Yesterday I took my 2 boys, Mike, 10, and Andy, 14, to the local movie theatre, here in the Milwaukee area to see the new movie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. My kids have been reading the book series of the same name for the past 2 years or so.

Going to the movie theatre has always been a dread for me because of the food selections there. On past movie outings, I just bit the bullet and allowed my kids to have the popcorn with unhealthy oils and candy loaded with artificial flavorings and colors. Of course, I applied the art of negotiation and compromise I advocate in my book Whole Health Healing – The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages. If you’re not familiar with it, the compromise I advocate is insisting upon some extra healthy food item the day of the splurge to help negate or nullify the not-so-healthy item. For example, I’d make the kids have an extra vegetable portion with their next meal. Awful am I not?

In the art of any negotiation, the other party is usually expected to make a counter offer. Thank goodness, kids don’t figure that part out .

And I’d always insist on just one poison – yeah, poison. I’d give them the option of either  one soft drink, or one candy item, or popcorn. They usually choose the candy or popcorn. I’m glad because I do believe the soft drink is the worst of the choices. Every theatre I’ve been in has either a water fountain, bottled water or both. So don’t fall for the “but I’ll be thirsty” whine! But why can’t theaters offer healthy food items?

But on this outing, I decided to step up and shake the world a bit. I decided I’m going to take a small bag of healthy snacks from home, into the theatre, and let the kids eat that stuff during the movie.

Before you call the movie food police on me, you should know that I did ask first at the ticket window.

I had 2 bananas, and a container of raisins in a white plastic grocery bag and walked into the theatre with my kids. I felt nervous, and thought “this must be how Martin Luther King felt when he marched across the bridge in Selma, Mississippi! I’m starting a revolution! The difference was that I had my two kids for protection.

As I walked up to the ticket window, I noticed the young female attendant started to tighten up and squint her eyes, kind of like the security guards at the airport do if you look at all suspicious.

I said “My kids need to eat healthy so I’m bringing in some healthy snacks.” At first, there was an uncomfortable pause as we stared each other down, just like the gunfighters in the old westerns. Then she said “Let me ask the manager”.

Within moments a man appeared with pistols drawn (just kidding J). He asked what he can do for me. Again I said “My kids need to eat healthy so I’m bringing in some healthy snacks”. And again, the uncomfortable pause, as he looked downward and frowned as if somebody just took away his puppy. Before he could answer, I said cheerfully “ It’s just some bananas and raisins!”. Again, the pause and the frown, this time accompanied by a slow drawn out sigh.  Finally, in one of the most unenthusiastic, reluctant tones he said “Okay”.

The revolution has begun!

Healthy food fight at the movies

Motorcycles, natural hot springs, sushi, and chiropractic philosophy, wowee, what a weekend!!

I just returned from a few days in Costa Mesa CA (near LA). I attended CalJam, a chiropractic philosophy/music convention, with my friend Ed Petty from PM&A – a practice management/consulting firm.

Philosophy you’re wondering? Oh yeah, we’re deeply sophisticated! LOL

The event was refreshingly different because of the focus on chiropractic’s unique philosophy combined with music. The man behind the liveliness of it all is Dr. Billy Demoss and his fun-loving personality really shows in the event. Check out my video of BJ Palmer resurrected http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im7Z-1ufHU4. In case you don’t know, BJ Palmer (1882-1961) is the developer of the chiropractic profession. His father DD Palmer (1845-1913) discovered chiropractic in 1895. We chiropractors are proud of our heritage and enjoy toying with the eccentricities of BJ.

owes it's beginnings to Bj palmer

Of course, I had to give Ed a lesson about why I’m called the “down-to-earth” doctor (www.thedowntoearthdoctor.com), a big part of it is going on adventures, so I took him on a high desert hike to a natural hot spring called Deep Creek Spring in the San Bernadino mountains above LA. Yes, those are my feet in the picture. Ed reciprocated by guiding me on a motorcycle tour the previous day – I drove my first Harley and now I’m hooked! Thanks Ed.

