“If
you want something said, ask a man. If
you want something done, ask a woman.”
–Margaret Thatcher
Educating,
inspiring and empowering parents and communities is key to my mission of creating a world full of Growing Healthy Kids.
This article is for all the women who are raising kids, their own or others. Parenthood comes in all shapes and
sizes. Your children may be your own
biological kids. You may be married to someone
with children and now you are helping to raise their kids. You may be a grandmother raising grandchildren. You may be a mother who is mothering someone
else’s children because they are latchkey kids or their parents are in jail or
on drugs. All these children are
counting on women, as the primary caregivers in most families, to be there for them, to provide access to healthy food, to help them with their homework, to tuck them into bed.
When
a woman makes up her mind to do something, it will be done. My Aunt Marcia is a perfect example and my
role model for getting things done. I
will never forget when she decided she wanted a new window in her house on the
farm. She used a sledgehammer to smash a
hole in the concrete brick wall and the rest is history.
It
is time for us to get out the sledgehammers so we can build the lives we want
for ourselves and be positive role models for all the children we are
raising, individually and collectively. Begin
by focusing on your own health. Here is the checklist I have developed that keeps me accountable every day:
- Are you walking every day?
- Are you giving yourself at least ten minutes for quiet meditation every day?
- Are you drinking plenty of water every day?
- Are you eating vegetables every day?
- Are you eating several small meals every day?
- Are you laughing every day?
- Are you having meaningful conversations every day?
- Are you living on purpose every day?
- Are you having fun every day?
- Are you learning something new every day?
The following quote by Marianne Williamson always inspires me. I hope it will inspire you as well:
“Our
deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is not our darkness but our light that
most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who
am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a Child of God. Your playing small does not serve the
world. There is nothing enlightened
about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children
do. WE were born to make manifest the
glory of God that is within us. It is
not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously allow others to do
the same. As we are liberated from our
own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Women
have the power to live amazing lives.
Now is our time: the world needs our greatness. Because when we step
into our own greatness, our children and our families will thrive.
With
love and gratitude,
Nancy
L. Heinrich, MPH
Founder,
Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.
