I’ve been writing this blog for almost a year and in that time I’ve been pleasantly surprised to discover that this online community attracts women of all kinds and in all stages of life… even those who are not mothers.

This confirms a trend I’ve been noticing for awhile: In this day and age, women are not subscribing to traditional roles. Instead, we are insisting that our lives be a reflection of who we truly are and not simply who we feel we should be. Motherhood, while often an important facet of our female experience, is only one aspect of our womanhood.

Yet, the shared quality of nurturing – mothering – seems to be a natural inclination for most women. The problem is, in our efforts to nurture and care for others – families, friends, co-workers, etc. – we often neglect our own needs. It’s a bit of a conundrum. How can we juggle all the responsibilities of our personal and professional lives without neglecting our own personal needs?

No matter where we find ourselves in life, at times we crave the kind of caretaking we offer others, the kind we may ourselves have experienced as children. As women, I believe it’s up to us to support each other in getting these personal needs met, in taking the time to nurture ourselves, and in an ongoing commitment to placing our own needs at the top of the priority list… at least some of the time.

This blog is dedicated to all the women who give, nurture, and care. It is intended to acknowledge and celebrate the many facets of our womanhood; and to inspire greater attention to our own needs and desires.

Many years ago I established a self care ritual I continue to practice almost every day, no matter what else is going on in my life. Just before bed I turn off phones, lock the bathroom door, light a candle and run a hot Epsom salt bath infused with essential oils. I allow myself to soak until my body is relaxed and my mind is clear. Whether I can carve out 5 minutes or 30 minutes, this simple ritual always leaves me feeling nurtured and renewed.

I asked several dynamic women friends – each of whom juggle busy personal and professional schedules with incredible guts and grace – how they keep it all together.  Here are their self care secrets:

Jane Crawford, Owner and LMT (www.lavenderstonemassage.com) “Dry body brushing is an important part of my morning self-care routine. The hour I spend focused on my body and my healing allows me to be that much more present to the needs of my family and my clients.”

Kellie Jean Lewis, Reiki Master & Massage Therapist (www.kelliejeanreiki.com) “Each morning I write down 10 things for which I’m grateful as well as 10 things I want to attract to my life. I write them as if they are already happening. I then take a moment to get very clear about my intentions for that day, and I write those down as well. I read all of what I’ve just written, aloud. In this way, I start each day grounded in gratitude and positive intention.”

Kristie Connor, High-tech Marketing Specialist & Blogger (www.girlstalkingtech.com) “I keep it simple: every day I try to make time for one or two small but significant activities that feel relaxing and rejuvenating to my spirit.  It might be an extra 5 minutes of snuggle time with my son, a deep breathing exercise, a few jumps on the trampoline, a short walk, or a conversation with a friend. When I do this, I feel my stress melt away.”

Erin Donley, Marketing Consultant and Business Coach (www.marketingyourtruth.com) “ I often enlist advice and nurturing from a 3rd party perspective. For example, I work regularly with a business/life coach, and I occasionally seek counsel from one of the many astounding intuitive healers in Portland. This helps me see my situation from a new angle and, often times, clarity and a deeper understanding of myself and my priorities is all I need to regain balance, security, and confidence.

Diane Bays, Owner (www.healthyspacesonline.com) “I’ve always carved out time to nurture my spiritual life through women’s retreats and getaways, which is one way I have modeled for my children the importance of self-care. When I acknowledge my own needs as equally important, I hope I am inspiring them to seek balance in their own lives.”

Joanna Flores, Owner and L.Ac., M.Ac.O.M., ABT (www.groundspring.net) “After I put the kids to bed, I sit for 5 minutes and replay the events of the day to allow any unfinished business to complete and make its way out of my space.  My reward for doing this is I sleep wonderfully and I wake rested.  If I don’t, then I find myself fidgeting and restless.”

Christine Thum Schlesser, Owner and VP of Operations (www.advantig.net) “I treat myself to a weekly session with a fabulous acupuncturist who blends several traditional Asian techniques to help me maintain a healthy life balance.”

