The weather is changing and it is affecting everyone from kids to adults. The incessant heat with occasional bouts of rain and wind, not forgetting the constant pollution and dust, we are exposed to; it is impossible to go a long period of time without falling sick.

As a mother, I am always paranoid about my daughter’s health and lately she has been falling sick incessantly which makes me question where am I going wrong as her poor health or diet will always reflect on ‘my’ parental abilities.

As parents, we are always judged based on the actions of our children. If my child does not eat or drink properly, his/her poor diet is because the mother did not try hard enough to offer healthy things. If my child falls sick or has poor hygiene, it is because the mother does not keep the house and surroundings clean and habitable for her children. Any action of our children reflects directly on us, as parents and whether we like it or not, we have to adhere to certain standards and rules every single day.

I am always on the lookout for hacks to make everyday healthier and easier and here are a few hacks I use everyday to be an effective woman and parent.

Time Out: The first and foremost important thing to remember is that everyday should begin with some time for yourself. I get up an hour early to do some workout, have a peaceful cup of coffee and just feel a bit at peace with myself before getting ready for the daily grind. When early mornings don’t work, I sneak in an online workout any time of the day or just enjoy some Netflix with a cup of hot chocolate. At times, we need to remind ourselves that we can’t make anyone else happy until we are happy ourselves.

Multi vitamins and Immunity boosting gummies: This simple act of taking a multivitamin tablet everyday has done wonders for my immunity and overall health. I have started my daughter on kids’ gummies that are filled with probiotics and multivitamins and come in delicious flavors as an additional boost of nutrition and energy. While I do agree wholeheartedly that when we are having a balanced meal, these extra gummies and syrups are not needed. Unfortunately, though, with the changing weather, increase in stress and competition, impurities in food and our overall erratic lifestyle; these gummies and syrups cannot replace a healthy meal but it can definitely help meet the daily nutritional requirements. 

Dry Fruits:  I used to get irritated when my mother would force me to have a handful of boiled almonds every morning before school. Now, when I try to make my daughter have dry fruits everyday, I realize the ‘circle of life’ continues.  Fortunately, Kay loves dry fruits and I give her a small box of almonds, cashews and walnuts with her lunch box. They are not only good as a weight gain component but also give a protein and energy boost at any time of the day. 

Milk with Turmeric: Okay, this is not the Starbucks Curcumin/Turmeric Latte but the age old Indian recipe of drinking a glass of hot, freshly boiled Milk with a spoon of turmeric. They not only work wonders with sore throats but also help you Sleep better. A glass of Turmeric milk before bed time is the best way to relax your body and prepare it to sleep after a long day.  During Kay’s recent bout of dry cough and sore throat, this milk given twice a day worked wonders to relax her throat and reduce her cough. I use low fat milk as full fat does not agree with her sensitive tummy.

TLC: There are times when nothing else works but a loving hug and some relaxing and care is all one needs to feel energized. TLC i.e. Tender loving care, stands for just that. There are times we act out due to lack of attention, feeling of neglect, feeling of rejection and to be acknowledged and ‘seen’ will solve half the illnesses.

Sleep: Don’t neglect the power of a sound sleep. From the time Kay was a newborn, I have put her in a sleep routine and be it rain, sun or shine; her bed time continues to be at 8 pm and that gives me time to eat a peaceful meal, have some quality time with my partner and still catch up on reading and sleeping. While long gone are my days of 8-9 hours of sleep, I have found my balance with 5 hours of sleep and my daughter gets around 9-10 hours of sleep which works well for both of us.  Honestly, eight hours of sleep gives me a headache now and makes me feel sluggish. This sleep pattern works well for us and it is important that as a parent and an individual, you find a schedule that suits your needs. Sleep is an extremely underrated but integral part of our life.

Well, these are some suggestions from my end to make your life easier as a parent and woman. What do you think?