Your child is not broken...

I'm bracing myself because I'm sure I'll offend some folks with this one, but it needs to be said.

Your child is not broken.

There is nothing wrong with them. 

Sadly, the people who need to read this probably won't or won't think I'm talking about them, but it breaks my heart every time a parent contacts me telling me that their young child needs professional help because they challenge them as parents.

THAT'S WHAT CHILDREN DO!

And some will definitely be better at it than others.  But to teach a child that there is something wrong with them because of this only destroys their self-esteem.


It's a child's job to test the boundaries, and a parent's job to lovingly set them. 

Believe me... I am by no means saying being a parent is easy.  Being a parent is the hardest job that exists, and it often goes unappreciated.  Setting boundaries in a loving way is nearly impossible at times.  But to blame your child for your own inadequacies is (dare I say it?) abusive. 

You consciously chose to bring them into this world. And with that choice, you elected to be their guardian... to protect their developing mind from undue stress, to nurture their self-esteem, and to teach them how to deal with the world and thrive.  If you are choosing to consider yourself a victim of their behavior, what are you teaching them? That they are broken? They they are victims of their environment? 

I am happy to help children overcome those things that challenge them, but more importantly, if you feel there is something wrong with your child, it's time to look in a mirror. 

How are you guilty of the behaviors you accuse them of?  How can you adjust your parenting techniques to make things run smoother in the household?  Children will often resist structure and discipline, but if you stand firm (and fair!!), they will thrive.  Perhaps we need to utilize some NET to help you let go of your fears, resentments, and other emotions that are preventing you from being the parent you want to be. 

Here's the cold, hard truth... if your children are not who you want them to be, it's not their fault; it's yours. And if this made you angry, or brought out some other emotion for you, I encourage you to let me have it in the comment section below. 

You ask, I answer... Does Chiropractic Cure ADD/ADHD

Q: I saw a chiropractic office with a sign advertising to come in if you were suffering from a car accident or ADD/ADHD. Please explain to me how a chiropractor helps with ADD/ADHD. As it is, I am skeptical of this "sickness" to begin with. My ex and her sister had it and used to take medicine for it which I did not support.

Dr. Redmond: In my experience, ADD/ADHD is the consequence of a combination of various behaviors and their effect on the developing child's brain which, over time, alters brain chemistry. These factors include but are not limited to: lack of structure, sleep, proper nutrition, and exercise, as well as a number of food allergies/sensitivities. I have found that when those things are addressed, a drastic change is often seen in the child. However, even when those things are not addressed, when you start adjusting a child (just like when adjusting an adult regularly) it allows their nervous system to function more efficiently, allowing them to deal with lack of structure, sleep, nutrition, exercise, etc. more effectively. I've seen the same thing happen with autistic children. Within weeks, even people in the waiting room think it's a different child...

I don't think medicine is necessarily the answer... from what I've seen, it simply replaces the need to do what is best for the child and predisposes them to drug abuse later on... (got a problem? take this pill! But just say no to drugs...)





Send your questions to Dr. Redmond at doctorredmond@gmail.com with "Question for Dr. Jenn!" in the subject line and see them answered here!

Ear infections are causing Asthma and Allergies?!?

Or could it be the parents or the Pediatricians? Let me fill you in. I read a number of studies, all released around the same time last year, stating that the incidence of asthma and allergies increased with the number of antibiotics taken within the first year of life. It has also been discovered that parents and pediatricians who take a wait-and-see approach with ear infections (one of the most common things treated with antibiotics with infants) 80% of the time see a resolution of said ear infections, as well as the accompanying symptoms, in the same amount of time it would take for the antibiotics to do the trick. Meaning there's no really no need for those antibiotics in the first place. Makes me wonder if the antibiotics were working in the first place or if it simply distracted the parents until the ear infection healed as a result of a fully functioning immune system... Now there's a thought... the body might actually be fully equipped to deal with these things on it's own? Colds and flus and ear infections aren't caused by an aspirin deficiency?? Hmmm... now THAT would be a revolutionary concept, wouldn't it?

