big difference too. NingXia Red has lots of vitamins, minerals and specific amino acids that are great for our little ones and us.

Sometimes the foods that contain high levels of sugar, preservatives, and dyes or processed may trigger their energy levels. Remember to add a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to their diet for balanced nutrition and digestion. Here is a delicious chewable vitamin recommended for your kids but I admit I like the taste so much I have one every day too:

KidScents Mighty Vites

Sports and physical activities are not only beneficial to adults, they are really important for kids’ wellbeing too. This season get your kids involved in outdoor or indoor activities and let us know the benefits.

We are always learning from our readers. Please comment below.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

 

Sep 06
0

Mommy Tips on Reading: 25 Recommended books for kids between ages 6-10

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

C.S. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia once said a children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest. There is no denying that most children’s stories bring joy even to parents. Reading is such a wonderful experience to bond with children and to bring back memories of what we read when we were little.

A survey in the United Kingdom shows more than half of elementary aged children have never been read a story when entering school. Children are at risk of being left behind and fail to develop a creative and imaginative side of their gifts.

According to that survey, children from privileged and poor backgrounds are facing the same problem. It’s no longer just an economic issue. Time spent for reading has been substituted with TV watching. Is that a national disaster in the United Kingdom, America or the world in general?

Parents who read to their children at home, introduce books at an early age and encourage reading at home discover that their children are more prepared for school, have more self confidence and have a head start in literacy and language skills.

Technology has given more choices for our children. They could choose to flip the pages of books or become electronic readers. There are plenty of books available online through a Kindle, laptop or iPad.

Most children by age 6 are able to re-tell stories, read aloud at ease, identify new words and understand the story they read.

Here is our list of 25 recommended books for children ages 6-10:

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
The Berenstain Bears series by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Mouse Tales by Arnold Lobel
Busybody Nora by Johanna Hurwitz
The Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
Nate the Great series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Wilder Ingalls
Clifford the Big Red Dog series by Norman Bridwell
Thomas the Tank Engine series by Rev. W. Awry
The Cat in the Hat and other Dr. Seuss series of books
Sam and the Firefly by P.D. Eastman
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Madeline series by Ludwig Bemelmans
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, Michael Chesworth and Louis S. Glanzman
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Little Bear series by Else H. Minarik
Little Critters series by Mercer Mayer
Mr. Putter and Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant
Danny and The Dinosaur by Syd Hoff
Sammy the Seal by Syd Hoff
Young Cam Jansen series by David Adler
Are You My Mother by P.D. Eastman
Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola
Maisy Goes Shopping by Lucy Cousins

We realize that the learning processes for children are different. Some read independently at an earlier age than others. These are just 25 samples of books and please share your family’s favorite books with us.

During this back to school time, there are many challenges families are facing especially in the area of health and wellbeing. Please take time to find out more about how to protect your children from all the airborne virus and diseases. Click on this link to find out more.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Sep 03
0

Mommy Tips on Reading: 25 Recommended Books for Kids Between Ages 0-5

By | Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

“One more story, mommy”…every child who has routinely been read to may have requested for one more bedtime story. Some may feel a void on nights when parents forget or did not have the time to read during bedtime.

Reading aloud is crucial for bonding between parent and child, enhancing sleep and developing a great habit of reading. S. Gilliland wrote:

You may have tangible wealth untold,
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold;
Richer than I you can never be
I had parents who read to me.

There are many advantages to start reading to our children. Newborns are known to learn at a fast rate absorbing all the information from parents. You will start developing a lifelong love of learning through reading to your baby. It’s never too early to start reading.

Studies have shown that babies in their mother’s womb will kick and move when they are being read to. They are already responding to familiar voices even before birth. When you read to your baby, you are building a strong foundation of learning.

Kids between the ages of 2-5 have fresh uncluttered minds and are able to captivate all the treasures in books and through reading. The types of books we choose and present to them is crucial to their mind and spirit. The Bible instruct parents to train up a child in the way he should go…

Which way should we lead them to through books?

Let’s take a look at some advantages of reading:

1. Teach them how to read- children do not automatically know why and how to read a book. When we read to them, they will find the why and how as they pick up a book.
2. Bonding – having your kid sit on your lap and reading is the most beautiful experience and will be a cherished memory.
3. Develop a habit – consistently reading to our children will definitely help them develop a habit of reading.
4. Fundamentals of language- language skills are acquired through reading
5. Knowledge and intelligence- kids learn things outside their world through reading. Knowledge is gained and intelligence is expanded through reading.

Here is The Total Wellness Doc and Mom’s recommended reading list for 0-5:

The Puffin Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes Treasury. Illustrated by Raymond Briggs
The Tall Book of Mother Goose (Harper Tall Book)
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Mr. Grumpy’s Outing by John Burningham
Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go
Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman
Have You Seen My Duckling? By Nancy Tafuri
All The World by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee
Curious George (series) by H.E. Rey and Margaret Rey
The Very Clumsy Click Beetle’s Favorite Words by Eric Carle
Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection (Railway Series) by Rev. W. Awdry
Henny Penny by Paul Galdone
Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Burton
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper and Loren Long

For my Christian friends, I really like Patricia A. Pingry’s series of Biblical stories
The Story of Jesus, The Story of Noah, The Story of Joshua

Do you have a list of books for children between 0-5? Please share with our readers by leaving your comment below. Thank you.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.