Parents in our pediatric wellness program get more than just a trusted and experienced provider for their children; they get access to our childhood wellness guidance resources online 24/7. As we combine the best of functional and conventional medicine, Christian wisdom, and parenting experience without driving you to unnecessary fear, you get our guidance for parenting in this fallen world. Here we offer a sample of our wellness resources from birth through age five. You can sleep better at night knowing we will work with you to individualize your child’s health care.
How to do it all as a crunchy parent?
There is a good chance you know what a “crunchy parent” is if you are reading this, but just in case, a crunchy mama or daddy is someone who makes lifestyle choices which are as natural and healthy as possible. This usually means avoiding toxins in personal care products and foods while limiting inflammatory foods like too much sugar. Some may grow their own food. Nearly all distrust the mainstream world to some degree and are willing to go against that grain as needed. The challenge is that a perfectly crunchy life is nearly impossible in this world. Even if you have never identified as crunchy, hopefully you are aiming at a healthy lifestyle for your family.
Both Crunchy and non-Crunchy parenting can feel like the one-person band carrying the tuba, violin, accordion, a couple of drums, and a trumpet while serving as a short order cook, house-cleaner, and more. If you are homeschooling, that just adds to the complexity and fatigue. In the midst of that you are called to make health care and healthy lifestyle decisions that could affect the lifetime of your children. The pressure is higher than an Insta-pot on turbo drive.
There are a few basic principles for striving for a healthy family whether you claim to be Crunchy or not. First, we do all things through Christ and in the Spirit working through us. If you are a parent, then you were called to this endeavor. Second, we ask the One who called us for strength and wisdom over and over. Third, you use the wisdom that you are given in confidence knowing that nothing will be perfect in this fallen world.
From there, you learn what you can about which products are safe and which are not. You can learn which foods are safe to eat non-organically and which should only be consumed with an organic label. You can ask around to see which local farmers you can connect with. You can assess your finances and determine what you can afford and what you can’t. With this insight and a few other factors, you aim for what works for you and your family. There will be compromises at times for one reason or another. Few can afford a 5 thousand dollar mattress with no toxins. Few can afford to buy all organic food for every single meal. No one should completely forgo sharing meals with others just because the food is less crunchy.
In the end, until heaven, our lifestyles will be less than perfect. Sane living in a fallen world requires trusting and resting so we aim at a healthier life for our children without going crazy.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.