Health and Wellness

Why Your Health Deserves More Attention than Your Car

Many people seem to take care of their cars better than they take care of themselves.

While this may not be true for all people it certainly is true for many. And the most disheartening part is that these same people are oblivious to the extent of their neglect and ignorance.

For all you car owners out there… answer this: Is it wise to use the wrong engine oil? Would you “feed” your car diesel if the manual said to use regular gasoline?

You get the gist of where this is going, right?

That being the case… why would the human body deserve less attention? Why provide inaccurate care/shoddy maintenance for our very existence?

Yet that is exactly what happens when people load up on ultra-processed fake foods. They consume excessive amounts of sugar.

This consumption leads them down the path towards insulin resistance. It also triggers the metabolic diseases that follow.

They drink beverages that have zero value, fueling up on fructose laden detrimental liquids.

They consume more alcohol and added sugar then their own livers can handle.

They eat ultra-processed fast foods that even scavenger birds reject.

Ironically, these same people bring their cars in for regular tuneups and maintenance. They may park at a safe distance from other motorists to avoid dings and scratches. They regularly wash and wax their precious vehicles, often by hand because car washes might produce fine scratches over time. Furthermore, they’ll rust proof the undercarriage before they drive over salted winter roads.

  • Do they think this is excessive behavior?
  • Do they see themselves as odd or obsessive?

No!

But let a “health-nut” point out the harmful effects of seed oils and they’ll come unglued.

So…

Here’s the question…

Do you take care of your car or truck better than you take care of your nutritional and fitness needs? Be honest!

And…

Are you guiding your children (if you have children) towards making good healthy choices?

Surely the human body deserves to be treated with the same respect and dignity as cars and trucks. It should receive this minimal level of care… at the very least.

We don’t come with an owners’ manual…. therefore, many of us abuse the life within ourselves (you know… all those millions of cells and microbes) because of ignorance.

  • We didn’t know that seed oils were producing oxidative stress on our bodies. We were told they were “healthier” than saturated fats. We believed the trusted establishments… the experts. Now many of those experts are retracting their former instructions.
  • We didn’t have all the facts about diabetes (type 2). Visit the American Diabetes Association website and review its recently updated guidelines. They fall short of saying chronic insulin exposure is the primary cause… but they are acknowledging insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia as early contributors to disease progression.
  • We didn’t know that upwards of 70% of the “food stuffs” in typical grocery stores are processed or ultra-processed. But now… thanks to the internet we have access to the facts. It’s easy to do the research. A bit harder to make dietary changes (think of habits to break).

This ‘progress’ is encouraging. Kind of reminds us of that famous 1969 quote…

In other words… health knowledge is power. Knowledge will win out. It brings change.

So, let’s think positively as we press forward towards health and wellness.

While we didn’t have all the facts we should realize that we are responsible for our own health. And the great news… it’s never too late. Eating REAL food, getting moderate amount of exercise, and adequate sleep is within our reach.

Oh… no worries, no one says we need to neglect our modes of transportation. Go ahead… wash and wax to your heart’s content. In fact… it’s exercise. YAY You!

Suzanne writes children’s fiction stories that encourage kids to make healthy choices. Visit her author page for a complete list of her books.

Thanks for the visit.

Children's Health · Opinions · Parenting · Society and Values

Teaching Kids Kindness Through Positive Examples

Kids need to see more examples of kindness.

Our lives are often unduly influenced by the quick comments of others. The lives of our children are affected by these comments as well. Often these remarks and actions are thoughtless.

And…. without some conscious effort on our part— a sort of ‘premeditated thought’ to remain firm to our convictions— we can be swayed to engage with, or even mimic, the poor conduct of others.

This is especially true of children. Children are vulnerable and easily manipulated.

Saying it is understandable doesn’t make it right or excusable.

As adults, we ought to be able to distance ourselves from these displays of rude outspokenness. The words and actions of others do not need to become ours going forward.

