Well, I’m a new parent now and trying to decide what is best to do for my little one and while he is only a little over a year old now, I can already see that I’m going against the grain a bit in this society we live in…my husband and I took natural birthing classes and had an unmedicated birth with a doula; I haven’t allowed Ryne to have any refined sugar in any form; no processed foods; no commercially produced baby foods (okay, aside from the very FEW organic fruit or veggie pouches they sell these days but let me tell you I did my research first!); no dairy despite not having any allergy to it for all I know, although I really wouldn’t know if he does or not since he hasn’t had it, but most of the people I know who abstain from dairy have chosen to do so based on an allergic reaction; we also still breastfeed, cloth diaper, and co-sleep, sometimes even bed-sharing, and we seek chiropractic care for our health and wellness with the occasional visit to the pediatrician more for our own curiosity than for his need to see a doctor.
I share all of this not to toot my own horn for doing things differently to make a statement to anyone or to be different just for the sake of being different, I share it because it makes sense to me that in my own over-analytical tendencies to research everything from birth balls to what time of day the lighting is best for an engagement shoot, that I would naturally do the same in my quest for parenting decisions and how we will handle Halloween and the upcoming holidays as a family striving to live a paleo lifestyle.
I’m not one who receives the email newsletters regarding my baby’s age and milestones and just accepts it for what it is. I have to dig deeper into the what and why and how of things and then based on my knowledge, make the decision I feel is best for me and my family, especially the little one now that I’ve been entrusted to care for his precious life for the next several years! I still want to maintain a fun and exciting household where he doesn’t feel like he is missing out on what the other kids have and get to do. So for Halloween we are still trick-or-treating and today we are going to a Halloween story time in costume at a local bookstore. However, we just won’t be eating the candy we collect and we certainly won’t be allowing our 14 month old to have a taste! We will honestly be going trick-or-treating for the fun of dressing up, going door-to-door meeting our neighbors, and enjoying the crisp, fall air!
Before we go out trick-or-treating I will be making a big batch of our favorite paleo turkey chili with tomatillo avocado salsa and a batch of pumpkin spice muffins so we’re fueled up and not jonesing for any sugar temptations that will inevitably come our way. For us, for now, this is the best solution I have for being able to bridge the gap between our paleo lifestyle and enjoying the traditions around us that we really do love so much, despite the fact that we don’t necessarily agree with the sugar marketing aspect of the holiday. We will choose instead to participate in events we are comfortable with modifying and not make a big show out of the fact we are doing it differently but if asked we will take the opportunity to share with our friends and family the reasons why we are making these “weird” choices. We will choose to create fun memories not centered around a sugar high and our bodies will thank us!
Happy Halloween to you and yours! And please feel free to share with us in the comments how YOU make the holiday a special one.