Oh yeah, and somewhere between all the fun, we went to classes, just like college days. And then we ate sushi, because everybody does in LA!

As I listened to many of the great speakers like Dr Dan Murphy, Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, etc. I became even more grateful for the 25 years of tremendous success I’ve had in chiropractic. “Best profession in the world!” is what I told a beginning chiropractic student I bumped into there. He was wondering if he made the right decision, given all the negative news circulating about the economy of practicing lately.

Be careful who you listen to!

The speakers were talented and the content inspiring, but it also became apparent to me, that the seminars of PM&A are better in the sense that they lack sales. What I mean is that most of the speakers at CalJam and many other seminars, as inspiring, informational and fun as they are to listen to, usually have a hidden agenda – they want to sell me something. That’s what’s different and one of several reasons why I stayed with PM&A as my practice management guide, and why I’m excited to now be a part of their team. The people working at PM&A are sincere about helping doctors. It’s congruent with what I know about being an exceptional doctor -the focus has to be on helping patients.

I teach a class around the country for doctors called Reclaim the Joy of Practice, based on my book of the same name (www.reclaimthejoy.com), for content, I’m always on the lookout for exceptional Doctors and their wisdom. I bumped into Dr. Gerald Clum, president of Life West Chiropractic College at CalJam. Listen to his brief message in response to my question “What is the most important thing chiropractors can do to be more successful?”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mupb_EteQCg.

If you are a doctor, I ask you – “How can you apply Dr. Clum’s message today?”

And for the rest of you – “Can you please try to make everything fun, even if it’s work or school?”

Wellness prescription: have more fun

My transformation stared in 1980.

It was a brisk fall evening, and I was sitting at my kitchen table studying Organic Chemistry.  I was in my second year of College, attending the University of WI- Milwaukee, following a pre-med program.  In the next room, the TV was playing and here is what I heard that changed my life “Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. Are you having problems with your health? Are you frustrated after seeing medical doctor upon medical doctor, perhaps having spent thousands, and still not gotten an answer to your health problems? Well, let me introduce you to the new doctor on the block, one that uses no drugs, no surgery, is less costly, and has many satisfied and loyal customers. These doctors use nothing but their own two hands – these are Chiropractors, and their following is rapidly growing. This is Morley Shafer, and I’ll tell you more on this episode of 60 Minutes when we come back.”

And then a drug commercial came on! (Just kidding about that part.)

But that caught my attention enough to walk away from the Organic Chemistry book (happily) and sit down in front of the TV. I had never seen nor heard the word chiropractor before that.

The 60 Minutes show went on with interviews of Chiropractors and their patients extolling the benefits of the hands- only treatment, and explaining the principles behind chiropractic. The concept, that the body is essentially self healing unless some type of interference blocks it, made a lot of sense. They called the concept “vitalistic” and it seemed to make more sense than the traditional “mechanistic” (mostly cover symptoms with drugs) concept that I was being taught in pre-med.

In vitalistic thinking, the belief is that there is a God given inborn intelligence that controls, coordinates, and enlivens the human body. This holistic healthcare approach is to detect and then reduce or remove the interference that blocks or impedes the vital force.

Heck, at that age (22) I thought it was  only cute girls that in-livened me!

This fresh, new, and logical approach to health really caused a stir inside me, so the next day after the organic chemistry exam, off I went to the college library to look up chiropractic. It took me awhile to find the correct spelling. Ha-ha.

Unfortunately, all I found were 4 books, and they were all critical of the profession and science of chiropractic, just like the medical doctors that were interviewed at the end of the 60 Minutes segment on chiropractic.

Being blessed with a wonderful gift of discernment, I kept searching and found some amazing facts like: chiropractors were licensed in all 50 states, their training totaled more classroom hours than the standard medical training, their malpractice insurance rates reflected the lower risk than medical care for the same condition, and most importantly patients generally loved their chiropractors.