Now I'm sure we've all heard of children who have had tubes in their ears and stopped having ear infections. Of course, what parent would put their child through that process if they knew there was a safe, non-invasive alternative and that those ear infections may just be a warning that something isn't right. Yes, now we're getting to the juicey information every parent needs that pediatricians often aren't even aware of. Often, when babies are getting ear infections, they have a subluxation (aka joint that is not moving properly) in their upper neck. Often, you can even just gently touch these spots at the base of baby's skull and get a reaction. They don't like it! Because it's sore! And it needs to be adjusted! Make sure you go to a chiropractor who is comfortable working with babies and get your child checked! Subluxation is easily treatable at this age and will make a world of difference for your growing child.

Imagine the difference: Child 1, (we'll call him Sammy since I hate referring to people as numbers), Sammy, experienced his first ear infection at the tender age of 6 months. He was prescribed antibiotics, destroying the natural, healthy flora that had been developing in his intestine to allow him to digest the solid foods he was starting to eat, making it difficult for him to absorb many nutrients. Being nutrient deficient, Sammy grows up with a compromised immune system, frequently experiencing colds and flus and being fed a sporadic diet of flora killing antibiotics. He develops asthma, as well as a wheat allergy, which goes undiagnosed. Sammy lives his childhood with an inhaler, finding it difficult to run and play without suffering. This is only the beginning, yet you can see the path Sammy is heading down. It seems sadly so common in this day and age... obesity, increased breathing difficulties, and decreased immune function will follow him indefinitely, leading to heart disease, cancer, and possibly a stroke. All hope is lost...

But, ah! Child 2, Tammy! Tammy was evaluated at the hospital just days after her birth by her family's chiropractor. The one subluxation found was addressed gently and effectively. Tammy's parents continued to bring her to the chiropractor every month or so to keep her spine subluxation-free. Tammy has never had any major infections, never been vaccinated, and plays soccer on a local rec league. She is a bright, vibrant child with an equally vibrant future. Her Pediatrician is amazed that Tammy has never had an ear infection, but her parents suspect chiropractic is to thank.

Which future will you choose for the children of this world?

I begin my blogging journey...

Welcome, to both of us! You, to my blog, and me, to the world of health blogging. I'm not new to the blog scene, but I realized recently that people are either clueless, apathetic, or hopeless about their health and what it means to be truly well, and as a Chiropractor, who lives, breathes, and was trained with a wellness philosophy, I felt it was my responsibility to get out there and educate. And this just happens to be one of the many ways I intend to do so.

I'd like to add a disclaimer at this point. I am, by no means whatsoever, "a picture of perfect health." I indulge my sweet tooth. I skip exercise to do other things. I even *gasp* eat such nutritionally terrifying foods like fried chicken and biscuits with gravy. I am not perfect, nor do I expect anyone else to be. But I strive for good health. I strive to be healthy the majority of the time, so that those days when I misbehave, it doesn't count quite so much in the long run. Some days, I do better than others. Some days, I let it all go, give myself a hug, and remind myself that I'm only human. And some days, I beat myself up with the best of them, before I remember, "Oh yeah. I'm not supposed to be perfect!" This blog is simply a place where I can share the latest in research, observations, and the wellness philosophy. I'll even throw in a recipe, cooking tip, or favorite exercise here and there. Topics you can look forward to are as follows (but don't even think I would limit my topics to these few!):

• Living healthy on a budget
• Affordable Organics
• Easy vegetable gardening for small or large spaces
• Why do parents feed their children things they wouldn't eat themselves?
• Exercise: Why bother when I don't have time?
• I'm going to the pediatrician for ANOTHER prescription????
• Vaccines
• ADD/ADHD
  
• Recently discovered causes of Asthma and Allergies
• Why put sugar in your gas tank when you wouldn't do that to your car?
  

And of course I'll throw some chiropractic success stories in there as well as general rants (be assured those will be both equally amusing AND disturbing).

I hope you enjoy our journey, and remember, true health is not simply the absence of disease, but a sense of vitality in which all our body's systems are working in harmony and the mind is at ease. It is a potential we are all born with, or we wouldn't be born at all. Unfortunately, through introducing toxins, depriving ourselves of nutrients, leaving our body to become one with the couch, and sabotaging it with toxic thinking, we give our health away. Time to earn it back! We are constantly traveling the distance between health and sickness... which direction are you going to choose?