[vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ shape_dividers=””][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ back_color=”color-lxmt” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ border_color=”color-jevc” border_style=”solid” medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ shadow=”std” shadow_darker=”yes” width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading auto_text=”yes” heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h1″ text_space=”fontspace-210350″ text_font=”font-377884″ text_weight=”100″ separator=”under” separator_color=”yes” mobile_visibility=”yes” el_class=”zapfino” subheading=”AUGUST 9, 2019″][/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading auto_text=”yes” heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h1″ text_font=”font-377884″ text_weight=”100″ separator=”under” separator_color=”yes” desktop_visibility=”yes” medium_visibility=”yes” el_class=”zapfino” subheading=”AUGUST 9, 2019″][/vc_custom_heading][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text el_class=”largerFont”]One of my affirmations (really my biggest affirmation) when I was pregnant and in labor was to “trust my body”. I knew that giving birth to a baby is so much about the mental state of mind. For me, I was comforted knowing I could just let go. I even painted a sign that had the phrase “Trust Body, Trust Baby” on it, which I brought with me and propped up in my labor room.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”325″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_ratio=”four-three” alignment=”center” shape=”img-round” shadow=”yes” shadow_weight=”std” shadow_darker=”yes”][vc_column_text el_class=”largerFont”]The idea of trusting your own body has continued to manifest in my parenting journey as well. This phrase has been a thread that has continued to be woven in the day to day happenings, boundary settings, and interactions with my children.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”largerFont”]When it comes to feeding my children, I am trying to really let them choose when they are full and when they are done with food, rather than me choosing portion sizes for them. My intention with this is to really be instilling in them that they can trust their body; that they know themselves best. And with this I hope to be laying that foundation for a future of healthy eating.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”320″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_ratio=”three-two” alignment=”center” shape=”img-round” shadow=”yes” shadow_weight=”std” shadow_darker=”yes”][vc_column_text el_class=”largerFont”]Instead of saying “be careful” “watch out” or “don’t do that” when they start climbing on something that makes me feel nervous, I try to be mindful of how I am feeling and why. I ask myself “what am I nervous about?” and see if I can mitigate my own anxieties first. If it is a legitimate fear, then I try to empower them to trust their bodies. I ask them: “can you feel your feet?”, “where are you going to step next?”, “do you feel sturdy?”. And I notice these questions having the desired effect. My kids do not answer my question outright, but rather I can observe them reflecting on the steadiness of themselves. I can see them planning out their next step in their head.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”largerFont”]I want to give them the opportunity to trust their bodies in hopes that will be a foundation for the future. Then one day, if my little girl decides to become a mother, when she is in labor and birth, I hope the phrase “trust your body” will resonate and she will know she is able to do anything. As autonomy transfers from me to them over the course of them growing up, I hope they hold an innate feeling of self-trust. Trust is how it started with them in my belly; it is what I hope to be the continuing thread through their lives.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”319″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” shape=”img-round” shadow=”yes” shadow_weight=”std” shadow_darker=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image media=”318″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_ratio=”three-two” alignment=”center” shape=”img-round” shadow=”yes” shadow_weight=”std” shadow_darker=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/1″][vc_button button_color=”color-167478″ size=”btn-lg” border_animation=”btn-ripple-out” hover_fx=”full-colored” border_width=”0″ link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fapriltrettel.com%2Fcontact%2F|title:Contact||”]Get in Touch[/vc_button][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]