I usually refrain from getting involved with politics but the recent ruling on mammograms by our government has me hanging from the rafters. It has taken us the last 20 years to get women to be proactive in taking care of themselves and now they want to undo all of this work by mandating new guidelines that delay mammograms until the age of 50.

Really?

Think about it.

How many women do you know who have been diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 50? Most of them in y life have been in their 30's and 40's.

My sister-in-law died at the age of 48 after battling cancer for 10 years. Her children were 5 and 8 when she was first diagnosed. She would have died much earlier in their lives had she not discovered it through a mammography. It has been a difficult loss for her children at the age of 15 and 18 but they at least have memories of their years together that will stay with them forever.

If women listen to these foolish guidelines, we will have an epidemic of motherless children in our nation. The last thing our culture needs are children who do not have a mother's touch. If women listen to this nonsense, we will see tragedies words cannot describe. We will witness a generation of children who will never know who they are because they did not have a mother's arms to crawl into in their moment of need. We will become a society that is hard, cold, and without conscience because they did not hear the gentle whisper of a mother's love impacting their definition of self.

Death is a form of abandonment and most children will spend a lifetime attempting to overcome the loss. As a mom, make good choices about your health and do not be passive when it comes to taking care of yourself. Set a good example for your children so when they are older, their normal is to have a healthy life.

Get your mammograms because your children deserve to be raised by a mom who takes of herself.

Always,

Catherine

Edited: 11/22/2009 at 06:50 PM by catherine.hickem

Are you healthy? I am not asking if you are functioning. I am asking you whether or not you are really healthy? Are you taking care of yourself?

Are you getting enough sleep at night?

Do you exercise?

How well do you eat?

These questions are not being asked to make you feel bad. On the contrary, they are being asked so you can make feeling good a priority. There are many reasons why you want to feel well but I want to tell you one in particular.

You will be a better mother if you are healthy!

When we do not feel well,, we are less patient, more easily annoyed by childish behavior, can be more critical, and will see less of what we need to see going on with our children. We will also be guilty of not being in integrity.

That's right. Isn't it a little hypocritical for us to make sure our children are fine and yet do not model a healthy example for them? Remember, children learn what we live, not what we say.

Take a quick inventory and see how you are doing. If you are too busy to take a quick review, you will probably already know your answer.

Be intentional about your life and our health. Your children will be the better for it knowing they can rest in the arms of a mom who made herself a priority.

Always,

Catherine

Many times when I am dealing with a mom whose child is different, it is typically around the feelings of fear, frustration, and despair. I totally know how that feels and deeply respect what it means to feel helpless, overwhelmed, and probably at some level, angry.

Moms who have children that have complex needs and challenges face a lonely journey and often do not feel support and acceptance. They spend so much time fighting to get their children's needs met that they forget to step back and breathe. They are not to be faulted for this because they are weary and worn out for always trying to deal with things that make life hard for their child. Moms of "normal" children don't often understand or appreciate how these moms of these special kids feel.

However, I would like to suggest that a child which is special ( that might include learning issues, add/adhd. asperger's. autism, physical disabilities,.etc.) can also teach us many things about life, ourselves, and priorities. In the midst of the struggle, we can gain much by stepping back and seeing who we are and what we can learn by the way our special child faces life.

My son had multiple issues and most people didn't know the specifics of what his issues happened to be. The only thing most people perceived was that he was "different. I will also tell you that he didn't want people to know because he didn't want anyone to feel sorry for him or give him any slack. He wanted to be treated like everyone else. The result was that it developed great character and diligence. I respected him and was inspired by him. I saw more self responsibility in him that many adults I know.

I, as his mom, probably benefited most by his challenges and difficulties. It taught me to see life in a very different way and to appreciate a perspective that would cause me to be stretched. I am such a better person because I have been the mother of a "special" child. Raisng him has been the hardest thing I have ever done but my life is richer because God chose me to be his mom.

Take a moment and ask how you appreciate the child you have in a new manner that will allow you to see the cup half full. If you don't have a child like this, be sure to encourage those moms in your life who walk this unchosen journey.

Always,

Catherine

I know this may sound a little odd but I want to ask a question. When is the last time you did something just for you? I know this blog is about being a mother but so is this question.

Good mothers often ignore their own needs for the sake of the children and the family. Healthy mothers recognize the importance of taking care of themselves so they can invest in their families. Which are you?

One of the most significant ways our children learn our values and priorities is how we live our lives. I can talk til I am blue in the face but what I live is going to have its greatest impact.

If I want my son to grow up and be supportive of his wife taking care of herself, I need to model that in front of him. Why is that so? Because I am his definition of normal. He will view his wife through the filter of what I do or don't do.

If I want my daughter to be a healthy woman, then I need to be that role model for her since I am her definition of normal. In fact, the same gender parent is the most important parent in a child's life. The opposite parent is the second most important person.

Let's start off the New Year making healthy choices with ourselves being one of them.