Ladies and Gentleman, we wish you all an enjoyable flight.  When the seatbelt sign is illuminated, we suggest sitting with your 18 month old child on your lap for the next 9+ hours with your seat belt fastened. You will find this and other safety information in the seat pocket in front of you. I found the Skymall magazine, a barf bag, and information about what to do in a the case of emergency. After several hours of wiggling in a miniature space, we had sleep. Luckily, my right arm was free to grasp the card and I was able to give my undivided attention to: what to do in the case of an emergency.

I ponder some inane instructions put forth by the airline. Here’s one: if you are traveling with a child, please secure your oxygen mask first before helping others. Outrageous! You see, looking down at the sleeping babe in my arms, I think about how I’d to do anything and everything to keep her safe.  She would definitely get the mask first.

More time passes and I hadn’t really had much to eat or drink, been to the bathroom, or slept. I wasn’t about to sacrifice the sleeping baby status for my needs. My cellphone and I were in airplane mode for the duration of the flight.

And we made it.

Ironically, the oxygen mask recommendation really makes sense when you are on the ground. In fact, it is genius. If parenting had a safety card like the airlines, it would recommend wearing the oxygen mask at all times. Think about it.

Parenting 101: Help yourself first so you can better help others.

As a parent, I have a newfound drive for self-care. I am a better parent when I take care of myself. It is not selfish, wasteful, frivolous, egocentric, harmful, or silly. IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. Airplane mode for the duration of a child’s life is life-threatening…..to the whole family.

I have been carving out time and opportunity to practice better self care. Here are a few:

1. Greet the day. Go outside for a few minutes to see the sun, take a fresh breath of air, feel the earth.

2. Drink a glass of warm lemon water (1/2 lemon, real not juice). Stimulates digestion, helps to detoxify, great source of vitamin C, and a great start for #3

3. Stay hydrated. Aim for a minimum of 64 ounces of water, non-caffeinated tea, coconut water, etc.

4. Exercise to move the body and challenge your heart rate. EVERYDAY! It’s true, physical activity trumps nutrition in my book.

5. Avoid refined and processed foods.

6. Have a midday green drink. Juice or blended: spinach, swiss chard, green apple, kiwi, matcha green tea powder, spirulina, cucumber, mint, basil, avocado, etc

7. Get pampered. Massage, acupuncture, yummy food, aromatherapy candle, soak in hot tub.

8. Meditate. So powerful, yet takes practice. Also great for resetting after a tough parenting moment. I have a few guided meditations downloaded on my phone. Tara Brach has a number of podcasts here:

http://www.tarabrach.com/audiodharma.html

9. Adequate sleep. Virtually impossible with small children, but give it your best shot.

10. Ahhhhh, and CTFD