More
Written by Fiona on May 18, 2008 – -
The word that resonates with me today is “more”. It is the one way I can describe life with my son. Just about any word would fit in behind the word more: more energy, more movement, more emotion, more anger, more love, more sadness, more fear, more frustration, more talking, more silliness, more imagination, more creativity, more talent, more intellect, more persistence, more sensitivity, more repetition, more will, more… You get my point!
It is exhausting to think about it sometimes, much less to keep up! I also find that word applies to my job as a mom and what it means to raise him: more discipline, more boundaries, more frustration, more patience, more time, more energy, more preparation, more giving, more love.
Just like he can laugh and cry within the same breath, I am amazed at how I can have such extreme opposite emotions in one minute. Kids like him are so hard to love yet so easy to love. There is a constant need to focus on the positive, to find the good in every situation. Even in the difficult times, I look for what we have learned from the experience.
Yet another way “more” applies to me is that I must have more support and more time off to recharge (which I don’t really do!!). I realize this all applies to every mom of every child, yet for a mom raising a child with autism spectrum disorders, it applies even more!
One thing I definitely need more of is energy, which is why I am thankful for having discovered the benefits of raw and living foods. It has not only helped him overcome some major problems, but it has given me the energy, mental clarity, and emotional stability to cope with daily life.
I think today has been an especially full-on day. Not a bad day by any means, but today was in all ways…well, more! So I am ready for more relaxation, more rest, and more sleep! So, with that, I will say good night!
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Posted in Success Stories | 2 Comments »
By Anna on Oct 22, 2010
Thank you so much Tera and Fiona for this brilliant selection of interviews. I listened to every single one of them. I found that the tone set by the theme for the presentations helped me to listen to each interview with interest, even if I did not fully agree with what was being said.
Listening to all the interviews has helped me to round out my view point, and not be so rigid in my thinking. The lessons learned have settled me so much that I am even less of a taskmaster to myself, and am enjoying my raw journey much more now. Days later, I find myself still smiling as a result of all that I learned.
I think that the biggest thing that I got out of the program is that keeping peace on the plate is more than about food; it is first of all about having respect for the other person, and valuing their viewpoint, even if it differs from our own. Sure, we can make raw dishes that can be enjoyed even by someone who prefers cooked food, and perhaps we could enjoy steamed veggies from time to time, but such compromises are not what is at the base of bringing peace to the plate, and that is what your program sounded home to me the most. It is this lesson that has helped me to ease tension that was mounting as I would insist on my mother eating the raw dishes that I would prepare for her literally for the sake of her life!
When I told my mother what MAC had said about his loving cooked food because of all the cozy experiences associated with the aromas and so forth, of cooked food, my mother snuggled right into his words. Sharing MAC’s expressions with my mom helped her to see that I did understand the losses that she was experiencing, and now she is more willing to work WITH me as I try to feed her raw, and I am less irritated with the scheduled compromises that I make with her twice a week. Here is an example of what I mean:
My mom agreed to try to eat raw with me a few months ago. At first it went well, and she was able to come off of one of her diabetic meds. When she began to long for cooked food too much, she agreed with my suggestion to set 2 days of the week aside (Wednesday and Saturday) for her to eat something cooked. We call Wednesday, “Wheat Wednesday,” because that is the day of the week designated for my mom to have whatever Wheat item she chooses. Usually her choice is a bagel, which has as much damage in it as 4 slices of bread. (Having seen my mom come very close to death less that 2 yrs ago because of diabetes, it is not easy for to tolerate watching her eat a food item so dense with the very ingredients that worsen her diabetes. With every bite of her bagel, my mind follows behind an imaginary ambulance, like the one that took my mother to the hospital less than 2 years ago, while I wonder, “Will she make it this time?”)
Up until listening to the RMCD program, every Wednesday, I would begrudgingly purchase a cold bagel for my mom, and agonize as I watched the death-dealing carbs enter her body one bite after another. It was torture for me. I thought I was doing well just to prepare it for her, and keep my thoughts to myself. But listening to RMCD (and MAC and Mike’s interviews especially), has altered my feelings.
On Wednesday, when I went to purchase my mother’s bagel, I had a whole different attitude. I decided that if my mother is to have a bagel, why don’t I buy her the best bagel that I can find? At the bakery, I asked for the freshest bagel that they had. The bakery was very accommodating; they sold me a bagel that was only half-baked and then frozen. (The bakery receives them that way, and then they bake them and sell the finished product. In this case, they allowed me to take the unfinished product home to complete the process myself).
I took the bagel to my mother’s, preheated her oven, and finished baking the bagel in her oven. Of course, her whole apartment filled with the smell of baking bread, and my mother reveled in the aroma.
Recalling MAC’s remarks, I knew the tremendous emotional pleasure this was giving my mother, and knew that such pleasure likely contributed to her overall health in some way. So instead of grinding my teeth through the whole ordeal, I felt really good that I could bring my mother so much pleasure. She enjoyed her bagel more than ever, and has been much more willing to cooperate with me while I endeavor to make raw meals for her.
The shift in my thinking that has taken place since listening to RMCD has really eased tension that had been mounting in my endeavor to take care of my mother. Bottome line:
Attitude, respect of others viewpoints, compassion and love; all of this must be in place first. This moves all to put drop their weapons, and meet in peace. In a peaceful cooperative setting, solutions are more easily attainable.
Thanks again for the wonderful program. And thanks for doing such a good job with the questions you asked, and for helping each speaker stick with the theme of RMCD. You both did a great job.
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By Sheryl on Nov 15, 2010
Thank you for sharing, it indeed makes the world a better place, in so many ways.
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