Navigating through unsolicited advice as a new mom is hard enough. Imagine the complexity of bringing a child into the world hours after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis! Our guest, Brooke Taylor is an Oklahoma ranch girl who has lived in various cities across the United States, while working with national and global food and agricultural organizations through ad agencies. Today, she's back in rural Oklahoma as a digital strategy consultant. While juggling life as a full-time, self-employed business woman, Brooke welcomed her first baby into the world six hours after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Brooke shares insights on how to cull unsolicited information, especially if it isn't based in science and fact, out of your life — along with some great advice for supporting new parents and people going through cancer treatment. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, grandparents acting as moms, and dads being moms!
Key points:
- We are most vulnerable to food bullying during changing stages of life: becoming a parent, sending kids off to school, retiring, moving, getting married or divorce, etc.
- During those changing stages we all look for ways to guarantee things will work out well — and we will cling to anything that may help. This leaves us susceptible to misinformation.
- It is appropriate to limit who you give access to your treatment or parenting choices.
- We often don't know what to do or say when someone receives a cancer diagnosis. Brooke has some great advice (that works for new parents too):
- Think about the person, not the diagnosis. If they didn't wear pink before, they probably aren't looking for an entire pink wardrobe make over.
- Think about your role in their current season. If you aren't on the medical team, don't weigh in on their treatment.
- Consider what you can offer to do, rather than buy. Holding the baby while mom takes a nap is a real gift!
- Seek information from a registered dietitian and be suspicious of claims that seem too good to be true (they probably aren't true).
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