Priscilla Shera once said something about her mom and she talked about how her mom made motherhood look so easy that when she finally became a mom she realized this thing is hard, and that hit me as a mother because if we’re not careful we raise kids who think that motherhood and all of its domestic demands especially are easy and simple or they’re light. They would know how heavy it is.
While your life generally, domestic life and all that is hard work. I think healthy living is notoriously harder. And if we’re raising Wellness Champions, we have to emphasize that to the children. That healthy living does not just puff happen like you just wave and wave and magically fresh healthy food appears on their plates while other people are eating cake and ice cream. Healthy food doesn’t just appear. Please no, raising Wellness Champions is intentional work. It is a lot of work and in today’s world, it’s like rebellion against the grain when you choose to stay healthy because you’re fighting. Sugar, junk, a pandemic convenience.
So here’s what I’m learning as I raise my two boys. Don’t shield them. Instead show them, teach them. Equip them. We’re not just trying to avoid raising victims. We’re raising Wellness Revivalists, Wellness Ambassadors, Wellness Heralds, and of course, Wellness Champions.
So, in this blog, we’re diving deeper with three points and we’re calling it the hard truth and hard work about raising wellness champions, those who reject this junk culture and pandemic.
The hard facts about raising wellness champions. Three facts. Now, fact one,
- healthy living comes at a cost. You want your kids to eat and be healthier? You do. Don’t just let them sit in luxury and convenience while you do all the hustle, hard work, you shop, you prep, you cook, you clean in silence and suffer head. Nope. Nope. Nope. That’s not what we’re going to do. You are going to let them know that that healthy banana bread that is on their plates or whatever thing you put that’s healthy, it did not come free. It came at a cost. That tiger nut milk that they’re like, “Mommy, I want more.” Ah, it didn’t just magically puff appear. Especially when you have kids who want to waste food. Claim to be picky eaters and saying, “Mommy, I don’t like this food.” Oh, God. Tell them about the money, the effort, the time that it took you to make this.
Then teach them gratitude. All our kids say things like, “Mommy, I love you.” When they say that, tell them that love is actually finishing the food that I give you. And saying, “Thank you.” So far, it is not killing you. Respecting the hard work behind every healthy food that they’re eating. Let them know that it hurts you when they don’t finish their food. There are times I’ve had to cry talking to my kids, because it was hard work. So, it’s okay for them to see the emotions behind all of it. Involve them. Take them shopping. Let them pay. Let them wash the veggies and fruits. Let them feel the weight of Wellness because baby, you know this thing is heavy. Let them honor the hard work that it took you. Please let them be a part of it too. Ask them if they spent all this time doing something like this and someone just throws it away or treats it anyhow. How would they feel? Plant that seed of wellness in them now.
2. Let them know that people will judge you. People will mock you. People will misunderstand you. Even you as an adult when you’re trying to eat healthy, you’re trying to lose weight.
Sometimes you actually have to say, “Oh, I don’t want that.” You know your struggles. You know that sometimes you’re in a group gathering and you say no to a sugary drink. People suddenly think you’re judging them. People think you think you’re better than them. That’s what they think. So teach your children that they too will be misunderstood and judged. Teach them that sometimes when they say no to unhealthy food, it doesn’t make them rude or proud. But teach them that when they say no, it’s not rudeness. It’s not pride. It’s discipline. And discipline is good. Let them know that it hurts. When your friends tease you or exclude you from some things because they’ll say, “I know King David will not eat that. I know ElJohn will not eat that.” And they say that, you know, almost with a hint of yabin. They do it to you as an adult. You know, let them know that they’ll do it to them, too.
Then invite them to talk about it. Share how they feel. That’s how you build a Wellness Champions backbone. Don’t just exclude them from it. But still teach them to be kind. Teach them not to mock others. Teach them not to treat others how they treat them. Teach them that they don’t have to correct everyone or get everyone to think and reason like them.
Let their lives speak and not just their lips. So it’s like confidence and kindness without compromise because they must not compromise. The world out there is wild but you’re raising them unshaken and sweet. So teach them it’s okay to stand alone because sometimes that’s where the real leaders, champions, and heroes stand alone.
Read the full vide of The ‘Hard Truth’ and ‘Hard Work’ about raising WELLNESS CHAMPIONS here
So mom we’re not shielding them from the battle. We’re training them to win it. So, teach them the cost. Train them to stand even if alone. And tell them why it matters because healthy living is at a cost, but it’s so worth it today and forever.
Also catch up on Global Wellness Revival 3.0 replay here
With Love and Wellness
Eziaha.