Upon expressing my new interest to my pre-med colleagues I was laughed at and shunned.  Upon expressing my new interest to my grandmother, I was encouraged, and introduced to a friend of hers, who had been a chiropractor for 30 years, Dr. Henry Zastrow in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Thank God for family!

The rest is a long love story, with chiropractic, holistic health and a natural lifestyle.

Dr. Tom treated many children with holistic methods like chiropractic

I can’t wait to share the rest with you!

It took 60 Minutes to become a Chiropractor

Wellness in winter? Perhaps you thought it was a time for hibernating.

      My son and I just returned from a long weekend of cross country skiing and ice fishing. The temperature was between 15-25 degrees each day and it was wonderful.

 Wonderful, some will ask? Absolutely. Don’t equate cold with bad. Cold is a range of temperature not an emotion or mood. Winter can and should be a fun filled season like any other. The key to enjoying it is to adapt and modify for the conditions. And don’t forget that you can use winter as a good excuse to enjoy some indulgences like hot chocolate. (Yes, this “down-to-earth” doctor  says it’s ok to have hot chocolate in moderation.)

     So, we spent a lot of time each day outdoors (but not just because of the hot chocolate).

   On Thursday, we first arrived to find a very “cool” accommodation. The heat was off when it should have been on. So, I got the furnace working and built a big fire in the woodstove.  Knowing it would take a few hours to warm the place up significantly, we decided to go to the local library where I could catch up on some reading and my son could get a jump on some homework. We also picked up a pizza and some salad for supper – a good nutrition compromise.

   I always insist on some type of greens with foods like pizza. I hope you do too!  That’s the holistic lifestyle in me. So often I observe people and families having pizza and nothing else, except perhaps soft drinks. This concept of making wiser food choices is one of several healthier concepts I explain in my book: Whole Health Healing –The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages. In the chapter called Enjoying Eating, I explain how making just a few wiser choices go a long way in both weight management and general health. This practical way of healthier eating that I support, is one of several reasons that people label me “the down-to-earth” doctor.

   The next day, we headed off to a local lake I’ve been wanting to fish for a long time. We drilled a hole in the ice and found it to be nearly three feet thick! Great arm exercise. Soon, we caught a few bluegills and perch, but unfortunately, nothing worth keeping.

    But the sun was shining, the pureness of the sparkling white snow, and the excitement made for a wonderful outing.  Some might think or say “Burrrrr!”, but I strongly believe that type of labeling is one of many traps that contribute to obesity and overall poor health. You can escape the trap by taking the attitude that each day is a gift, especially each day’s outdoor activities, and enjoying them in any way you can even if it means bundling up.

   On Saturday, we donned our cross country skis and headed out on the lake. The wind was brisk to say the least, but it didn’t take long to feel some heat when we started moving along. I’ve been cross country skiing for nearly 35 years and never tire of it. I still have the same skis! In Chiropractic College, I remember one of the professors explaining how the cross-crawl pattern of limb movement in this type activity causes improved brain activity and stimulation. Now that’s my kind of a high! Don’t miss out on it.

      There’s a chapter in my book called Exercises That Really Work – And Those to Avoid, here I demonstrate and propose that if it isn’t fun, it won’t get done.  I watched thousands of my patients in the 25 years I practiced chiropractic that struggled with purchasing exercise equipment, joining health clubs, and the self discipline of doing calisthenics. The conclusion I arrived at is this – that kind of approach to exercise fails miserably most of the time. The solution is to participate in fun, outdoor activities regularly, your entire life, and have a variety to choose from for different seasons.

   Strive to do so each and every day, settling for no less than 3 times weekly, even if it means bundling up in the winter.  That’s another step to having a holistic lifestyle. Even better, enjoy it with somebody you love.

   And don’t forget the hot chocolate!

Winter sports – great for our wellness, important for health

Here’s my story – I think this will help you.

