DIARY OF A LONELY MOM

I did something wild last week—I stayed up past my bedtime on a work/school night taking an online class. As soon as I heard Berklee College of Music was hosting an online History of K-Pop Masterclass, I knew I had to sign up. It was so fun to do something for myself and my passions. The bonus was that I got to lock myself in my bedroom and watch while I was off camera and cozy under covers. That’s my kinda “night out.” My husband actually leaves the house for his social life, but with my mom guilt (yes, STILL after over a decade of motherhood) and fatigue, I like to be home and just have some alone time.

EXPERT ADVICE

Dr. Michelle Jorgensen, holistic dentist and author of Living Well with Dr. Michelle

As a book publicist for leading experts and best-selling authors, I always joke that my clients are my personal advisory board. I believe that my clients are sent to me for a reason. For example, the past two years I was really sick and doctors could not give me a formal diagnosis. As soon as I got assigned a new client, Dr. Michelle Jorgensen, holistic dentist and author of Living Well with Dr. Michelle, I knew it was a sign from the universe. In her book, Dr. Jorgensen writes about how she had mercury poison from her work as a dentist and got well. I Googled the symptoms of toxic mercury and realized I had basically all of them—and ate a lot of tuna—and soon after, asked my doctor for a toxic metals test. As you know, I got diagnosed and recently healed from mercury (my story here). Dr. Michelle was one of the first people I reached out to during that very anxious time. So, for this issue of Lonely Moms Club, I had to bring her in as an expert to help you live well!

Tips to help families stay balanced through fall’s seasonal changes and through the new year from Dr. Michelle Jorgensen

As the leaves turn and the air cools, many families find themselves pulled in two directions—trying to savor the coziness of fall while bracing for the frenzy of the holiday season and the fresh start of a new year. These transitions can be hard on both body and spirit, but with a few intentional practices, families can stay balanced, energized, and connected.

1. Ground with Nature’s Rhythm.
Fall is nature’s reminder to slow down and prepare. Shorter days and longer nights naturally cue us to get more rest. Instead of fighting it, lean in—adjust bedtimes earlier, dim the lights in the evening, and take advantage of crisp, refreshing morning air with a quick family walk. Grounding outdoors—like walking barefoot in the yard or raking leaves together—recharges your cells and helps reset stress levels.

2. Eat with the Season.
The earth hands us exactly what we need when we need it. In fall, that means warming foods like root vegetables, hearty grains, and immune-supporting spices such as garlic, turmeric, and cinnamon. A pot of butternut squash soup or roasted sweet potatoes isn’t just comfort food—it’s cellular medicine that strengthens digestion and immunity during colder months. Carrying this seasonal approach into the new year helps you avoid the post-holiday crash.

3. Simplify, Don’t Overload.
Fall often means packed calendars—school projects, sports, holidays. It’s easy to overcommit. Families can stay balanced by creating weekly “non-negotiables”: a shared meal without devices, a family devotional, or a Sunday afternoon walk. Protecting simple rituals provides rhythm when life feels chaotic.

4. Listen to Symptoms, Not Just Schedules.
Seasonal changes sometimes bring more colds, mood shifts, or fatigue. Instead of masking these with caffeine or medications, learn to see symptoms as signals from your body. If kids are sluggish, maybe they need earlier bedtimes and more oranges for vitamin C. If parents are restless, a nightly blue-light break with warm tea might help reset their sleep cycle.

5. Carry Balance Into the New Year.
January often tempts families into extreme resolutions. Instead of crash diets or ambitious schedules, start with seasonal wisdom: hydrate with real water, move daily in enjoyable ways, eat foods grown in season, and stay connected with each other. Small, sustainable steps build far more lasting wellness than radical overhauls.

When families align with nature’s seasons—through food, rest, movement, and mindful connection—they not only survive the transitions of fall and the holidays, but actually thrive. Balance doesn’t mean doing everything—it means doing the right things at the right time. And that’s a lesson both autumn leaves and the turning of the year are eager to teach.

(Wait, there’s more with Dr. Michelle, here!)

4 simple daily habits parents can teach kids to naturally strengthen immunity and energy from Dr. Michelle Jorgensen

Raising healthy kids can feel like a full-time job, but sometimes the simplest habits make the biggest difference. By weaving a few easy routines into everyday life, parents can give their children a natural boost of immunity and energy—no complicated programs required. Here are four small but powerful daily habits to start now:

1. Say Yes to the Fruit.
One orange or apple a day can go a long way toward supporting strong immunity. Vitamin C helps the body fight off illness and also keeps energy levels steady. Make fruit the go-to snack in lunchboxes, after school, or on the go—it’s nature’s fast food.

2. Drink the Electrolyte.
Electrolytes aren’t just for athletes. Children need minerals like magnesium, sodium, and potassium to keep their energy up and their cells hydrated. A simple homemade electrolyte drink—water with a squeeze of citrus and a pinch of sea salt—can be just as effective as the brightly colored sports drinks, without the artificial dyes and sugar crash.

3. Get to Bed on Time.
Sleep is the body’s best defense. Without enough rest, kids are more likely to get sick, have trouble focusing, and feel drained during the day. Establishing a regular bedtime routine—even when schedules get hectic—pays off with fewer illnesses, sharper minds, and calmer moods.

4. Eat the Rainbow.
Brightly colored fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients that power up the immune system and fuel the body’s natural defenses. Challenge kids to eat a rainbow each day—red peppers, orange carrots, green broccoli, blueberries, purple grapes. The more colors, the more protection and energy they’ll have.

When parents help kids adopt these simple habits, they’re not only supporting immunity and energy in the moment—they’re teaching lifelong skills for wellness. The best part? None of these practices require expensive supplements or complicated routines. Just real food, real rest, and a few intentional choices every day.

K-CULTURE CORNER

I caved and subscribed to Kocowa because it has the most BTS content. I love Viki and Neflix but they don’t have In the Soop with BTSor many of the BTS concerts. I am excited to see what K-dramas are on there too! I’m still watching My Youth when new episodes drop but I fear we’re getting another Queen of Tears or Love Next Door with the dark storyline that’s coming. Hoping for a happy ending!

AUDIO CRUSH

COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES / AKA CORTIS is the new boy band from BIGHIT MUSIC (BTS, TXT) and the reason why the song “What You Want” is stuck in my head.

HOT HOLIDAY TIP

Shutterfly has some great deals now if you make your holiday cards. I always make them early because it takes me a month just to address the envelopes. There are also amazing deals on photobooks so check it out and save yourself hundreds if you always need to add pages like me! I like making yearly photo books and giving them as holiday gifts, too!

WALK FOR HOPE

Approximately 40,000 infants are born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) in the United States each year, which is about 1% of all births or roughly one child every 15 minutes. That includes BSB Brian Littrell (millennials like me will always remember that story) and the daughters of two different friends, both who live in my neighborhood. One diagnosed at birth and another not until a few years later. Every year we show our support for the warriors and angels with the annual Walk for Hope. And every year, I cry behind sunglasses. At the walk last weekend, my friend and I were talking and she said that we stress about things like matching outfits for holiday photos and there are families struggling with way more serious issues. It really puts things in perspective about life. Learn more and donate at @chd_coalition

I create books and coloring books for adults and children to inspire you to live life to its fullest no matter what is thrown your way. Here’s my Amazon page.

Want to be featured in Lonely Moms Club? Email me at joelle (at) joellesperanza (dot) com. Put Lonely Moms Club in the subject to get my instant attention.

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Thanks for reading.

Dream Big,

Joelle

Official site: www.joellesperanza.com

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