As adults, we ought to be able to reason things out. Rash behavior is simply that… rash. We do not need to fuel the irresponsible behaviors by contributing some of our own.

To that end.. let’s talk children.

Do we want our kids to watch us act like this?

If society is inundated with displays of poor behavior, we must take action. We ought to endeavor to do more in terms of promoting good behavior.

Set the Example for our Kids

We can make an extra effort to show random acts of kindness. This is particularly important when children are watching.

As it turns out… doing well toward our fellow man produces joy that benefits our own mental and physical health.

The reality states that we cannot change the words and actions of others but we can change our own conduct. Being pleasant, being helpful, avoiding unnecessary confrontations, and keeping our opinions to ourselves, are all things we can do.

Take a moment or two to think about how you can ‘be generous’ toward someone. Give a friendly wave to that harried motorist. They waited patiently while you crossed an icy intersection.

Your easygoing gesture is a small act of appreciation on your part. It didn’t hurt you in the least… didn’t take anything from your day.

It doesn’t mean much, yet it means a lot.

Maybe… just maybe, a young child, from a passing school bus window, witnessed your thoughtful act. And… with no conscious effort on their part, absorbed a random act of kindness as ‘normal’ human behavior.

Thanks for the visit.

Suzanne Rightley authors children fiction stories. Her books provide wholesome, character driven stories for independent readers ages 10+. Find her author page on Amazon.

Children's Health · Parenting · Responsible Parents

Listening to Kids: What They Say and Don’t Say

Hearing what kids say, and what they don’t say, is an important aspect of parenting.

What’s really going on?

When children first start speaking, parents are thrilled. They catch every new word (even when adoringly mispronounced) and they share their joy with … just about everyone they know and – considering TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and etc., a whole lot of people they don’t know.

As time goes on, those wonderful first words turn into a lot of chatter, and chatter, and even more chatter.

Somewhere along the way, many parents sorta tune out some of the gibber-jabber. It’s not hard to understand why. A child’s repetitive chatter is well… repetitive.

But parents should not relax when it comes to listening to their children. As their child’s world broadens, so do the influences – both positive and negative.

From neighborhoods, to schools, after school activities and… of course, let’s not forget their friends… children face many situations.

So yes, parents cherish their baby’s first words. They’re extremely attentive. As they should be.

But, as time speedily moves on, parents need to be even more vigilant about their child’s expanding world.

The harmless chatter from toddlers and preschoolers can change suddenly. This can happen overnight, if parents do not keep their listening skills sharp.

As a responsible parent, you want to tune into the things your kids don’t (or maybe can’t) put into words. To do…

Sharpen Your Listening Skills

Catch What’s Missing
  • Sudden changes in your child’s interests/routines: If circumstances don’t seem to justify the reasons… then their wish to change a formerly cherished hobby may show something has become uncomfortable for them. Refusing to go to places they used to love may also signal discomfort. This discomfort might be causing anxiety.
  • When they avoid certain topics: Watch for kids who dodge questions about their friends, school, or even their feelings. This behavior may mean that something is amiss.
  • Becoming unusually quiet: Children tend to talk a lot about… everything. If that changes, and they become withdrawn, it may indicate they don’t know how to express their concerns.
Key body language cues to look out for
  • Facial expressions: If the expression on their faces doesn’t match their words, it can be a sign. They might not be truthful. A blank stare or a forced smile when they claim they are okay might indicate this.
  • Defensive posture: A child who fidgets, crosses their arms, or turns away from you may indicate they are withdrawing. This behavior may signal that something or someone is causing them discomfort or worry.
  • Attitude changes: emotional stress may be expressed as either sudden need for independence or excessive clinginess.
Listen to word choice & tone of voice
  • Vague: A child who says “I don’t care” or “whatever” might mean the exact opposite.
  • Too apologetic: Self-blame might mean a growing low self-esteem or they don’t want to disappoint you.
  • Joking about serious things: Humour can be a cover for insecurity.
What To Do Next…

As a concerned parent, you may have heard some of the following suggestions… “Validate your child’s feelings without telling them what to do.” (That makes sense.) “Ask open-ended questions to give your child the opportunity to fill in the blanks.” (Yeah, another good one.)

