I do not tell parents how to raise their child. I believe they need to educate themselves on the issues and then make the best choices.
I have no hard agenda or judgment around controversial pediatric topics like circumcision/no circumcision, breastfed/bottlefed, organic food/non-organic food, special diet/no special diet, fluoride/no fluoride, mercury fillings/no mercury fillings, dental sealants/no dental sealants, home school/conventional school, doing traumatic activities/not doing traumatic activities, et al.
I understand that everyone sees the world differently. I will give my opinion when asked, and I may suggest checking out something on the Internet. But I immediately tell the parents it is just my opinion, and they have the sole responsibility to decide what is right for their child.
But I am human and have VERY strong feelings on a few issues. Restrictive conventional orthodontics taking the brain cycle to zero seconds really pushes my buttons. I experienced four premolar extractions, braces, and a restrictive headgear in the 50s probably contributing to many illnesses and a reading comprehension issue. I have also seen many children with resultant health conditions over the last forty years.
I do not want children to have my orthodontic experience. I greatly favor more “brain-friendly” appliances like ALF (Google: alternative lightwire function), which better allows the brain to expand and contract. But I ultimately give parents the freedom to choose their dentist and the method of orthodontic treatment.
The important dietary subject arises often, and I believe diet is not a “one size fits all” category. I grew up with the standard American diet, probably contributing to many conditions. I have been a vegetarian since 1977, vegan since 1980, but that is what works for me. I am very comfortable physically, emotionally, and spiritually not eating any animal food. But I also believe that everyone rolls differently, and you have to find out what diet works for your child.
I try hard to just present my GA piece of the health/wellbeing puzzle to the family. I know that everyone has a brain that needs to breath and a fascial web that needs to be free. I respect that everyone makes their own choices and has their own journey. My job is to help make it a little happier and healthier for the “one-percenters” who “get it” and especially their newborns.
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