Three years ago, on Mother's Day, my husband and daughter gifted me a Hydrangea Limelight Tree. Every time I see it through my window, I am reminded of the beauty of motherhood. This year marks my sixth Mother's Day, including the one when my daughter, Josie, was still in my belly. Celebrating parenthood is one of my favorite occasions! Although any parent will tell you that it's not an easy way to live, it is undoubtedly a rewarding lifestyle.
As my daughters are growing up, I am becoming more familiar with their personalities and the little quirks that make them unique. It's fascinating to watch them develop into their own individuals. Children are often drawn to the idea of taking big leaps while being unaware of their boundaries. As parents, our hearts drop down as we want to stop them from doing anything harmful. We know our children better than anyone, despite how annoying they might find it.
I have known Josie, my oldest daughter, for four years now. She is a gentle child. Perhaps even hypersensitive, especially to certain scents. Before she learned to speak, her body communicated with us through her symptoms/reactions. Only later did we realize the cause of the negative reactions during car rides and ejecting her breakfast. We were always curious and eager to learn more about HER so we began to dig. This time being extra cautious, we tried to avoid anything that might potentially cause inflammation or other reaction. Her body does not adjust well to toxins, so we fully devoted ourselves to acquiring more knowledge about living a cleaner, non-toxic lifestyle. It's best for our entire family!
To reduce the impact of fragrance on Josie, we cut down on spraying perfume or cologne around her. She hates the smell of fragrances and cries when she gets a sniff of it. It breaks our hearts to watch her in pain, so we tend to use our perfume only when she's not around. Out with the old and in with the new. We have completely swapped our household cleaning products, detergents, shampoos, body washes, and toothpastes for the non-toxic options. If something isn’t safe for a child, what makes us think that it’s safe for us? We are still exploring more natural fragrances that are safe for Josie. I sure am glad that essential oils are a safe option for her.
Recently, I came across "Not a Perfume" by "Juliet Has a Gun" fragrance. I gave it a spray, and Josie walked into the room. I was nervous about her reaction, but to my surprise, she said, "mmm, так пахнит," which translates to "mmm, that smells good!" I was excited about this new scent for summer. Not a Perfume is made with a single element called Cetalox. Which happens to be hypoallergenic. Not ideal for our situation, but it is a good start! Honestly, it seems to be working just fine.
As a mother, I will always be on the lookout for more natural fragrances. It can get challenging to be mindful of the little things, but that's when life gets exciting. Motherhood is about growing with our children as we learn from each other.
We always welcome recommendations!