Please take the time to post a comment and share your own favorite strategies for personal renewal.  If you don’t have one, I hope you’re feeling inspired to carve out regular time for self care! You totally deserve it.

Until next time,

Delila

Dear Wize Mamas & Papas,

As some of you know, I offer consultations with families. The idea is to get parents the support they need to experience more harmony and less frustration at home.

I’m fascinated by the questions I get to ask…. designed to expand awareness and inspire parents to explore their feelings at a deep level. I think these are questions every parent should revisit now and then, to keep us mindful of our personal purpose and unique vision for our families.

I’ve chosen a few of the most thought-provoking questions to share here, and I invite you to ponder each one for yourself.

If it stirs anything up for you, let me know… I’d love to help.

1. What are the core values and beliefs of your family? What is most important to you?
   
2. How is your home set up to be comfortable and functional for every member of your family?
3. In what situations do you wish someone would hand you the “official book of parenting” and, what is it about these situations that tends to overwhelm you as a parent?
4. What about your child inspires you the most?
5. What about your child mystifies you?
6. What do you most want your child to remember about you as a parent?

And as always, this blog is about sharing diverse views on parenting… feel free to answer any of these publicly or add some of your own questions to the dialogue.

Let’s talk!

~Delila

Hey wize mamas,

Today’s post is for parents who seek practical and positive solutions for children dealing with the stresses of modern living. We already know about the profound benefits of a healthy diet, regular exercise, and sleep. But sometimes these are not enough.

I met Dr. Jerry Schlesser and his wife Christine many years ago when our boys attended the same Montessori preschool.  Dr. Schlesser was well respected for his unique nutritional formulations but, until recently, I had no idea about the real life impact of his research and clinical experiences with children. Here’s the story in a nutshell:

Seven years ago Dr. Schlesser was approached by experts in criminology and education to assist them in exploring an untested approach to education reform.  The concept was to design a clinical study structured around the use of a proprietary dietary supplement targeted at improved academic performance and social behavior in children.

The first school chosen for the study, Anthony Elementary in Kansas, was on the verge of closing due to poor academic performance and high rates of violence, and anti-social behavior.  The violence statistics at that time were six times the state average (9.3% versus 1.45%).

The clinical results were nothing short of extraordinary, boasting an overall reduction in anti-social behavior and improvement in academic performance in students who regularly received Dr. Schlesser’s Kids Potential™ formula. To learn more about the school study, take a look at the Fox News video on the Advantig website.

To be honest, my son is already a good student and we eat a relatively healthy organic diet. That said, like most parents I am concerned about dietary and environmental factors, including higher and higher levels of stress in children and adolescents, which pose a threat to physical and cognitive development. Here’s what I’ve noticed in the 6 weeks or so since my son started taking Potential™ in the morning with breakfast:

• He almost always awakes alert and energetic. Sometimes he even finds a few extra minutes to sit down and practice piano before heading off to catch the bus before 7:00am.
• He easily completes his homework and has time for talking with friends and spending time with family.
• His stress level – about schoolwork, especially – has decreased.
• He is more cooperative, willingly helping with household chores without  argument or resistance.

Potential™, like all the products in the Advantig line, is free of fillers, wheat, soy, dairy, gluten, sugar, lactose, animal products, artificial colors, artificial flavors, salt, starch, MSG, trans fatty acids or preservatives. And it’s full of good things, including:

• Multi-source minerals including calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, chromium and molybdenum. Also included: Selenium – an important antioxidant for brain function; Iron – an essential nutrient in a unique form that supports healthy brain development and; Taurine – an amino acid that acts as a protective nutrient against environmental toxins, and positively affects brain chemistry regulating nerve function, neurotransmitter activity and behavior.
• Unique Antioxidant blend with a high ORAC value – including bilberry, blueberry, cherry, cranberry, elderberry and red concord grape skin – all known to be beneficial for brain and nerve function.
• Full-spectrum, food source Vitamin E – with a bio-potency twice that of synthetic Vitamin E.

I purchase Advantig products locally at Healthy Spaces in West Linn, OR – where you can also find lots of other useful items for a healthy family and healthy home.  You can also find them online at Dr. Schlesser’s Advantig website.