A few years ago I stared waking up at 2-3 AM. I had long been a good steady and sound sleeper, usually in bed by 9 PM and up by 6AM. This early awakening was quite consistent after it started. At first I thought I had some health problem because I was trained to recognize that as a potential sign. But everything checked out Ok.

There’s a lot of junk on TV at 2-3 AM!

So after a few weeks of this, I started paying closer attention. A pastor told me not to fight it, that the next time it happened just sit quietly, and say a prayer asking essentially “I’m here and willing, what’s up God?”  I was shocked to find that there were amazing words in my head, words about health, healing and wellness. At first, when I became aware of this, I thought I must be going nuts because I had heard that crazy people claim to hear voices. But the words were not really voices. They were just words and they were there. Kind of like when you have a musical tune in your head, but your ears are not hearing it – your brain is.

Maybe you’re starting to think I’m nuts! LOL.

I told my dilemma to a few people I knew I could trust. One of them  gasped and said, “Oh my, you are supposed to be a writer!”

She went on to tell me that most successful writers get their material that way – they wake up with it.

“Can’t be” I responded, “because I failed at writing in school, had lousy grades in grammar, had never written anything significant, already had a successful career as a doctor, and best excuse of all – I don’t even know how to type!”

I’m an expert at denial, so off I went during my usual doctoring thing, still waking up with incredible health information on or in my mind that could help millions. Until………

On a beautiful February afternoon my daughter and dog and I decided to take a snowmobile ride (Yes, my dog like to ride on a snowmobile). We drove out to our frozen pond where we’ve driven our snowmobile many times. As we slowed down and made a turn, I felt the back of the snowmobile drop. I gunned the engine to get out of there, but it was too late. Within 2-3 seconds the three of us were up to our necks, floating in icy, and 12 foot deep water.

I immediately grabbed my daughters coat with one hand, and with my other hand hung onto the ice shelf. I boosted her out with all my might. She crawled away screaming as I screamed also, telling her to “Go tell mom to call 911!”.

Next, I boosted my dog Lou out who was whimpering. Then I attempted to get out of the death trap by getting my elbows up on the ice shelf, digging my finger nails in with all my might. As I managed to just get my chest on the ice, it broke again and down I went, this time up to my eyeballs! So I tried again on another side of the ice shelf, and by the grace of God and with the boost of angels I slowly wiggled my way up and out. As I crawled across that ice with bleeding finger nails, I knew my world was going to change.

It was the most terrifying experience I’ve ever had. I had an unpleasant tightness in my chest for weeks after that, and I still feel that tension whenever I describe the ordeal, even now as I write this and wipe the tears from my eyes. But it has changed my life forever.

The very next morning, still shaking, I sat down at the typewriter and started to peck out, with my two fingered typing style, the words in and on my mind. They poured out like water over Niagara Falls, within a short time I’d written several manuscripts. The first one is now officially published and already a hit – Whole Health Healing: The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages. You can order it securely from this web site.

I feel strongly that the near drowning experience was a wake-up call, it was God giving me a second chance for me to put my knowledge, experience, and inspired words to use to empower people to make wiser healthcare decisions. To my complete surprise, I am now a full time advocate of holistic health. I sold my practice. Every week I do several radio interviews, speaking engagements, and article submissions. I love every moment of it, even when it gets frustrating. My first book is fast growing in demand, and I’m polishing up several more to follow.

There you have it. I feel good about what I’m doing. I’ve learned to pay attention to directions from what I believe is my Holy Spirit guiding me.

Are you paying attention to the things that happen to you, considering that they may be directions from a higher power? If you’re not, you’ll lead a very stressful existence. I hope it does not take a terrifying dunk in icy water for you to take action!

By the way, have you seen my other popular blogs: http://www.wholehealthhealing.com, and specifically for doctors – http://www.reclaimthejoy.com.

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My Inner Voice Speaks Health

Natural health methods are not very complicated. For most of us anyway! LOL.

