If I would only have known!

I was helping with child care for a Shakespeare play today and a baby, maybe 10 months old came in. I felt an immediate connection with him but the other child care workers were explaining his situation. He had been there the day before and been inconsolable. He had an ear infection and was on antibiotics. He had a rash on his cheeks and runny nose that is common with antibiotics. He looked like he didn't feel great. It brought me back to my young mother self and the health journey I embarked on during that time.

When Reuben was very young, he had a string of ear infections and sinus infections. He had antibiotics several times and then developed stomach problems. They got worse. The doctors thought maybe he had celiac. We saw a pediatric GI and we did many tests. He even had a colonoscopy/endoscopy, which found nothing. Soon after we took him to a functional medicine doctor. We started probiotics, digestive enzymes, essential oils, and some herbs. That was the beginning for me.

For all of my babies after that, I treated ear infections with essential oils, and have never needed an antibiotic. I found the tools I needed to keep digestive systems healthy through herbs, nutrition, and fermented foods. It has taken more than a decade to learn all of these things, but now when I see a baby suffering under the normal pediatric protocol I cringe. If I had only know when I started! My children could have avoided so much pain. I could have avoided so much stress! I also could have saved so much money!

I didn't dare stick my nose in that families business today. Oh, I wanted to because I adored that baby. Our world is pretty private and isolated. People generally don't want advise. If I could share what I have learned with parents to help keep the minds and bodies of their children healthy I would! I would start by saying feed them food! Not something out of a package! The most priceless possession we have is our children. Most parents feel this way, and think they are doing what is right for their kids. Sometimes that takes a lifetime to learn. It is too bad we can't share that info. Oh, if I had only know!