The Busy Energy of Fall & Back to School
Ah, autumn. The evenings get shorter but filled with more activities and busy energy. Some people are tired of pumpkin spice, but true fall lovers are anticipating the sweaters and boots, layers and leggings. Or maybe the leaves, apple cider, and football. I like scarves, the selection of freshly harvested vegetables, and evenings enjoying tea and the sound of rain on the windows.
With all the new activities, this mom usually treats herself to a new planning calendar while out buying school supplies! For me, this always feels like the real start of the year. There are the preparations and anticipations for school and the changing seasons and routine, signing up for after-school programs, and activities that make it feel like a new beginning.
Traditions, Routines, and Preparation
My mom taught me to take autumn very seriously. It was a time of preparation. Originally from the Canadian Prairies, she made sure we had coats that could fit sweaters underneath. Even though we were growing up on the West Coast where it rarely snows, I remember childhood trips to buy boots that were good in sub-zero temperatures to prepare for cold.
The thing is it wasn’t even overkill: our hands and feet were always cold. My sister and my mom and I needed all the insulation. There were no socks too thick for us. If my mom was watching me play soccer, she would tuck little hand-warming packs in her mittens, and sheepskin liners in her boots, then hold a hot beverage for warmth.
Tired of Being Cold
I thought being a wimp for the cold, having dry skin and hair and a pale complexion were just things I got from my mom. But in my teens, a naturopath recommended Floradix, a liquid iron supplement, and everything changed. The doctor explained that being low in iron could cause cold hands and feet, dry skin, and other symptoms.
Floradix had B vitamins which I knew were good for energy, and it also supplied iron. Iron was something I was afraid of getting too much of—after all, isn’t that why my multivitamin was iron-free? The lady at the health food store explained that since I was physically (if not yet legally) a woman, I had greater iron needs.
Sharing Positive Energy
When I started on Floradix, I felt a lot better. It was easier to concentrate, and I had more energy, too. Now that I’m a mom, I need all the energy I can get. With the cooler weather and the busy schedule, I can feel a little chilly and a lot tired. I remember to check in with myself now and again, asking Have I been getting enough exercise? Enough sleep? Enough iron?
I also check in on my friends. Several times, I have given Floradix and the vegan version to other moms who I can see need an energy boost. Back to school is a big event for moms too, but it doesn’t have to be a struggle. Sometimes, a little iron is all it takes to make life easier.
These days, I would describe both my schedule and my iron levels as healthy, and my hands are never cold. I lost track of that doctor, but I wonder what they would say if they knew, years later, I would end up working at Flora, explaining how to use Floradix to others every day. I hope it would make them feel warm inside!
