Featured 'Mid-Life Mama' ~ Grace H
Today I am so happy to introduce Grace as our Newest Featured Mid-life Mama! Please give her a very warm welcome!"
Name: Grace H.
What is your Biological Age Group? (40s, 50s, 60s, 70s) 50's
What age do you feel? 20's but a
whole lot smarter.
Do you have an Empty-Nest or is there still a birdie waiting to take flight? I have an empty nest. At first it hit me hard so I bought a bird as I guess I needed something to love. (I still have him 13 years later.) I went to K-mart one day and bought a hairbrush. I got to the checkout and realized I hadn't bought myself a new hairbrush probably in about 16 years. I had always bought my daughter a new brush and took her old one. I suddenly realized that maybe this empty nest thing wasn't going to be so bad after all.
Are you a grandparent? Yes
What are the ages of your grandkids? 12, 8, and 5
How is being a grandparent different from being a parent? I'm always loved and adored rather than at
time being thought of as 'She, who must be obeyed'
Are you Single, Engaged, Married, Divorced, Widowed? Married
Are you Retired, Semi-Retired, Still working but planning to retire soon, or
Don't see retirement in my near future? I
have no plans to retire as I think work is what keeps me young.
When you were in your 20s, what did you think Mid-Life was going to be like? Did it turn out to be like that? I don't think I ever contemplated Mid-Life. I had a mother that always stayed fit and young so that probably helped me not think Mid-Life was a death sentence.
What stage of 'the Change' are you currently in? (Peri-Menopause or post Post Menopause) Post Menopause. I went through menopause early at 40.
On a
scale of 1-10 (with 1 being the worst) how well did you manage your
Peri-Menopausal symptoms? 10
Did you use HRT? (hormone replacement therapy) If yes, are you still
using HRT? NO I never used HRT and I'm not using it now.
Which did you find most helpful in managing your Peri-menopause symptoms:
Synthetic HRT, Bio-Identical HRT, or Alternative, Natural therapies? I used
Natural therapies such as black cohosh and other herbs.
Do you still have Menopause symptoms? None
Did you try Alternative, Natural therapies to treat your Peri-Menopause
Symptoms? If yes, were they beneficial? Black Cohosh seemed to even out
my moods.
Tell us what being a 'Mid-Life Mama' means to you. I love being a Mid-Life Mama and I love being the age I am. I'm so comfortable being in my own skin and wouldn't turn back time for anything.
Is there anything else about yourself that you would like to share with our other Mid-Life Mama readers? I would share the advice to embrace each stage of your life and to enjoy it. If you don't like something about yourself or your situation then change it instead of feeling stuck with it.
If you have a personal blog that you would like to share, what is the name and URL address of your blog? My personal blog is BlessedElements/Create at http://www.blessedelements.com/create
What one piece of Wise Wisdom would you like to share with us Peri-Mama's still making the transition? I think the best advice to give someone is to pay attention to your body and don't take anything for granted. Research the effects a medicine will have on you now and several years up the road. If a doctor prescribes something then still research it before you take it and if you’re not comfortable with it then tell them you want something else. It is your body and you have the right to be a co-doctor in the treatment of it.
Thank you so much Grace for allowing me to Feature you as a "Mid-life Mama!"
Grace and I welcome any comments. Did any of her answers resonate with you? Did her answers make you think of a question that you would love to ask? Do you have some suggestions that you would like to share? Or would you just like to say 'Hello!' Please introduce yourself!
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Categories: Featured Mid-Life Mama
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Thanks so much for having me and I enjoyed the interview.
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It was totally my pleasure Grace!
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It is so nice to meet other bloggers through your interviews! Thank you!
Hugs, GraceinAZ
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And when do we get to feature you Grace in Az???
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Anna, I'm visiting from Graces site! She is one of my most favorite blog women! I really like the idea behind your blog. I've subscribed by email so I can keep up with your posts!
Grace, you mentioned you used black cohosh and other herbs to help with menopausal symptoms. I'd like further information about what you used. Currently I'm using a yam based natural hormone cream, but I'm not to pleased with the results...any help for your old 'wild woman' friend would be so appreciated!
Great post!
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Hi Becky! Thanks so much for stopping by and subscribing, we welcome all new mid-life mama's!
Just in case Grace did not see your comment with your question about using black cohosh, I forwarded it to her so she can come back here and answer it so we can all learn more about effective remedies. Thanks for asking a great question
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I know yam based natural hormone cream treats a couple of different symptoms but I'd ask you in general what you were using it for specifically.
If it is for insomnia then I used Valerian root which is calming and relaxing and aids in sleep.
In general here are some tips:
I used Blach Cohosh but I do know that
Don quai, a Chinese herb, reportedly aids in estrogen replacement. It contains vitamin E and iron use to be refered to as "female tonic." It is also used for hot flashes and the lutenizing hormone levels are lowered.
An herb beneficial in dealing with hormonal imbalance during
Menopause include alfalfa seeds and sprouts
If you feel like you have rioting hormones then
Chasteberry, ginkgo biloba, blessed thistle, burdock root, damiana, fo-ti, suma, squaw vine, anise seed, red raspberry leaf, sarsaparilla and false unicorn root are recommended. I would begin using one at a time seperately and just see which one gave me the most satisfaction
To promote estrogen production use
anise seed tea, sage and garlic tea, and alfalfa, which promote estrogen production.
If you have too much estrogen then use dill, thyme and onions, which reduce estrogen production.
I'm not a doctor so you have to decide what is best on your own but the herb route worked best for me.
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All I want is ONE natural product that does it all...lol
Is that asking too much?
Thanks for the information Grace! I guess I'm going to have to do some more research!
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Nice to meet you Grace! I'm off to check out your blog.
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Although I've never been a mother, my children are my dog and husband. I did the menopaus thing years ago, and it was earlier than the usual, and lasted a long while. I know exactly what it's all about and can relate! Had to keep a glass of water by my bed every night, and was always hot, even in December!
Morgan Mandel
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Welcome...you don't have to be a mother to be a mama
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What a fun website! I appreciate the chance to hear about the change but wish I'd had your advice before I went through it instead of after!!
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Thanks Jacci! We Periwomen need your guidance...you have made it through so you have probably learned some valuable lessons along the way!
~Anna
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