Stepping Away from Sugar

I knew I was in trouble. I could think of nothing but treats! I was at Costco with my friend, Margaret, and needed to purchase Halloween candy for the Trunk or Treat. I grabbed the candy I love best, gooey and chocolatey and oh-so-satisfying. And I knew that if I made the mistake of opening that bag before I gave it to Allan I would be truly sorry--and so would he.

So I made a decision. It was time to stop eating candy and cookies and cake and doughnuts and pie and ice cream and anything else that would feed my addiction to sugar. I have done this in the past around the Christmas holidays, but never as early as this. But it's something that I have needed to do to get my eating back in control.

I haven't missed the junk that much. I have had a few difficult times, including manning the desserts (cake, cheesecake, brownies, shortcake cookies, etc.) at a funeral luncheon. I have withstood it all, and had the wonderful added benefit of daily nasty headaches and sinus problems disappearing. What a testimony of staying away from all that sugar and junk! So far I have gone 9 days without treats, and I am doing just fine, thanks to sugar-free Swiss Miss.

So, come January, when the holidays are over, and the last of the wonderful fudge and See's candy and peanut brittle and shortbread cookies and caramel corn and toffee are eaten up, maybe I will slip back into my old habits. Or maybe, hopefully, I will have found joy in the people I am with and the wholesome food that actually nourishes my body.

It could happen.

Parenting Unruly Teens

This summer has been a challenge. After the disaster of my sprained ankle I had the opportunity to spend more time pondering the mysteries of life, including the mystery of teenagers. Since we have 5 of those between my husband and me, this wasn't too difficult to do. We have the lovely added bonus of having our daughter's homeless teenage friend staying with us, too.

When my children were young it was somewhat infuriating when things were tough and my mentors and friends would chuckle at my parenting challenges and warn me about what was ahead. One friend, to whom I confided, "I'm afraid to raise teenage girls," gave me the comforting comment, "You should be!" And here I am in the throes of it all.

Actually, I made the mistake, since my own youngest is a boy, of thinking recently, "Thank goodness, I am almost through with these difficult teen years. He hasn't been nearly as hard as those girls...." He has always been an easy, enjoyable child.

Why do children turn to unhealthy activities (sex, addiction, piercing, tattoos, and heaven knows what else)? What can we as parents do to prevent these from going on to our precious but defiant offspring? My son has been cut off from most of his friends and regular activities because of some poor choices. This has been most difficult on him and all of us who care about him.

I simply keep telling myself a few things, such as, "This isn't about me." "Don't take his behavior personally." "The others are enjoyable adults; he is getting there, too." "He is only growing up." And, thankfully, he is.