And always for things that seem to me quite unexciting. I have a very conventional family. Sometimes I am astounded just how conventional and mundane.
It's ridiculous really - we are a family that has accepted and supported "big" things like my unplanned, unmarried teenage pregnancy and subsequent single motherhood. I'm pretty much guaranteed to do absolutely everything in my life backwards to the norm, and everyone just nods their head and gets on with it.
But then I do something small, a lifestyle choice or a decision that affects no one but me, and they all freak out.
Like my latest choice - to go meat-free for a month.
When I told my mother I'm pretty sure she must have heard "going to drop nuclear bomb on local town".
A little support would have been nice. Or preferably just "oh that's nice" and completely ignoring it because it's not really something that requires fireworks.
People will accept so much craziness ("I did not have sexual relations with that woman") but have a heart attack because I decide I'm not going to eat Johnny Baa-Lamb for a little while. I am well aware their heads may explode if I decide to stick to it after my month is up.
I think we all know who is crazy here.
Luckily, I have great support at work. And that's because I am part of their Health Kick Team, and many others are going without wine, junk food, sugar or meat in order to help those that need it most.
I'm raising money for Save The Children. Their vision:
~ a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation ~
If going without some crispy bacon can help them achieve their goals, I'm there.
You can support me by donating some coins here.
I'm off to visit the lovely Veggie Mama, because I really don't want to starve to death before the month is out, that would be slightly inconvenient.
Oops... I forgot the IBOT thingy.... here you go! (Sorry Jess!)
oh my word - lovely you make me laugh! you are so adorable!! I totally support you going meat free - i have been thinking about doing it permanently, but i still can't say it out loud in a normal voice!! for more recipes look at the blogs oh she glows and chocolate covered katie... i spend hours on there!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Lyndal! I will definitely check them out, I am learning very quickly that meat free does not = miserable, in fact I LOVE the recipes I'm finding!
Deletewow!!! your post is fabulous!! I know the 'why do I ever bother telling my mother things' when I know the response would be terrible!! Best to not say a thing.. just nod and smile!!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck for meat free month!!!! :)
forgot to say #teamIBOT was here :)
DeleteThanks Yvette! Sometimes mothers can be frustrating, yes?
DeleteNice lifestyle and humanitarian choice - go the lentils and chick peas. Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteThankyou - I am looking forward to this month. I am focused on making healthier choices, and keeping meat free will hopefully make me more aware of the food we eat.
DeleteOh that's hilarious! I have the feeling your family would make an awesome sitcom family with those kinds of reactions! :)
ReplyDeleteJust imagine the mums from Malcolm in the Middle and Everybody Loves Raymond and Honey I Shrunk The Kids all rolled into one... yikes!
DeleteHow funny! I guess they're so used to the crazy that the not-so-crazy seems out of character for you ;-) I've always wondered how people could survive meat free. In our house we eat it 7 days a week, it's hard to imagine that many meals without it! Good luck x
ReplyDeleteI have told them for years "I'M normal. YOU are all weird." They still don't get it ;)
DeleteThe kids are not really so fussed - WonderMan is not going to give up his meat in a hurry and I'm not asking him to, but he's starting to complain less when I do make a vegetarian meal a couple of times a week! As long as no one is whining at me I'm happy!