I figured I'd be met with resistance, but...

But I didn't know how that would actually feel. Turns out it hurts my feelings, and rather than get all sappy about hurt feelings, I naturally just turn it into anger. ;)
So I started the kids on Nordic Naturals Omega-3D about 4 days ago. There are just SO many brands to choose from, and it can be SO intimidating. We actually chose this one because we were able to sample the Children's DHA version in strawberry, and it was actually tasty. Fish oil and tasty in the same sentence. Yup, I said it. So, rather than them have to take FOUR of the children's strawberry ones, I opted for the adult ones. Just one pill! It never occurred to me that they'd be larger. Like four times larger. Ouch. But I think we may have gotten the hang of swallowing it. At least today it wasn't a battle, tomorrow may be another story altogether.
There are so many conflicting stories about what to take. I hear the word Omega 3 thrown around a lot. Some say to find one with an EPA to DHA ratio of 3 to 2. I've also seen it be 4 to 1. The lady at one health food store said EPA is better for ADD, and at the other health food store, they protest and say that I need to find one high in DHA. I'm slowly learning, but it seems like lots of mumbo-jumbo to sift through. Ugh. For now we'll try this. I am wondering how long it will take to see results, none reported or witnessed yet.
Also in my desperate attempt to rescue my kids from ADD, I have decided to change the way we eat. I've read it before: our food has a lot to do with ADHD and other things like Autism, tourettes, cancer, birth defects, and so many other issues. I've had the desire to change and I've researched it before, but I never could find any guidelines besides the Feingold Diet, which is SO restrictive, I never saw it as a viable option. I just didn't know WHAT to do. Then, a friend said she followed a blog called 100 Days of Real Food. It intrigued me because it was simple. Basically, it's eating things that are more of a product of nature, and less of industry. Whole grains, no additives or preservatives. Locally raised meats. Lots of organic. Her rule of thumb for the grocery store packaged items? If it's got more than 5 ingredients, it's a no-no. She's got tons of recipes and has done so much research, I finally felt like I had a starting point. YES! So, she's got many versions of her own "challenge" for people to try: A 10 day pledge, the original 100 days, or even just goals to reach for if you're not ready to go all out. I'm thinking I'll commit to the 10 day pledge, but I am going to try and do this for the long haul. I mean, we can't fix ADD in 10 days. But, I am going to need to bend the rules at some point, because I never want a food plan to rob us of some of the joys of life! So, I'll do the 10 days to start, and be super strict, but after that I'm not gonna go crazy when we get invited to dinner elsewhere. I've got to live! :)
My hubby is gone this week (I don't usually cook real dinners when he's gone), and since I was anxious to start; and start seeing results; I decided to go ahead and start, gradually.
Here's how our mornings USUALLY go: My alarm goes off and I hit snooze no less than 5 times. At some point in between, I stumble into the hall usually running into a wall on the way, and turn on the kids lights and tell them to get up, and then I climb back into my warm bed. Sometimes I go back to sleep, and sometimes I just lay there and try to mentally wake up. I am NOT a morning person. I hate mornings. H-A-T-E them. In fact, I say that every. single. morning. So, kid #1 has to leave at 7:10. I climb out of bed at 7:15, yell at him for being late, ask him WHY he's playing with Legos instead of brushing his teeth and then gripe him out for all that is wrong with the world. Then I move on to the girls. One can't find her shoes. One is still in bed. "Have you packed your lunch?" I ask insinuating that they better hurry the heck up so they'll have time. Breakfast often doesn't happen. Yup, I send my kids to school on an empty stomach. Sometimes I'll hand them a Pop-tart as they walk out the door or a granola bar. If I feel like "cooking", I pop an English Muffin in the toaster. It's pathetic. I know, but I hate mornings, remember? H-A-T-E them. And I learned a few years ago, that if I just stay in bed and let them do their thing, that we don't start our days in a fight.
My new mantra is "what we were doing wasn't working, so we're going to have to do things differently." So, this week I valiantly arose at 6:00 am, a solid hour before I usually do. I took a luxurious shower and kindly told the children that it was time for their day to commence. I advanced to the kitchen to prepare a rather glorious meal of cooked oatmeal with strawberries & honey. The presentation was beautiful. As they trickled into the kitchen, to eat this remarkable breakfast I had prepared, I had visions of us all enjoying our breakfast together at the table. Smiling, happy, laughing. And then reality hit me. Hard.
Kid #1 was needing to finish the rest of his homework, so he ate elsewhere so he could focus. Kid #3 immediately refused to even TRY it. And when kid #2 FINALLY makes it to the table, she takes one bite, says it's gross and refuses the rest. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I tried to make it with milk so they would get some protein, and I used half of a gallon of milk and then scorched it and had to start over. Waste, waste, waste.
Day two would be different, I knew it. I had purchased some 100% whole wheat bread from the bakery and some exquisite maple syrup. That stuff is gu-ood! Ten dollars for bread & syrup. Geez! Anyway, kid #3 had requested french toast, so I was sure this would be the day they fell in love with this new way'o life. Wrongo dongo, as my mother would say. Kid #1 hates maple syrup. Kid #3 who requested this meal and usually eats more than a 500lb man took about 5 bites and when kid #2 FINALLY made it to the table, she refused it altogether. Waste, waste, waste.
I was hurt the first day, mad the second, and now I'm ready for revenge! I'll show them...it's healthy food for ALL the meals now!! I'll get them to comply or starve them to death! *insert evil laugh* Tonight it was veggie fajitas made with these homemade whole wheat flour tortillas, SO delicious! Kid #1 and #2 loved them, but this marked the 3rd meal that #3 skipped. Wow, she's tougher than I thought! (And for all of you thinking that it's inhumane {mom}, she has had a few pieces of plain shredded wheat. I'm not gonna let her die, I promise.) In fact, she said in hysteric tears, "You won't make us what WE want to eat, you're making us eat what YOU want!" I agreed. Oftentimes as a mom, we have to choose to do what's BEST for our kids, despite what they want. So, she went to bed hungry. Sigh.
I'll be back at it in the morning. The plan tomorrow is smoothies and I'm gonna try and get them to eat an egg. I had already ordered and paid for school hot lunch tomorrow, so I won't push it, but after that, it's ON! Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it.

