Elizabeth A. Leib

by Elizabeth A. Leib

The end of the year arrives and we’re counting our blessings. Mitzvahboy transitioned nicely from Hillel School to first grade at our neighborhood school, Lewis Elementary. I continued serving Raintree Writing Service clients, writing the occasional book review for the St. Petersburg Times while also working as Parent Liaison for Hillsborough County Schools and Mark completed a new play, “River in the Desert.”

For me, 2008 was the year to accept the realities of middle-age: reading glasses, slowing metabolism and hormone changes. My personal coach tells me that is the age where one must take care to fuel every muscle, bone and blood cell with with food on all levels - intellectual, physical, spiritual; self-care becomes even more critical to meet the demands of parenting and family life.

Like many families, we’re anticipating a very challenging 2009. The financial crisis, the deterioration of print media, and cut backs to education have created a perfect storm that affects about every family we know, including ours. So my resolutions for 2009 are very basic: find ways to bring healthy, low-cost foods into the house; introduce family activities that nurture the soul and body without depleting the bank account.

Gardening

I’ve got 4 hours of good sun on the north-east corner of our property. Unfortunately that means that the hydroponic gardening towers I’m investing in with my father’s holiday check will have to reside in the front of the house. Possibly in a few months I can move them to the patio in the back. I checked with our next-door neighbors and they had no objections. I’m planning to grow enough produce and herbs so that we can stop buying the tasteless stuff found at local groceries and have enough excess to share with friends and family.

Cooking

I’m the proud owner of two new stainless steel frying pans and my first cuisinart food processor. My sister Lauren is my go-to person for ideas and inspiration for making healthy home-cooked food. For those looking to cut food costs take a look at Super-Target. I found a half-gallon of milk was TWO dollars cheaper than what we’ve been paying at Publix. I found many items at lower cost and many of the Target brands a higher quality than what we’ve been buying.

Family Time: Bicycling

I’m not sure we’ll manage this. But who knows - 2009 may be the magic year! We are fortunate to live in a neighborhood where it is possible to bicycle as a family. We’re also near enough to the Hillsborough River to ride in neighborhoods on the river. And we have a new pet that loves nothing better than to be with us. Fluffy’s holiday gift will be a basket so that she can ride along with us.

The Great Outdoors

Sure, Mitzvahboy is outdoors in scheduled activities: he’s on the Junior Swim Team at the Temple Terrace Rec. Center and will have tennis and baseball lessons and soccer in the spring. But I want him to have outdoor experiences that are less directed. So we’ll spend a weekend on the Suwannee River filled with music at the Paralounge Drum Festival and attend a few of the great free activities at the Weedon Island Nature Preserve.

Self-Care: Reading, Nutrition, Exercise, Blogging

Obama administration, Islam, healthy living, gift-giving, the ideas of Garrett Hardin - all really, really interesting. This year I’ll use i-Google to expand my information sources; I will make it to tai-chi on Saturday mornings; I will visit Mind, Body, Spirit for a nutrition consultation. I will enjoy Mark’s gift of a subscription to the New Yorker after not having it for several years. Sure I’m filled with self-doubt about the value of my blogging, but its been a great creative outlet; who knows what professional opportunities may be coming as online media matures.

Good luck in reaching for your own new year resolutions! Be safe, be fearless, be informed….Happy New Year!