You could probably list several yourself.

But the big takeaway should be found within a parent’s attitude and commitment.

As children grow, they struggle to ‘fit in’ to their surrounding world. They might come across as being unreasonable or argumentative. They can also appear frustrated, etc. Parents often take the hit and trying to navigate through it, is similar to crossing a landmine.

The smart parent will understand and NOT take any outbursts as PERSONAL. They realize that all the ups and downs are part of that all important process we typically call… growing up.

In hindsight, those earlier toddler and preschool years were, not only wonderful, but much easier. However, remind yourself (repeatedly) that the ‘growing up’ years are also wonderful.

Strive to become a parent who understands. Allow your child the time they need to establish a firm footing in the world. You’re there to help when it’s necessary and … guess what … your child knows it.

Now… whether or not you should trust their friends, school, neighborhoods, etc… Not so much. Be vigilant and remember to listen to what your child is not saying. They may need you to step in with a few tips here and there along the way.

Suzanne writes fiction for kids 10-14. Her latest efforts target kids’ health and wellness. If you, or someone you know, are interested in lively health-focused narratives,for the children you care about, then visit her author page on Amazon.

Thanks for the visit.

Money Management · Parenting · Responsible Parents

Budgeting: A Parent’s Opportunity to Shine

Write about your approach to budgeting.

My approach is simple. If there’s something you want and if you have the money and if it’s something necessary then…yes, go ahead and fit it into the budget. Otherwise…

“The best and surest way to save money is… Don’t Spend!”

A tried and proven method…LOL

Back on topic: Why is this a parenting moment?

Helping children develop vital life skills is an important aspect of parenting. No argument. Money management should be included on a parent’s To Do List.

Why? Answer: Kids will benefit, throughout the course of their lives, if they grasp the basic concepts of budgeting early in life.

The discussion…

The finer points of budgeting by example: Obviously food is kind of necessary so it needs a consistent, fixed spot on The Budget. However, even “food” is too broad a term when it comes to budgeting.

Things to consider…

  • Nutrition and real food
  • Pantry staples necessary for home cooked meals
  • Junk food (ah, not on my list but for some it’s a necessity, go figure)
  • Special occasions

If a necessity such as food must be evaluated…then think about how crucial it is to prioritize everything else.

Consider that many things can’t be eliminated, adjusted, or even tweaked from the budget.

  • Such expenses could be your rent/mortgage, car payments, heating, and etc.
  • These costs must have a fixed place

Then there’s the dreaded credit cards and credit card debt. Ugh!

Simply don’t go there, unless it’s an emergency. “To save and/or to stick to The Budget = No unnecessary spending on credit!”

  • By design, borrowing, via credit, is for emergencies but somehow we’ve taken it to the point of necessity… the “got to have it” mentality, which has nothing to do with emergencies.

The reality is a budget is just that “reality”!

Therefore, budgeting affords us the opportunity to live within our means.

This is a valuable life skill children should learn early in life. It is never too late to wean them off of the false notion that they should be entitled to “whatever they want” by their sheer existence alone.

Babies begin life believing everything belongs to them but it doesn’t take long, along their life’s journey, to realize that just isn’t so.

Confident in knowing they can control their spending habits!

Helping children adapt to that reality is something they can learn to appreciate if, we… parents, teachers, grandparents, and other significant adults, gift them with the knowledge of how to live within their means via the long-standing, proven methods of budgeting.

Suzanne Rightley is an author of children’s fiction. Health-awareness, Mystery, Detective, and Sports-themed Series are among her most popular books.

Visit her official website or author page to discover what the child/children, you know and love, can learn through the friendly, often humorous aspects of fiction.