What strategies do you employ to help your children deal with dietary deficiencies and environmental stresses? Please post your comment to share your insights and experience!

Until next time,

Delila

I met my friend Rosa Vela Sachs in 1988 while living in Dallas, Texas, where I spent my first year as a Montessori guide. Rosa taught Spanish in the elementary program and her youngest son, Zachary, was in my primary class. Sitting in Rosa’s cozy kitchen or on the front porch as her children played nearby, I learned something about spontaneity and joyful parenting. Rosa and her husband, Byron, once spent two years living on a sailboat where they homeschooled their children while traveling through the east coast of the US and the Bahamas. I was the lucky recipient of Rosa’s brightly illustrated letters chronicling those adventures – a travel log, of sorts – which underscored for me the importance of sharing life with our children, rather than just leading them through it. I am once again learning from Rosa, who has been a part of the Waldorf community – teaching Spanish at the Austin Waldorf School – for the past 14 years.  Choosing an educational setting for our children is no small decision, and thankfully we have some very good options.  I asked Rosa to share with me her perspective on what is special about Waldorf education, and I am delighted to share her response here:

Thoughts on Waldorf Education by Rosa Vela Sachs

It is commonplace to observe that globalization is shrinking the world at an unprecedented rate. Technological advances accelerate the exchange of goods and ideas, bringing us all closer together — while paradoxically, these same forces accentuate our differences and reanimate long-dead conflicts. As a new order emerges from the shattered certainties of the old, the fate of our planet and that of every living creature on it have never seemed so precariously balanced. Opposing the centrifugal force of historical experience, education stands as our best and most viable resource to meet the challenge of the future.

As a Waldorf educator, I believe that this challenge of the future is being met — every day. From the development of kindergarteners’ imaginations through the story telling, to the spiritual approach taken in humanities and sciences in the high school, Waldorf curriculum is focused on one overarching goal: preparing the next generation for the world that will be their legacy. Toward that end, these time-tested methods seek to draw out of each student his or her full latent potential.

But does it work?

A recent edition of the publication, Survey of Waldorf Graduates ~ Phase Three from The Research Institute for Waldorf Education, reported that 94% of all Waldorf graduates attend college and 88% graduate from college.  More importantly, research indicated that 82% of these graduates value ethical principals and helping others in their chosen careers, and 91% practice and value life-long learning.

Success, from the Waldorf perspective, means something more than simply high academic performance, for true success in the world requires more than a slavish ambition to meet goals imposed from without. True success, as we see it, involves an inner activity in the individual, action that stems from an inner compass, and guides the human being to participate in the world in whatever way s/he can.  Our educational thrust is directed at helping our students develop individual capacities that will make this possible.

Clearly then, success is more than rote plodding down a path blazed by others. Take the experience of Canyon Darcy, from Austin, Texas. After graduating from the Austin Waldorf School in 2007, Canyon considered his options and chose the road less traveled — a road that led to Tajikistan in central Asia. He credits his Waldorf education for his openness to new experiences, and his willingness to “step out of his comfort zone”. He believes that because his Waldorf education so thoroughly addressed his imagination in his formative years, as a young adult he was able to deal with the inevitable shock of immersion in a culture alien in many respects to his own. Canyon is only one example in a sea of unique and globally-minded Waldorf students, former students, and graduates throughout the world.

Waldorf curriculum meets the development of the human being at certain stages from kindergarten through high school. It also meets the needs of the world community in the form of committed, well-educated individuals who can think and problem solve, who can feel, appreciate, and connect with other people and who can take constructive action and make things happen.  That is the goal of Waldorf education.  Thank goodness!

Hi Wize Mamas,

My son recently had a case of (what looked like) the Swine Flu. I can’t be sure because it acted like any other flu:  fever, aches, diahhrea, vomiting.  He was miserable for a day and puny for 3 more days. I administered the tried-and-true “Wet Sock Treatment” (pioneer remedy for fever we’ve been using since Elliott was an infant), gave him big doses of Vitamins C and D along with lots of fluids and extra love and attention. He was back in school after several days but soon began complaining of chest pain.  He now has a confirmed case of pneumonia and has been sent back to bed with a strong dose of antibiotics ( first in 12 years, thank goodness) and orders for more rest. I don’t like using drugs, but in this case the remedy felt appropriate for the situation and the detrimental effects can be countered with probiotics and acupuncture.

