The Good Foods' Blog

Mom Life: Psyche Glimpses and Gift Ideas

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I’m not a mom. Some people consider their pets children, but my cat is more of a really surly roommate who thinks it’s fun to stand on my face at 3:00 in the morning. Which I suppose could be said about some kids too, but I don’t think that qualifies me as a mom. I can count on my fingers, maybe even on one hand, the number of people in the universe under the age of ten that I genuinely enjoy being around. I would like to have kids one day, but I have no interest in giving birth or seeing people give birth or hearing about people give birth. I definitely don’t want to know anything about anyone’s placenta. I’ve earned a few honorary aunt titles and I can catch toddlers before they fall out of swings or jump down stairwells or put their hand in community dips, but I’m decidedly not a mom, so I have no business writing a blog post about Mother’s Day. I know moms though, so I asked some of the ones who were physically closest to me at the time to help me get a glimpse into the mind of a mom and give me some ideas about what people can think about giving their own mom(s) for Mother’s Day.

Gift ingredient recommendation: Aura Cacia lavender essential oil, $12.59 for .5 fl. oz. (see DIY bath oil recipe in link)

Melanie Fowler, Finance Manager 
What‘s your favorite thing about being a mom? Watching my girls become good humans.
Is there something you wish people would have told you about parenting? That nothing will ever hurt as much as watching your kids hurt.
What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you as a mom? My daughter accidentally videoed me naked (my backside) and posted it to snapchat.
Do you have any advice for other moms? Make sure your kids always feel loved and that they can come to you no matter what.
Did you learn anything from your own mom that you hope to pass along to your kids? You can do hard things. God will always make a way if you trust Him.
What’s your favorite way to pamper yourself? Using lavender oil in my bath……on the rare chance I get to take one. : )

Gift ingredient recommendations: Frontier Bentonite clay $17.99/ lb, Life Flo pure rosehip seed oil $19.99/1 oz, White Egret Epsom salt $7.99/ 16 oz. (DIY recipes in links)

Bambu Allgaier, Floor Manager
What’s your favorite thing about being a mom? The amount of love that comes out of another being for just me- it’s pretty great! Also, any time my little one smiles at me, everything becomes okay- instant zen.
Is there something you wish people would have told you about parenting? That I would want more after the first one….so start earlier.
What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you as a mom? My little one very seriously marching in the bathtub. It still makes me laugh!
Do you have any advice for other moms? Having fun and enjoying life is much more important than following imaginary rules.
Did you learn anything from your own mom that you hope to pass along to your kid? My mom loved to read, and passed that along to me. She would take me to the used book store and I would come back with about 30 new books every few months. I still have some of those books.
What’s your favorite way to pamper yourself? Kinda cliche, but spa days! I make my own face mask with the clays that we carry, sugar facial scrubs with our bulk sugar, rosehip seed oil, and essential oils, and then take a nice long soak in the bath with Epsom salts and essential oils sipping on a glass of wine and eating an orange when the Cara cara’s are in season.

Gift ingredient recommendation: Giovanni shampoo and conditioner, on sale now for $5.99 each. Regular 7.99.
Dacia Williamson, Grocery Manager
What’s your favorite thing about being a mom? No matter how challenging or stressful my day has been, all of that will melt away when I see my son’s sweet smile and hear his mischievous giggle.
Is there something you wish people would have told you about parenting? I wish someone would have told me how protective you become and sometimes fearful for your child’s safety. The thought of not being able to protect them from everything can be overwhelming at times.
 What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you as a mom? One time when my son was a baby I was laying on the couch holding him over me and making silly faces. He was laughing and cooing when he suddenly spit up a deluge of breast milk right into my mouth. Funny and disgusting.
 Do you have any advice for other moms? Take lots of pictures and videos! I love looking back at my little sweet pea growing up and all the progress he has made.
Did you learn anything from your own mom that you hope to pass along to your kid? My mother taught me how to love and respect nature. She fostered my passion/addiction for plants. I am doing my best to impress those values upon my son.

What’s your favorite way to pamper yourself? I absolutely love the Giovanni organic hair care line! Smooth As Silk shampoo and conditioner! Then to finish it off, the Direct Leave-In conditioner. I have naturally curly hair so a leave-in is a must.

Gift ingredient recommendation: Mineral Fusion nail polish $7.99 each

Kat Luchtefeld, HR Manager
What’s your favorite thing about being a mom? the snuggles <3
Is there something you wish people would have told you about parenting? It’s HARD, but the best job ever (oh wait, literally everyone tells you that, it’s just impossible truly comprehend until you’re living it, LOL)
What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you as a mom? When my daughter was about 3, her preschool teacher did one of those “all about my mom” pages for Mothers Day. According to her 3-year-old brain, my “favorite thing to do” was to go to McDonald’s and drink bourbon. I was mortified and hysterically laughing, all at the same time.
Do you have any advice for other moms? Remember that the voice we use to love, coach, and especially correct, sets the tone for their internal monologues, so speak to them like you want them to speak to themselves.
Did you learn anything from your own mom that you hope to pass along to your kids? Patience and fierce independence!
What’s your favorite way to pamper yourself? I love a DIY mani-pedi day. And with our [natural, EWG verified] Mineral Fusion nail polish, I don’t worry about sharing with the girls, too! ;-)

To the current moms, the hopefully-one-day moms, the stepmoms, the moms-in-law, the foster moms, the second moms, the non-biological-moms who have become moms and anyone else in the mom game: thank you for all you do. And don’t forget to #TreatYoself.