That is seriously wonderful that your kids slept from 7pm until 7am. Not everyone is a able to have that time. My kids were not good sleepers. I read sooo many books and tried so many things to get them to sleep through the night. Unltimately what brought me peace was to resign myself to just love my kids and trust that it was just a phase. I didn't get that time to rest and recharge. It was so hard!!! I was so tired all the time! But I chose to love them instead of continue to be dissatisfied.
Frozen veggies in microwaveable bags from Target are super convenient. I’ve also found ordering takeout meals that are more BLE friendly is better too. For example, Panda Express or Chipotle allow you to substitute veggies for rice. I know that part of BLE is about planning-but having go-to backups ready is necessary for those days when we just don’t have the energy to plan. My kids aren’t even little anymore but between working full-time & them being involved in extra-curricular activities/sports, sometimes you need a fallback plan.
Thank you for this vlog. This is my situation too and has been for some years. I have young kids, demamding job and don’t prioritize self - care that much, especially in the toughest periods. I’m not sure the solution is only about learnig to rest in a different way, but it’s definitely a part of it. I also have a feeling that you suggest that parents who have episodes of binging are not such great parents, because the luck of structure around meals. Isn’t it an exaggeration? Or maybe I misunderstood? I feel parents with young kids have a lot of cross pressure on them and need more systemic support, not only ‘good advices’ and more pangs of conscience. You mention that in the times of increased stress you too tend to eat or even binge more. And you are a person with so many resources in terms of social support, economy, knowlegde, etc. Only not having enough family / community support the years the kids are young can lead to depletion and breakdown which I think should be met with more empathy than it was done in this video.
Oh wow, wow, wow. I am so deeply sorry that my vlog struck you as lacking empathy. I'm horrified, actually. My kids are older now: 16, 16, and 13, and I find it much easier at these ages, but the truth is that I found parenting very young kids to be the hardest thing I've ever done, BY FAR. It was near torture for me, for a whole lot of the time. And you're so right, I have education, support, a super engaged parter, resources, local family, and so much more that makes it infinitely easier for me than for many parents. And yes, I did turn to the food on and off out of sheer desperation and stress for many of those years. My heart is with you for the struggle that it really is. Thank you for your honest comment. As for specific point you raise about binging, structure, etc. I think the main thing is to recognize that when we take care of ourselves we can be better parents in all kinds of ways...when we put our oxygen mask on first (as the saying goes), it's not selfish, it's better all around, because that self-care benefits our kids very directly. That's all. I certainly don't intend that as an attack on the conscience, but rather a motivator and a source of perhaps much needed permission to prioritize self-care. Much love to you. Hang in there. It gets better. 🧡 -Susan Peirce Thompson
That is seriously wonderful that your kids slept from 7pm until 7am. Not everyone is a able to have that time. My kids were not good sleepers. I read sooo many books and tried so many things to get them to sleep through the night. Unltimately what brought me peace was to resign myself to just love my kids and trust that it was just a phase. I didn't get that time to rest and recharge. It was so hard!!! I was so tired all the time! But I chose to love them instead of continue to be dissatisfied.
Frozen veggies in microwaveable bags from Target are super convenient. I’ve also found ordering takeout meals that are more BLE friendly is better too. For example, Panda Express or Chipotle allow you to substitute veggies for rice. I know that part of BLE is about planning-but having go-to backups ready is necessary for those days when we just don’t have the energy to plan. My kids aren’t even little anymore but between working full-time & them being involved in extra-curricular activities/sports, sometimes you need a fallback plan.
Good tips! 🧡
Thank you for this vlog. This is my situation too and has been for some years. I have young kids, demamding job and don’t prioritize self - care that much, especially in the toughest periods. I’m not sure the solution is only about learnig to rest in a different way, but it’s definitely a part of it. I also have a feeling that you suggest that parents who have episodes of binging are not such great parents, because the luck of structure around meals. Isn’t it an exaggeration? Or maybe I misunderstood?
I feel parents with young kids have a lot of cross pressure on them and need more systemic support, not only ‘good advices’ and more pangs of conscience. You mention that in the times of increased stress you too tend to eat or even binge more. And you are a person with so many resources in terms of social support, economy, knowlegde, etc. Only not having enough family / community support the years the kids are young can lead to depletion and breakdown which I think should be met with more empathy than it was done in this video.
Oh wow, wow, wow. I am so deeply sorry that my vlog struck you as lacking empathy. I'm horrified, actually. My kids are older now: 16, 16, and 13, and I find it much easier at these ages, but the truth is that I found parenting very young kids to be the hardest thing I've ever done, BY FAR. It was near torture for me, for a whole lot of the time. And you're so right, I have education, support, a super engaged parter, resources, local family, and so much more that makes it infinitely easier for me than for many parents. And yes, I did turn to the food on and off out of sheer desperation and stress for many of those years. My heart is with you for the struggle that it really is. Thank you for your honest comment.
As for specific point you raise about binging, structure, etc. I think the main thing is to recognize that when we take care of ourselves we can be better parents in all kinds of ways...when we put our oxygen mask on first (as the saying goes), it's not selfish, it's better all around, because that self-care benefits our kids very directly. That's all. I certainly don't intend that as an attack on the conscience, but rather a motivator and a source of perhaps much needed permission to prioritize self-care.
Much love to you. Hang in there. It gets better. 🧡
-Susan Peirce Thompson