I’m enjoying the morning by sitting next to my dog, sipping a good cup of coffee and reading the paper.

One particular article sparks an old familiar feeling. It’s a frustrating feeling, one I’ve learned to take action on because that’s the only way I get relief. And no it’s not caused by the coffee! LOL.

The article that’s causing a stir inside me is about former vice president Dick Cheney. It says he just had his seventh heart attack. Thank goodness he survived again, I’m happy for that. What frustrates me to take action is that I’d be willing to bet that he doesn’t know about the holistic health measures that could likely help him.

I don’t know Dick Cheney other than what I’ve read about him in the news over the last few years. But I’d be willing to bet that he only seeks traditional medical care for his heart condition let alone the rest of his health. Now don’t misunderstand me, traditional medical care is the best care for acute heart attacks. It can and does save lives. But heart malfunction does not drop out of the sky. Nor do I believe it’s caused by the hand of God, even if you are a Republican (relax it’s just a joke, I don’t claim any political affiliation). There is always an underlying reason behind every health problem, and that needs to be investigated and dealt with because otherwise the same problem keeps coming back, just like his does.

Now, medically trained personnel will say that they do search for underlying causes of health problems through blood tests, urine tests, blood pressure screenings and more. I truly believe most of the docs mean well. And I would bet that Dick Cheney probably has the usual sources of his heart condition as determined by medical testing like high blood pressure/and or cholesterol issues. But still, those are symptoms not sources. In other words, there may very likely be an underlying source of the cholesterol imbalance and high blood pressure.

That’s what frustrates me. That’s what I feel is my God given mission – to empower people like Dick Cheney and you – to make wiser health care decisions.

I don’t believe people are being told all the information nor are they being given all the choices concerning health care.

What sources or causes can there be in the case of a malfunctioning heart? Many, such as poor food choices, lack of exercise, a stress filled mind and even spinal structural imbalance. These are the basics of wellness that easily and commonly get left out in health care. Sure the emergency and crisis care of traditional medicine has its place. God bless them and I hope they help me some day if I need it. But there is a whole lot more to it.

Now, I’ll likely write about all those sources in the near future here in this column. I’ve already got it all covered in my book: Whole Health Healing – The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages. But let me tell you now about the source of health problems called spinal structural imbalance. This is the most common, safest to treat, most easily correctable source I know of. It is the specialty of Doctor’s of Chiropractic just like me.

Keeping it simple, your nervous system controls all your body functions, including your heart. Nerve impulses travel from your brain to your heart and back again. These nerves can get pinched or at least irritated by spinal misalignment. The technical name for that is called vertebral subluxation. When those nerves to the heart are pinched or irritated, the signals get disrupted and the heart won’t function optimally. It’s a structure function relationship. I’ve observed first hand in my own practice that this can be a source of heart problems and many other conditions. The skilled hands of a chiropractor can detect these subluxations and verify them with diagnostics like x-ray or heat scans. The chiropractor can then adjust the misaligned spinal segments to improve the nerve flow. The result can be a better functioning heart.

This principle is unique to chiropractic since it’s inception in 1895, and can be applied, no, should be applied to every health problem. Better yet, go to a chiropractor regularly and get checked and adjusted for prevention. Why regularly? Because the spinal structural imbalance are caused by stress, trauma, and toxins. Who does not have one or more of those in their lives on any day?

So there is my rant. I feel better already.

If you know or see Dick Cheney, tell him this stuff so he can feel better to.

And what about your health?

By the way, have you seen my other web/blog sites?

http://www.wholehealthhealing.com – For the general public

http://www.reclaimthejoy.com – specifically for doctors

Natural Health Methods -If Dick Cheney Only Knew About Them

Kids and chickens? What does this combination have to do with health and wellness?

Sure, I understand the value of human life, particularly your own offspring and especially when they behave. LOL. But the behaviors I observe between kids and chickens have some remarkable similarities.

