by guest blogger Alicia Silverstone, actress, author, and activist
Back in 2009, I published my first book, The Kind Diet, in which I shared everything I know about the healing power of a plant-based, or “kind,” diet. I’m proud to say that since that book came out, I’ve heard from countless readers whose lives have been forever changed by going “kind.”
Many of those readers were women whose experience with motherhood was profoundly different from the one we’ve been told is the norm (digestive issues, swollen feet, insomnia, and all sorts of other yucky stuff we’re expected to accept). In fact, my own experience with pregnancy, birth, and mama-hood has been made all the richer by going the Kind Mama route.
When I wrote The Kind Diet, I knew I’d want to write about kids next. Then, once I was pregnant and having such a blissed-out experience and seeing how different that experience was (as compared to the “norm”), I became even more passionate about sharing this information. My aim is to give women the tools they need in order to get pregnant (without drama!) and enjoy a super-healthy, super-vibrant, soul-satisfying pregnancy, birth, and mama-hood.
Therefore, my new book, The Kind Mama, brings together the wisdom I’ve received from some of the smartest obstetricians, midwives, pediatricians, nutrition experts, healers, and friends I’ve been lucky enough to know. I share the choices I made and the choices that many women around the world are making so that women everywhere can find the path that feels right for them. It’s the book I wish I’d read when I was pregnant with my little man.
So what does it mean to be a Kind Mama? We usually think of kindness in terms of how we treat others, and while that’s always important, the kindness I’m calling for is directed, first and foremost, toward yourself. Because when you’re happy and healthy, it’s easier to be the best version of you.
Being a Kind Mama is not only the key to building the ideal place for your baby to thrive and grow, but also the secret to having a soulful, sexy pregnancy. The good habits you start here will make your journey through parenthood that much smoother. They’ll set you up to channel your inner-warrior strength for labor, heal more quickly after birth, produce ambrosial breast milk, bond more deeply with your baby, and set a healthy, wise example for your child as s/he grows.
Sure, you will experience challenging moments, but you’ll be equipped with the tools necessary to face them. Have I gotten less sleep in the past two years than I’d like? Definitely. Do I sometimes leave the house in yesterday’s pajamas? Often. But has being a Kind Mama been the most delicious, world-rocking undertaking of my time on this planet so far? Without a doubt!
Regardless of where you are in this adventure, know that from this moment forward, you have a choice—you can choose whether to feel amazing or just get by. Take this opportunity to set the bar for how you want to live for the rest of your life.
I promise you’ll come out on the other side feeling more incredible than you ever thought possible.
Alicia Silverstone is the best-selling author of The Kind Diet and founder of TheKindLife.com. Best known for her generation-defining turn in Clueless, she continues to work steadily in film, television, and theater. A dynamic and well-connected fixture in the acting, political, and scientific communities, she is a dedicated activist on behalf of humans, our planet, and animals. Alicia lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their son, Bear Blu.
While I cannot share this experience, since I have no children of my own, I do believe that starting before the pregnancy with being your ‘best self’ is key. They ate healthy foods, pampered themselves, exercised, tried to stay calm and happy, and tied to keep a balanced lifestyle. I have watched several acquaintances, a friend, and my sister-in-law do just that! These women took such good care of themselves before, during and after their pregnancies. They now have beautiful, wonderful, smart, healthy and alert children. My niece is one of those children. She is a bright, alert, healthy and wonderful young lady. She is an achiever, a go-getter and involved in many activities and community projects and organizations, and what a scholar! They had such lovely experiences, they wanted me to join the club!
Could they have gotten more sleep, had more vacations, attended more social functions? That’s a definite YES, but they chose to do this, and they have never regretted a single moment!