Hi!
So, I've gone raw because I've had some nasty health issues and I feel that my whole struggle has been such a blessing because of what I've learned from my diet. Although my health is not 100%, I'm very improved and feel like I'm getting better.
My husband and step-daughter have watched me go through everything and although they don't eat as horrible as they used to, they do still eat meat and processed junk foods often.
It's definitely been an issue from day one with my husband and I.
He said, "I'm never doing that! You said you were never going to become raw and now you are doing it! Well I have no interest in that and it's going to cause us to get a divorce because we are going to be so different!"
That was almost a year ago and now we are really at each others throat.
I realize that I need to accept that he does not want to eat like I am and I need to learn to watch him eat whatever he wants in front of me without getting defensive or mad. It's not that I always want to eat what he's eating (sometimes I do!) but it's more of a fear for him because I'm watching him eat or drink something that I know is toxic.
I also live in a fairly remote area that is huge in the cattle industry. (all happy, free-range cows!) That is one of the largest incomes in my area. SO most days I feel fairly alone and bullied because people think I am a freak. They like to lecture me on what I should eat and even though I'd like to think I'm getting used to it, I feel like I'm getting more tired of it and less patient with people. It's only making me angry now.
At home, I'm some-what expected to make dinner for the family because I'm home more and in the past I always made the dinners. I like providing that for them, but now it's become a burden because they don't want what I'm eating and I don't want to make 2 meals all the time. I'm trying to be 100% raw right now and it's very hard for me to make them a yummy cooked vegan dish (they add meat to it some days) and not have some.
In my husbands defense, he's always been supportive of what I'm doing for me, as long as he doesn't have to do it. =) He has listened to me for 3 years talk about food and diet, as I read him statistics and facts from all the various health books I've read.
He doesn't see that I am getting better and believes that eating a raw diet isn't doing anything for me which is so frustrating because I know that it is and that I am getting better. It's not happening overnight, but it is happening.
To top it off, I've been watching my mom battle cancer the last 7 years and she swears it was from the food and sedentary lifestyle that she lived. I know that I'm deathly afraid of watching anyone else in my family get sick and that makes it even harder for me to watch my hubby shove candy down his throat or chow on a huge t-bone steak.
How do I accept my husband and daughter for who they are?
Does anyone have any tips for learning acceptance? I know this is what I need to do, but I can't seem to do it! I know the logical points: it's just food, I can't force him to change, his body is not mine, etc. etc. but I'm still having problems.
I'm just becoming more angry and it's tearing my family apart.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
XO
Comments
I have a similar situation With my hubby and step daughter. so I make smoothies to get them to eat more fruits and veggies. Other than that not much I can do. I share what I know and what I learn but you can't help a person change their diet untill they're ready. Think of a smoker... A smoker won't quit untill they're ready. They know how bad it is and continue. So just be supportive try to incorporate better things in their meals if you have to prepare them and continue on your living foods journey. They will get on the raw train when they want to take the ride. Just be a living example but don't get angry if they don't follow. Live by example!
I hear ya!
My family are meat eaters.
Why don't you try to make a meal you can all enjoy by say making a big raw salad for everyone - you could add beans or tofu cubes or rice, baked potatoes etc to theirs and add something else that's raw to yours. Keep dinner pretty simple, nothing too involved. Something that is raw but not too out of the ordinary by most people's standards.
You could do a raw pasta with zucchini noodles and then put some bolognese on theirs and some raw sauce on yours. Don't call it raw, call it "low carb" or something a bit more socially acceptable. Your could do the same with parsnip or cauliflower "rice".
My meaty hubby is enjoying fruit smoothies for breakfast now. He often makes them for all of us, very nice! And I'm starting to bring him around to vegetable juices (so long as there is a few apples in there!)
Great hint!