Seriously?

I'm finding humor in the fact that I named my blog "Figuring it out" and I have no idea how to use this Blogger thing! I just wrote what I thought was a beautiful post and I can't figure out how the heck to find it. So typical of my life...

Figuring it out...

"Figure it out" is a phrase I use a lot as a mom. I want my kids to be independent, to think for themselves and to be able to problem-solve. As adults we are so often faced with hurdles and there are no other options but to do just that, figure it out. There is no parenting manual (I probably wouldn't follow it anyway) and the most complex of situations rarely has a cookie cutter solution.
Here I sit tonight, faced with two children doing so poorly in school that they (& I) are overwhelmed beyond belief. The term ADD has been thrown around on more than one occasion. While I don't disagree we have issues in that area, I am not yet willing to throw in the towel and take the magic pill to make it all better, although it can be tempting.
I've got friends, who, at the first sight of the dreaded "B" have their child put on medication. Yup, tis true. At our house, if a B shows up, we have a party! There are kids who NEED medication for ADHD, but I am of the belief that a majority of those on meds could probably "figure it out" without them.
But how do we do that? That's where I am. How in the world do I help my child succeed in school, when they are clearly suffering. How to we go from failing to passing in a few short weeks? How can I fix ADD without medication? How can we possibly catch up to the rest of the class? How can I help my child without the use of a very expensive tutor? Is it possible? Is there hope?
I am choosing to believe that there is hope. I'm trying to figure it out. And that's what I'm hoping to accomplish with this blog. Really it's just for me, my own research; as premature as it may be, learning as I go. Documenting the changes we make, and holding me accountable. I don't anticipate it being very easy, but how much of life is?