Take my chickens this morning; for example, when I walked in to the coop with a plate of their favorite delicacy – food scraps like bread crusts, fat from yesterdays pork roast, and stale cereal, they came running as if they haven’t eaten in weeks.  Reminds me of my kids but replace the food scraps with French fries!

And the other day when I was out shoveling snow near the coop, I heard “bawk, baaawk, baaaaawk!” So, I ran in there thinking one of the chickens was dying. Lo and behold, one of the hens just laid an egg! She wanted the whole world to know about it. My kids squawk enthusiastically too; like when my son Mikey came home with no homework, and when my daughter Emily finally cleaned her room after a month of my nagging.

And I notice the chickens don’t share or take turns, just like my kids. Lay some food scraps down in the coop and you better stand back, you can count on a food fight.  Just like I’ve learned to never hand one of my kids a bag of potato chips. That never works unless you want to induce a Cain and Able situation. No, what must be done is to get three equal size bowls and very carefully measure out equal portions with precision. And I mean precision because they’ll be checking.

And just when you were hoping to sleep in after a previous hard day, the kids arise before you and raise a ruckus with loud cartoons, banging cereal bowls, and bickering about who gets the last orange. Yeah, the rooster does that too –“cock-a-doodle-do”, not once but more like 25 times as the sun starts its accent on the horizon.

The roosters name is Garth IV.  Yep, forth generation. We got the first Garth and his harem from 2 lovely ladies who lived together. They graciously donated them to our new farm life, but I felt bad because I noticed Garth was the only rooster they had. “Don’t worry about it.” they chuckled, “We’ve got no use for boys around here!”

Garth IV and some of his harem

Garth IV and some of his harem

So, I love our chickens just like I love my kids. We’ve got 6 hens besides Garth IV. They are fairly easy to care for. They basically need only water, food, and someone brave enough to shovel out the coop twice yearly (the manure goes right in the garden). And they reward us with these neat stories and best of all; those hens provide us 2-3 eggs each day.

Those chickens are a real blessing, just like the kids.

What blessings do you have in your life?

By the way, have you seen my 2 other web/blog sites?

For the general public – http://www.wholehealthhealing.com.

Specifically for doctors - http://www.reclaimthejoy.com.

Kids and Chickens : natural similarities

The “down-to-earth” doctor? What the ….?

I didn’t pick the name – “down-to-earth-doctor”. Honestly, it’s what I heard frequently from people who get to know me. At first I didn’t like it. Most of us doctors have over inflated egos you know, so we like big, complicated, and sophisticated titles associated with our names. I’ve got doctor friends with titles like “orthopedic spine specialist” and “ortho-molecular pediatrician”. So why did I have to end up with “down-to-earth-doctor”? Because that’s the real me.

Who am I? Well, this morning as I write this I’m sitting next to my wood burning stove with my dog sleeping at my feet. I just drank a big glass of tomato juice that I made last fall from my garden tomatoes (don’t worry I’m not a vegetarian nor do I encourage it.). And when I’m done writing this I’m going for a walk. Know me yet?

The wood stove is making my right side warm, but my left side is cold (I live in an old but lovely drafty farm house). Know me better?

I just sent my three kids off to school, and my wife off to an exercise class (life is great), but only after frying up some eggs for them from my own chickens (life is even greater). Understanding me?

Soon I’ll be picking up the phone and participating in a radio interview. They’ll be asking me about my book, Whole health Healing and my holistic lifestyle (when you’re different everybody wants to know how and why). Just like you do.

As I write this, I’m feeling guilty because I’m typing with my laptop on my lap (isn’t that why they are called laptops?), and that’s not ergonomic. I’ll need a chiropractic adjustment soon if I keep this up! Both the improper position and the guilt cause spinal subluxations (misalignments). Guilt also you wonder? Yep, and I’ll write more about that in the future. But, are you getting a feel for me?

