“I don’t like doctors,” my 3-year-old says that quite often.
“But doctors help people,” I say.
She seems unimpressed.
“My baby sister doesn’t like doctors either,” she announces, confidently…undoubtedly remembering our last trip to the pediatrician.
Even so, she has a little doctor’s kit that she plays with almost every day. She examines Minnie Mouse and her little toy sheep and her baby sister. She checks blood pressure and heart rates and reflexes. She give shots and performs surgery and administers medicine.
The interesting thing about the whole charade is that she very, very rarely goes to the doctor herself. By and large, our family is super healthy, for which I am exceedingly grateful.
One of my dreams for my kids is that they stay healthy. I want them to be strong – energetic – thriving – in the pink of health.
I do realize, of course, that “health” isn’t always inside our control. There are a lot of diseases and illnesses and accidents that can’t be prevented or cured. Sometimes things happen and that’s life.
That said, there are a lot of things we CAN do to keep our bodies and our minds active and alert. The top five that come to mind are: (1) Exercise. (2) Eat nutritious, non-processed, raw foods. (3) Drink water. (4) Reduce stress. (5) Laugh and Love.
I know that my girls pick up on how I treat my body, even now…and that keeps me striving. I’m far from perfect though. I know I need to drink more water. I should run more consistently. Etc. Etc.
I need to keep my health front and center on my priority list – for my girls, my husband, my future.
I have another motivating factor besides all of that too: Shhhh…don’t tell my girls this…but…I don’t really like going to the doctor either.
YOUR TURN: How do you model a healthy lifestyle for your kids?
