Tools are a Handymom's Best Friends!

Hello all!

Fortunately or unfortunately, I'm a control freak. I need to know that I have tools (my favourite word these days with R & Z...tools to fight nightmares, to combat fears and to deal with bullying) to help me during those challenging times (read: nights) when my kids are sick or upset and need some relief. Relief that doesn't come in a box full of toxins and guilt induced panic attacks about the long term effects on my children's development.

Natural remedies are a great asset for mothers/caregivers as in most cases, they are easily available, safe and more importantly (in my opinion) they work more effectively in the long run than regular medicines. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Be patient and committed!

Natural remedies need to be given often and are really most effective if you start using them as soon as you see a sign of something coming on. They are not for the most part quick fixes and do need some time to work. Of course with some types of holistic therapies such as homeopathy, I have seen instant results and have been amazed in fact by the speedy recovery but in most cases, you do need to do be a little patient and reassure yourself that, even if you don't necessarily see the results quickly, the remedies are working behind the scenes to strengthen your child's immunity. Quick fixes are often not long lasting and you will have noticed that although they may alleviate symptoms temporarily, the complaints usually keep reoccurring.

• Exercise judgement and do your research!

What's the point of your blog then I hear you say! It goes without saying that the whole purpose of this blog is for me to share my knowledge and experience and to help in any way I can. However, I think the most important lesson I learnt while raising R & Z was that I needed to do my homework. At the end of the day, no one (and sorry to you traditionalists out there but this includes your pediatricians!) knows your child better than you and instinct, especially in the case of babies, is really your guiding light. Your child is unique and may respond differently to various kinds of treatment so the generic "one size fits all" approach never ceases to baffle me. The basic precept of holistic therapies is to treat the whole person and not just the ailment!

• Love is the most important remedy of all so lose the guilt and don't judge!

One of the easiest things to do for a new mom especially is to burden herself with mountains of guilt. The kind that is all encompassing and appears in the form of a continually nagging voice telling you that everything you are doing is wrong. Ease that burden and remember that the most important thing you can do for any child is to give them lots and lots of love and affection. That nurturing manifests itself in a healthy mind and a healthy body and far supersedes anything you can give a child from a medicine chest (natural or otherwise!). So drop the guilt and don't judge yourself or others as everyone's circumstances are different and can warrant different sorts of action. 

• Have fun and smile!

Something we all forget to do when we are worrying about our children's health :-) Try not to stress (I know it's hard, trust me!) as stress is not only bad for you but for your kids as well since they take all of their cues from us i.e. you panic in a stressful situation and chances are they will too. [Practiced as I sound, I myself am constantly struggling with this one but we can work together perhaps!]

Wishing you all oceans of happiness and health

~S~