And I’m typing this with two fingers just like I’ve done with all 7 of my books because, well, …….it’s a long story! Got me now?

Don’t worry, I’ve got or had all the years of college (too many), degrees, awards, reputation, huge practice, thousands of patients, mountains of student loans, and a long resume of accomplishments. But you know what, none of that allows me to help people as much as being “down-to-earth”. A lady complimented me yesterday when she said, “your down-to- earth” nature allows you to relate to people better than any doctor I’ve ever met.”

I struggled with finding “my brand”. I listened to a lot of marketing experts as I was trying to figure out what to do with my book, and they all said you gotta have a brand. After considering all kinds of brands and envying those of others, I finally got my answer – it’s what people are saying about you, nothing more nothing less. That wisdom came from my friend Susan Northey, a branding and marketing genius in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Thank God for friends like that!

I’m good with that title, the “down-to-earth doctor”. That’s me.

What is your brand?

By the way, have you seen my 2 other web/blog sites?

For the general public - http://www.wholehealthhealing.com.

Specifically for doctors – http://reclaimthejoy.com.

The “Down-to-Earth” doctor?

Healthy families and gardens? What do they have in common?

I’m a gardener. It comes natural to me, and I’ve gotten better at it through the years from experience.

I tell others that they should garden also. They all seem to have excuses.

Dr. Tom’s garden

“What’s so hard about having a tomato in a pot on your porch?” I ask. Yes, even that is gardening. Take it a step farther and hoe up a 3 X 5 foot patch of soil and sprinkle a $1.49 packet of lettuce seeds.

“But the weeds!” they exclaim.

Ah yes, the weeds. It’s hard for me to cover for the weed problem. Weeds are what stop people from gardening on larger scales than any other excuse.

“To bad we can’t learn to eat weeds” I once heard my father say.

Well, I do know that you can eat young dandelion weeds. I tried them once or twice; they are tolerable but a little bitter.

But don’t pick them where dogs are roaming! LOL.

God’s got some purpose for weeds, I guess. Just like he’s got some purpose for mosquitoes.  Some reasons we may never know.

Life is a lot like gardening isn’t it? Life is full of a lot of weeds. There are certain things we want, certain accomplishments we strive for, but then the weeds come.

For example, my wife and I wanted kids, we got them, but then the weeds showed up. Weeds like the diapers, and the homework problem, and the sibling rivalry problem, and well, lets face it there are a lot of unpleasantries that come with the joy and blessing of having kids.

But we keep battling the weeds and don’t give up.

People should do the same with kids as with our gardens – don’t give up. The benefits eventually make it all worthwhile. And we get a little smarter about dealing with the weeds each season.

In my garden for example, at first I started just pulling them. The next season I hoed them when they started to sprout. The next season I put mulch between the vegetables to keep the weeds from sprouting. The season after that, I covered the whole garden with landscape fabric and cut small holes just big enough to sneak the vegetables in.

With my kids, I got a bit smarter each year also. One of my kids is reluctant to finish his homework. So, first we restricted his playtime to 1 hour after school. Then we learned to take away his computer games until all homework is complete. Finally, we learned that the homework has to start the moment he gets home.

Another example is the candy addiction my kids developed. The candy seemed to be dropping from the sky. If it wasn’t coming from Valentines Day, then it was Easter, then it was the 4^th of July parade candy, then it was Grandma, then it was the birthday parties, and on and on. Now, I’m one who believes it’s ok to have candy in moderation, but it’s excessive in our culture. So at first I started saying no, then I had to ration it out, then I hid it in the house, and now I have it hidden in the garage.

I hope my kids don’t read this. LOL.

So the weeds never really end, we just get smarter dealing with them.

How are you dealing with your weeds?

By the way, have you seen my 2 other web/blog sites?

For the general public – http://www.wholehealthhealing.com.

Specifically for doctors – http://www.reclaimthejoy.com.

Healthy families and gardens: both are worthwhile