Let’s talk about language.
I’m half Portuguese, but my quarter Irish heritage feels like a more accurate representation of who I am. My mum and family passed on the rich traditions to all of us and it is a heritage that is written all over my life’s trajectory.
A few examples:
I did competitive Irish dance for 15 years and performed all over the country.
I drank tea with my breakfast and lunch and afternoon snacks. “A heap of sugar and a generous splash of milk, please!”
Scones were a weekly treat, accompanied by more tea, of course!
My first name (Mairead) is Gaelic for Margaret.
I’ve spent so many magical moments in Co. Kerry, Ireland that it feels like a second home to me. (That header picture is from my most recent trip during a walk on the lovely grounds of Muckross House!)
I think you get the idea. I’m a lassie through and through.
The one thing that didn’t get passed on from either side though, was language.
My grandparents on my dad’s side spoke Portuguese & my granddad on my mom’s side spoke Gaelic. My mom also knows shorthand, but never taught us.
Now, what does all of this chit chat about tea with sugar, Irish dancing, and language have to do with this blog, you ask?
In Order to Understand, We Must First Communicate
Well, I’m passionate about understanding how things work. And communication is a critical part of that process. And the language used for that communication plays the lead role.
I may not be fluent in Gaelic, but I was immersed in the traditions of my heritage. This gave me a deep appreciation and love for the culture, which equipped me with a strong sense of identity and understanding of who I am and where I come from.
What if we passed down the knowledge of our womanly bodies with the same tenacity and pride we pass down our cultural and family traditions? What if we taught body literacy like a second language? One we strived to be fluent in?
I want FAM to become a universal language spoken by all women.
And I truly believe it is never, ever too late to learn anything. So, let’s dive in.
Think of Fertility Awareness as a Language
FAM stands for the Fertility Awareness Method, defined by ACOG as “knowing and recognizing when the fertile time (when a woman can get pregnant) occurs in the menstrual cycle.”
I know that hearing the words just “knowing and recognizing” something as complex and carefully designed as your unique biomarkers and cycle can feel overwhelming. Or, a little bit like a language you don’t understand. This is why body literacy is important!
Imagine how you feel going to a foreign country where you don’t understand the language, the traffic signs, or even the coffee shop menus.
You might stumble through poorly pronounced words read out of a guide book. You might go the wrong way and narrowly avoid an accident. You might order something that you’d never consider appetizing had you known what it was.
This is what it’s like living in today’s world as a body illiterate female. You don’t speak the language, don’t understand the posted signs, and don’t know what you’d like to order! Seems like a bit of a nightmare.
But it doesn’t have to be.
Why You Should Master the FAM Language
When you think of mastering FAM like learning a new language, this big task of understanding your complex, unique biomarkers and cycle suddenly has tangible action steps.
When you take these small steps, you’ll discover breakthroughs in your overall health and confidence navigating your life.
Now, when you visit that foreign country you DO understand everything. You’re on a wild adventure where you’re the captain of your own ship. The language barrier broken down means you can understand what’s being said. The clear signs posted mean you know where you’re going. And ordering the right coffee or extra sugar with your tea? That’s the icing on the cake, baby!
I believe that every female has a right to know and understand her body’s language, read her cycle signs, & order the right dang health choices off the menu of life!
Let’s make FAM a universal language.
It starts with charting, learning your body, and sharing the wealth with friends.
Ready to become fluent?
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