I share this story because I think it’s a pretty common one.  We can all get run down and over-committed and we can all get sick.  When we see our children sick we can easily go to place of panic and worry, and may even temporarily lose touch with our intuitive sense of  what’s best.  It’s how we deal with our concern that makes the difference. Balancing facts and information against our intuitive mama-sense is an important aspect of our work as parents.

Recent dramatic news stories and alarming CDC alerts provide a perfect breeding ground for parental panic about the possible ramifications of the latest scary virus: H1N1 or “Swine Flu.” It can be difficult for even the most informed mama to sort out facts from hype as the  public controversy rages on between those entities promoting the vaccines to treat what they have labeled a frightening pandemic, and those reporting equally alarming stories of people suffering life-threatening consequences of the vaccines.   It’s a lot to sort out, especially when the health of our children is at stake.

Like most parents I’ve been pouring over article after article, searching for the best course of action for my family.  I’ve just read what I consider to be a well- informed and balanced view of this current “crisis.”  Dr. Krista Anderson-Ross ND shares important information about Swine Flu and how to Keep Your Family Healthy.  Krista is a Montessori trained educator with many years experience working with young children and families;  she is mama to three beautiful, healthy children; and  she is a Naturopathic physician with a practice in Portland OR.   Thanks to Dr. Anderson-Ross for offering so many practical tips, tools and healthy recipes for busy parents on her blog: www.wholefoodmatters.blogspot.com.

It’s not always easy to know what to do – is it ever easy? – and that’s why I believe coming together and sharing as a community is so important. I hope you’ll post a comment to tell us about what cold and flu remedies work best for your family, as well as your insights about how we can make informed health decisions for our families.

Until next time – stay healthy!

Delila

Greetings of Autumn,

You’ve probably heard some of the negative buzz about sugar… hasn’t every parent?  Sugar is said to significantly suppress the immune system;  cause hyperactivity, moodiness and anxiety; raise cholesterol and weaken eyesight; contribute to obesity and osteoporosis; raise blood pressure and cause blood sugar imbalances; lead to diabetes and other autoimmune disorders; cause depression; and advance the aging process.  Sound like a dangerous drug?  Refined sugar may not be classified as a drug, but it might as well be… it’s effects can lead to physical addiction and serious health risks such as those listed above. No kidding.

As parents we find ourselves doing battle with an aggressive media machine for which our little ones are a fast growing market. Fortunately, if we choose carefully and choose well, we don’t have to restrict our children from eating sweets.

My friend and (Montessori) colleague, Dr. Krista Anderson-Ross ND, shares more about this serious issue – as well as offers some healthy eating tips and fantastic recipes for kids and adults – on her excellent blog www.wholefoodmatters/blogspot.com. Check it out and stay tuned for an upcoming post in which Dr. Anderson-Ross will address truth, fallacies and strategies for managing flu season.

Until then, be well!

Delila

Hey Wize Mamas,

Subscribing to the MamaWize Blog is easy using the RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed. Here is how it works: look at the top right section on any page on the blog, keeping your eye out for the little orange, square icon which looks like this: You’ll see the word SUBSCRIBE beside the icon.  You can click on either.

When you click you will be taken to a page where you can choose the way you would like to receive your updates – such as in live bookmarks (within favorites), Microsoft Outlook, Google, or Yahoo accounts .  Once the selection is made, click Subscribe Now. You don’t have to worry about receiving too many messages; you’ll be informed only when the Blog is updated. You will never receive spam emails.

Subscribing to the blog is a convenient way to get updates about new articles and topics of interest to you. I hope you’ll subscribe, and I hope you’ll join our conversation!

Until next time,

Delila

Wize Mamas,

I just viewed a video on TED which really captured my imagination and got me thinking -  and I think you’ll see why (link below).

