Posted on December 21st, 2022
The Information Age (Sort Of)
In 2006, Google was not quite the treasure trove of information it is today. Tidbits on personal health did not fall onto our laps so easily. Unless you were a gastroenterologist or health nut like me, chances were you would have had a difficult time holding a conversation on gut health or microbiomes. I know because I was that exact person. That is until the experience I had with my first daughter.
My Daughter
To put it bluntly, my daughter could not poop. At six, she became so constipated she would throw up. The doctor told me I was doing everything right, and that constipation was very common (who knew!). Other than providing vague information, he prescribed laxatives and suppositories, and suggested increasing her fiber intake. Meanwhile, she was still suffering: sitting on the potty crying from tummy aches, hurting from passing her stools, and fearing the next time she had to go. It broke my heart seeing her in pain and was utterly helpless. This pushed me over the motherly edge, I had to try something other than doctor-prescribed, artificial solutions.
Research, Research, Research!
I cannot tell you how much time and energy I have put into researching and learning how to help her. Someone once told me, “no one does more research than a mom of a sick child”. Through trial and error, I figured out what worked and what did not. I also found what made her constipation worse. I took what I learned and created different snacks to help her go. 14 years later, she has not struggled with going since.
My In-Home Daycare
Opening a daycare years later, I discovered that constipation in children was a big issue, so I used what I learned to help my daycare kids (or as my mom called them: my painless babies). It was great knowing I took what I learned from the experience with my daughter, and help other kids. I ran my daycare for 11 years. And during that time, through trial and error, I created snacks that the kids loved to eat and that also kept them regular.
Today
Earlier this year it dawned on me that I could use my experience and my snacks to help kids avoid, or that suffer, from constipation. My goal is to help parents, help their children. I soon learned that children are not the only one who struggle with this. Given the regular American diet, constipation is very much this taboo, yet prevalent issue that every age group faces. That's when I had my epiphany: "If I can make kids go, I can make anyone go!" Today, I have made it my mission to raise awareness of this digestive epidemic, and provide meaningful solutions that can help keep everyone regular.
Looking Back
We are lucky to be living in a time where we have literal computers in our pockets! It is hard to picture a world where technology is not as widespread in its use as it is today, especially considering the newer generation of people who are growing up around them! To learn what I did back when I was raising my daughter took a certain tenacity that mothers understand. Today, it requires way less effort to achieve what I did back then. Which is why I am so surprised when I learn how little people know on the topic of digestion!