The Importance Of Hydration

Have you ever experienced dehydration? If so, you will be able to empathise with the last two weeks of my life! The consequences of dehydration are not only physical and emotional exhaustion, fatigue and stress but also a variety of medical complications that come with it. In the last two weeks I’ve seen the doctor 3 times with UTI’s, kidney infection, chest infection, ear infection and some sort of strange bite on my forehead that also got infected! The doctor keeps telling me the same thing, you need to hydrate, you need to drink more water, at least 2.5 litres a day in this weather and if you are exercising even more.

So, this got me thinking and it inspired me to think about the same concept of the importance of hydration for the family unit. I don’t want this blog to just be one you read and don’t do anything about…. But as always, I want to inspire and encourage you and your family to stay connected and this takes some work… So, grab yourself a drink, some water seems appropriate, but a coffee or a wine (if after 12pm that is!) will do! Also grab a pen and journal, get comfortable and ready to write some stuff down to support you and your family in order to staying connected.

What is Hydration & Dehydration?

Here are a couple of working definitions:

1. “The act or process of combining or treating with water - the introduction of additional fluid into the body sometimes helps reduce the concentration of toxic substances in the tissues”.

2. “The quality or state of being hydrated – the condition of having adequate fluid in the body tissues”.

(source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/hydration)

Dehydration

“The loss of water and salts essential for normal body function” it occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in”.

Wow! In relation to the family unit, I could write a book just on these few points!

Firstly, take a serious look at your marriage and your family unit. What state is it currently in? Yes, I actually want you to write it down!

Question to answer:

“The state of the (NAME) family is currently hydrated / dehydrated!

Be honest with yourself. Is it in a state of hydration, one that has adequate source of replenishment, fulfilment, strength and vitality ? Or is it currently in a state of dehydration, where the family unit feels exhausting, mundane, there is no energy or vitality or joy?

I am sure all of us at some stage have been through both a state of family hydration and family dehydration. BUT …. I have some great news for you, rehydration is always possible and it is essential for our family to thrive.

How Do We Rehydrate?

Each family is unique and different but here are some ideas ….

1. Hydration is intentional and consistent! Hydration doesn’t just happen automatically, it is a process that requires intentional action – “The act or process of combining or treating with water”. The first step is you need to treat your family with the water (the resource) that will sustain your family. By doing so, you will reduce the concentration of toxic substances or things that may be contributing to dissatisfying, exhausting or mundane family relationships.

Here are some ideas on what types of “water” is essential in hydrating your family:

Family Night / Date night – Consistently Each Week

I highly encourage at least one night a week you have a family night and a date night. Family night is all about the children interacting with both parents (if married / living together) and having fun together, laughing together, playing together and enjoying one another. Children need to be hydrated and feel apart of the family, therefore make Friday or Saturday nights family night. This is a night where you intentionally build your family through various activities, you may have pizza night, dance night, movie night or go out for dinner. You can play board games, wii competitions, talk about family values, write a family vision and map out your next adventures. If you have more than one child maybe they can take turns choosing what you do that night. The main purpose of this is for intentional time to build the qualities that you want to see encouraged in your children and in your family. This provides a strong foundation that you can also build on and fall back on.

Incredibly important: Mums, this night there can be no distractions such as cleaning, organising, scheduling, or putting things away, facebooking etc – this is where you drop the managers hat and enjoy time with your kids. Dads, this is not the time to work, or check emails or take phone calls, this is the time to enjoy your family (yes, I know this may also be the other way around, but I’m sure you get the point). I actually suggest everyone in the family takes away ipads, iphones , itouch, blackberry’s or any other electronic gadget that is a distraction on family night and hide it away in the kitchen cupboard. NO ONE interrupts family night.

Date night – Parents, date night is intentional and required to hydrate your family. Life is not just about the children, your relationship is the most important relationship in the family unit. Date night does not need to be expensive, date night can be a picnic in the backyard, a movie on the sofa, reading a book together. Get a babysitter and go for a walk. Yes, I can “hear” your thoughts (excuses) already “the kids will interrupt, it’s too hard to do it at home”, “we can’t afford date night”, “we don’t have a good babysitter”, “we like having our children around us”, “can’t be bothered”. However, like anything, if you are consistent the kids will get use to it! It is healthy for kids to see their parents having special time together, you are showing them what a healthy successful marriage is (or you are showing them what a unhealthy marriage is – your choice!) they need to know this is time that mum and dad get to spend together. Older kids can go to bed early and read a book, play games, watch their own movie etc. But once again, NO ONE interrupts date night.

Questions to answer:

What are the toxic substances that keep our family dehydrated?

What is the “water” I need to hydrate my family with right now?

What is the vision we have for our family?

What night is family night in our household?

What night is date night in our household?

2. Hydration is also individual

When I first had Caleb, I remember flying back to Hong Kong with him at 11 days old and the safety demonstration came on and says something like “parents, put your own oxygen mask on before helping your child”. At the time I thought – “no way” I will save Caleb first! This is such a common response from a mother, we often give to our children first because of the love we have for them and the need to protect them, but this can often be at the sacrifice of our own health, oxygen and hydration! Dehydration remember is “the loss of water and salts essential for normal body function” it occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. If you are giving out more than you are taking in then you and your family will be in a constant state of dehydration.

I encourage you to work out what hydrates yourself personally, your spouse and your children. We all have different values, unique needs, desires and passions and each member of the family individually needs to have these hydrated. In treating dehydration the increase in fluid and lost electrolytes is what restores balance. Individually we can lose balance quickly when we have lost the “electrolytes” in our life. In order to have normal functioning, it is essential to restore balance.

A simple activity you can do every day with your children is at the dinner table ask them what was the activity they did today that the enjoyed the most / least. You’ll soon be able to work out their values and passions when you have conversations like this consistently. You can also share with them the appropriate activities that you did and did not enjoy that day.

Questions to answer:

What electrolytes (source of energy, passions, habits, values) have been lost from my life?

Individually what qualities do I have that need to be expressed that have run dry?

What needs do I have that are not being fulfilled?

What vision / passions do I feel have been put on hold that I want to rehydrate?

3. Recognise the signs of dehydration before you get dehydrated!

Prevention is always better than cure! Just as the signs of dehydration are recognisable in your body, signs of dehydration in your family unit can also be recognised. This may include: fatigue and tiredness, loss of appetite (passion, purpose, desire to spend time with your family) and emotional exhaustion (emotionally reactive, anger, resentment, sadness). As soon as you start to feel any of these things they are sure sign you need to rehydrate.

Questions to answer:

What day-to-day mundane activities contributing to fatigue or emotional reactions?

How can you reorganise these activities so they make less impact on your fatigue?

Have you lost your desire to spend quality time with your family?

What signs are in my life that I know I need to rehydrate myself / family?

4. Get Support / Help

It would have been crazy for me not to go to get support from the doctor during these last couple of weeks. The same principle applies to you and your family. If you are in a constant state of dehydration, get support. Tell a friend, tell a family member, see a counsellor, talk to your spouse about it.

Rehydration is always possible once you intentionally and consistently make choices that restore balance and bring vitality in your personal life and family relationships.

Questions to answer:

Who is in my life that I can ask for support from?

Do we need to ask a professional for help?

A final point – If individually you are in a continual state of being hydrated there will also be adequate “fluid” in the family unit.

YOUR TURN…..

“Would love to hear from you…. What activities support your family in staying well hydrated?”

A note on comments:

Please note I have friends from many cultures and religions with a wide variety of beliefs, please respect each individual if commenting

#photo