Sir Ken Robinson, Ph.D., challenges the way our public school systems educate our children and champions educational philosophies – such as Montessori and Waldorf – which cultivate creativity and allow children to discover their own true interests and passions.

“We have to rethink the fundamental principles on which we are educating our children..  to see our children for the hope that they are… to educate their whole being so they can face the future… and make something of it” ~Sir Ken Robinson

Click to hear Dr. Robinson’s throught-provoking talk on TED.

What can schools do to encourage creativity and creative thinking in children? Post your comments by clicking on title of this post (at the top) and then filling in the comment box (at the bottom).

Until next time,

Delila

Wize Mamas,

I just learned the term Body Burden, which refers to the level of toxicity in the body based upon the accumulated chemical burden of  environmental toxins, plastics, and what blogger Kristie Connor refers to as “synthetic grossness.”  While her description may be amusing, the magnitude of this very real problem is not. Check out Kristie’s blog article on Body Burden at www.girlstalkinghealth.com Awareness is key if we are to shift things for ourselves and our children… and for our planet.

Until next time,

Delila

Hey wize mamas,

The rains are here for a day or two and the buzz is all about water… but not rain water. The concern about the dangerous toxins present in tap and bottled waters continues to get louder. You’ve probably read the stories… it’s been all over the news.  Many parents worry about whether it’s safe to let our kids drink from public drinking fountains, or if the toxins from those nasty plastic bottles will cause problems long term. These are real concerns.

Water is something I’ve been studying for the past 3  years and, believe me, the concern is real.  There is no new water on the planet and all source water – whether from a mountain stream, a well or the tap – reveals chemical clues to global lifestyles. More then ten years ago, core samples taken from the polar ice cap revealed pharmaceutical residues. But nobody lives there! Right, but remember there is no new water.  It’s all recycled and reused, naturally. What goes up, must come down…

So as parents we need to carefully consider what kind of water we consume and especially careful about what we offer our children. We need a way to filter out all the bad – the viruses, bacteria, pesticides, herbicides and pharmaceutical residues (ack!) – while protecting the minerals which are essential for our health. There is now a way to do this and it’s readily available to most of us.

Alkaline, Ionized water is made using electrolysis. A water ionizer cleans and filters regular tap water, and isolates the beneficial alkaline minerals to create a super-hydrating, super-antixioxidant, super-tasty water for you and your children.

The water  ionizer mimics nature’s process to recreate the kind of water you can find in places like Vilcabamba, Equador and the Hunza in Pakistan. These are high mountain valleys where the native people routinely live healthy, purposeful lives well into their hundreds. Scientists have found that the mineral-rich, alkaline, ionized properties of the water they drink signficantly contributes to their longevity, which is why 1 in 5 households in Japan, and 1 in 8 households in Korea have an ionizer in their home.

The news about the health benefits of drinking ionized water is finally reaching us here in the west. I purchased my water ionizer for my home about two years ago and the benefits have been overwhelming positive for my family:

• My teenage son drinks many glasses of water a day – water is now his beverage of choice.
• My digestion, which has been a chronic challenge throughout my life, is healthy and normal. No more acid reflux.
• I sleep more soundly and awake more alert.
• My energy is increased.
• I crave this water – it tastes amazing and feels good in my body.

If you don’t have an ionizer at home or have access to someone who does, there are  several local (to Portland) clinics and retail outlets selling alkaline, ionized water by the gallon – bring your own container or purchase one when you get there:

Groundspring Healing Center – SW Portland

Phone: (503) 244-1330   www.groundspring.net

The Center for Natural Medicine – SE Portland

Clinic phone: 503-232-1100  www.cnm-inc.com

Healthy Spaces – West Linn, OR

503-655-3565    www.healthyspacesonline.com

Miller’s Homestead Restaurant – Tualatin / Lake Oswego

17933 SW McEwan Ave. (at exit 290, off I-5)      (503) 684-2831

If you would like to learn more about the properties and benefits of drinking Alkaline, Ionized Water: http://www.agelesswateronline.com Click on About Water.

What kind of water are you drinking? What are your concerns? Post a comment to join the conversation!

Until next time,

~Delila