I think you hit the key to your blocks of why it's different with raw.
You said "Of course, I could look at eating raw differently and consider that by eating cooked food,
I am actually hurting others besides myself by doing it, because
I'm not realizing my full potential and don't have as much to give to others or to try to do some good in the world.
I know I don't have nearly the energy I would like to have to homeschool my kids, for example.
I know that once I've been raw for a while I'll have a lot more energy and will be able to invest more of myself in my kids."
I put the emphasis in this part of your post to show you that you might not be saving the "food chain" animals by being raw (as the vegan ways live towards doing), but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take a look at the
human animals you're shortchanging by not living to the full of what you know you should strive for. Your children especially need all of you because you're the one that teaches them, you're the one that leads them by your examples and you're the one that can show them the way to live life themselves once they get old enough to have lives of their own. Those are the "animals" you should work to "save" because the world will do much to tear them down and undo whatever you've done for them - IF they don't have a foundation from you that is stronger, that is. You have already rejectd the horrors of factory farming (among other cruel things) and have made your voice clear by becoming and staying vegan... now, turn your efforts to rejecting the horrors of a feeling that you haven't given all you can to those that need it the most i.e. your lovely family and take those steps you know you should take. I know it won't be easy, but nothing that comes good comes easy (Wow. Mum's words of wisdom. Who knew those words would be so... wise.
).
Arnold Ehret's method sounds, in a somewhat simular way, the diet that I was researching for my own mother that put me onto wanting to be raw myself - the Hallelujah Diet. The HD, as I understand it so far, is meant for eating the things that God gives us to eat such as leafy veggies, fruits and other raw, unadulterated things but there's allowance for cooked things as well. If I'm remembering right, it's an 85/15 split of raw to cooked although there's much room for being 100% should one choose to go that preferred route. Much like what you've said of Mr. Ehret's beliefs, the HD also teaches that once correct eating is achieved, then the body will do as the body is designed to do - heal itself and be truely whole. Not bogged down, half-past draggy or gunked up with disease, but truely whole, vibrant, healthy and happy.
To this point, I'm transitioning to as much fully raw as I can manage but my body is pulling me to be completely raw as quickly as possible, despite my conscious wishes to take this slowly and methodically. I want to make full sure I have my head firmly around being raw, but my body wants me diving in straight on and I'm not a sort that dives straight on. In a way it sounds like you're much the same - your body wants a straight on diving in, but your mind is giving excuse after another to why it can't be done this way. Isn't it strange how the mind fights against what the spirit knows is a good thing to do (something to ponder, I think)?
Keep on RAWking.
