Baby Steps

18 March 2009

I laugh when I get asked, "Have your kids ever had a donut? What about McDonald's?" The answer is, "Yes!" and "Yes!" My kids are normal kids running around the Chick-Fil-A playground squealing with delight. Our kids look forward to those outings, and it's not so rare that they will want binge when they're older (at least I hope), but it's not so often that it is no longer appreciated. When my 4-year-old suggests going out to eat we talk about money, better health choices, and how it's okay to spend and indulge sometimes but not always. He is starting to learn, and I love knowing my toddlers are learning at their young age what I am just coming to learn in my mid-late 20's.

My journey into holistic living began when I was told I would not have children because of a tilted uterus and polycystic ovarian syndrome. I began to see a nutritionist, and my health turned around. I started an apprenticeship with a local midwife, and soon became pregnant. That obviously opened more doors into the holistic community, but I was still very "mainstream."

It has been over the last 4 years that I have slowly changed our lives. It started with not eating so much processed foods, then it went to toothpastes, and soon I was ditching all of our unsafe chemicals. I was intrigued by cloth diapering, but just knew I didn't have the time to cloth diaper two boys 17 months apart. By the time I was pregnant with my daughter, our third child in under 4 years, I felt the burden to cloth diaper her.

I share all of this to hopefully convey that I didn't just wake up one morning and decide to be "crunchy." I made one change at a time, and am still changing to this day. My heart is not to become a martyr in our lifestyle decisions, and I often pray that I do not wear my choices on my chest like a badge of honor.

My goal with this blog is to take people on my journey of attempting to be a good steward of our money, time and resources. I don't have it all together, and I've learned to be patient with myself in that. Please stay encouraged with the changes you are contemplating, and as you learn about things you'll decide what is important to you and what is not.

Hope you're enjoying the start of Spring!

2 comments:

RileyFamily said...

I just love this blog...I look forward to checking it every day! I started this journey 3 years ago when my first child was born, and I am still a work in progress. Thanks for all the input and advice...I love it!!

Anonymous said...

Great post! Thanks:)

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