Holistic, crunchy, scrunchy… these are popular buzzwords that float around the mom community a lot these days. Not to say that it’s a bad thing – I actually relate to these labels! Contrary to popular belief among those who know me personally, I am not an all or nothing “crunchy” girlie. I think we are led to believe that we have to stick to a path 100% of the time, but that just does not align with me. Being a holistic mother to me means that I am intentional, I am balanced, and I am always learning and evolving.

It’s not about being perfect.

I live a 70/30 lifestyle. I am mindful when I can be, but I am not restrictive when certain things are not in the cards. Example: I buy dye free options as snacks for my family as well as organic, but we eat Chic-fil-A probably once a week. Sometimes twice if I’m just not up for choosing a dinner, lol. I am flexible – I am not rigid.

My essential foundations

Nourishment over perfection! I try very hard to keep well rounded dinners revolving every night. Let me be real with you though, my husband does the cooking. I make the menu and go to the grocery store… or order groceries… Team work IS nourishment for your soul. I am a protein, veggie, starch kind of gal but best believe that I will gladly warm up a frozen KidFresh meal in times where convenience needs to be prioritized. What matters the most is the energy and presence that we are bringing to the dinner table. A burnt out parent is not their best self – you must give yourself grace.

Sunlight and movement. Truthfully, I have been really struggling with this one. (I vow to always keep it raw and real with you) I used to be BIG into grounding every single morning and during every break at work and I remember LOVING IT. I truthfully have slacked in this and the reason for this is because my child absolutely adores to be outside. On the days that I go to work, I do not have the mental energy in the mornings to deal with a meltdown over having to go back inside. We do prioritize getting outside time at some point during the week but days that I work are typically not in our routine. Sunlight and being outside is so extremely important for a multitude of reasons – you can read them here.

Natural remedies when they make sense. I believe in herbs – I believe in medicine. My pediatrician stays on speed dial, okay. We had a really rough first winter with my kiddo – I felt like we were sick every. other. week, no joke. I heavily started researching things that I could be doing at home to help boost his immune system. I started implementing a zinc supplement a few times a week as well as including oregano in every single one of his meals. Please always do your own research and discuss with your pediatrician before introducing new herbs or supplements to your children – I am not a medical professional. I did these things alongside nebulizer treatments – see your doctor when you need to. I am so thankful for western medicine AND natural remedies.

My home environment. I am living in a multigenerational situation so sometimes I cannot have it exactly my way 100% of the time. Example – open windows, air purifiers, clean soaps are all important to me but my mom LOVES wax melts and scented laundry beads so I have to compromise sometimes. This circles back to maintaining a peaceful energy in the home (even though I’m slowly working on converting her, lol). I do not allow any candles/artificial fragrances in my personal spaces and keep at least two air purifiers in our bedrooms. I will diffuse essential oils sometimes when needing some aromatherapy but I also don’t go to heavy with those! Being holistic in a shared home sometimes means choosing peace over control and that’s okay.

Habits that keep me regulated. We are a prayerful family. I pray with my baby every night before bed time and talk to God as much as I can (often falling short). I also love to write – this is new outlet that I have found. It is an easy way to brain dump and clear the noise.

Paying attention to my emotional regulation or lack there of. Being holistic includes paying attention to how I respond to events emotionally. Children are always watching and it’s important that my child see how I process, react, respond, and repair when needed. This is extremely important to their emotional development and their healing when things happen! We are human, not perfect.

How I maintain balance

Life is busy constantly. I work 3 to 4 days a week often being away from home for ten/eleven hours. I give myself grace – especially being pregnant at the moment. Sometimes I just need a day to recover which means screen time so that I can actually sit and rest. Sometimes doing the absolute bare minimum is okay – you are protecting your mental and emotional state. Remember, how your energy shows up with your children is important. Make intentional decisions.

Looking holistic vs. being holistic

Something I have had to learn over the years is that my life does not need to look like a Pinterest board. It’s so easy to get caught up in the “aesthetic” of holistic motherhood. All glass storage containers, all Montessori toys, all linen/cotton clothings – all great things, but shouldn’t be your primary focus. These things don’t automatically make the lifestyle more meaningful.

If I haven’t made it clear yet, being holistic to me is not about the image. It is about the intention behind your choices. You can breastfeed, cloth diaper, make your own tinctures/medicinal remedies and still be disconnected from your children because you are straight up in survival mode. I tried to cloth diaper…. we are a Millie Moon family lol. I have found that true holistic living is about creating alignment between your values and your daily life, not about checking off a trendy checklist. I still find myself guilty of this! Working within the social media realm, it’s extremely easy to get sucked into the want to make everything aesthetic so we are visually pleasing to other people. Be intentional – not perfect.

At the end of the day, my goal is not to look the part but to feel well, live gently, and raise my children with peace and presence.

Where can you swap perfection for presence this week?

My hope for you

Friend, you do not have to be doing it all. Life is about balance and intentionality. Holistic, scrunchy, crunchy – it’s not a trend. It is a way for you to show up for yourself and your family with thoughtfulness and love. So buy the dye free candy, and eat your McDonald’s for dinner. It’s okay. Remember 70/30

🩷 Amber