During my researching about Cannabis you often read about other related topics. Mushrooms are another. Another natural substance that has been  forbidden.  Made illegal.
I do not know enough but what I have read - leads one to the same conclusion -  Mushrooms are in fact medicine.  Food Of the Gods,  natural plants that help heal our minds & therefore body... 
As soon as Storm was old enough to ask questions we told him the truth. 
Here is a perfect opportunity to do that, have some fun - educate on mushrooms- how to never eat any that they might find in the wild! Unless educated of course. ;) 
Teach about food and medicine!  Natural medicines can be talked about - like Cannabis! Ayahuasca and even Aloe!  The more your children know, they better prepared as young adults.  Educate - not lie. 
If they are aware enough to seriously question  Santa- Reindeer? 
Then they are aware enough to question much more.
Do you know why they say Reindeer fly? 
http://www.livescience.com/25731-magic-mushrooms-santa-claus.html


Give the gift of knowledge this Christmas. 
Start a new Christmas tradition! 
Teach them about natural plants and medicine. Let food be thy medicine.
You might possibly save your own child from years of misery later in life. 

Have faith 
xox <>< 

In other words .. TELL THEM THE TRUTH!
I don't even know what I can say about this anymore.
Look up deaths from any of the above, especially cough syrup ;( 
Enough already!  
Stop with the bullshit. We are killing our children with lies.

xox <>< 

Kills will try to get high. It is a sad fact. When drawing this piece, I thought not me.. not realizing that yes, I was high duh with alcohol, but such a normal part of our lives - it hardly goes noticed.  It was easy to get booze. Deny if you want but sooner or later your kid will - the facts PROVE that. SO WHY NOT be the ones to be having this conversation.

I was not sure about including the choking, but someone commented it on Fb and it was not to long ago in my own town a young man passed that way. Everyone was shocked.  The article went on to say that many people don't disclose the information and that is is all too common!!!  TALK about it, it is NOT 'o.k.' and NOT something to play with.  

None os this is about suicide, it is about wanting to experience  a 'Euphoria', high, carelessness.  I have learned in all of this,  children want to do it -naturally- just like adults,  why do you think there are so many  alcoholics?  Children first experience getting high by spinning, or holding their breath...   then most kids are introduced by a sibling or peer. They do get creative! Out of necessity. OUT of prohibition. Look how the worlds poorest children get high, usually inhaling a harmful chemical out of a bag. 
The rest is history. Some of these highs are damaging and can make children very ill and kill them.  This new one, Sham-boiling - I had to look it up to believe it was real.  Tell me that is NOT harmful - chemical inhaling.. ANYone can do it. 
EDUCATE your kids.  
So now I am wondering and yet again - the one that no one has ever died from is the one that remains illegal? WF is wrong with us?

Seriously ask yourself,   After you research!!:
If your 12/14   year old, came to you and said they wanted to experience getting HIGH, they would do it with or without you- they had several friend who have offered to get them high several ways .. what would you do? 

You better do something. Drug abuse is on the rise amongst kids 11 and up... but guess what  -it's not cannabis it is pharmaceuticals. < prove me wrong.  Do not believe the fear mongering.  Educate your kids and then have faith in them, and you. 
Our children are our gift.     xox  <>< 

If you ask any loving parent, would you let your child become a human Guinea pig? 
"GASP" !?  NO!!!  Would be the response. 
With each purchase you are making a decision and you are 'being the CHANGE'. 
If you buy it, you support it - simple.  What are you teaching your children every time you buy them something? Do you read labels for GMO products? Paying attention to the amount of sugar they get daily?  

Fear Mongering. I see it daily in the paper - still. Hanging on to the reefer madness threads that have has us all believing a tangled web of lies for decades!  But the only fear mongering it seems possible is for ' the children'. Of course.  
If we make Cannabis legal  more children will use it. <Is what the conservatives want you to believe.  Keeping Cannabis illegal thinking your kid won't try it - well good luck. We all have been there, have we not?  I remember  one of Storms friend when  younger, telling me 'cannabis will fry your brain', he now smokes.  Kids ARE finding out the truth with the power of the internet and are learning Cannabis is NOT as bad as we have been led to believe.  

 Perfect timing, visiting a friend and she was reading this article, I love it when everything literally falls into place. 

This article in national geographic is one of the best at explaining sugar, IMO. 
Sugar is considered as dangerous as the tobacco industry and as ruthless. 
I personally had no idea sugar was in so much and for years fell into the fat free frenzy. 
I believe the best blessings come in disguise - it was not until I became ILL that I started to eat healthier, fresh, organic and now, after I eat this last peanut butter cup- more sugarless!  

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/08/sugar/cohen-text?rptregcta=join_free_np&rptregcampaign=20130826_lightbox_membership_nonhp_all_c#close-modal

When Storm was little I was guilty of sugar ignorance. Now addicted, mostly for the foods I Introduced into his life and diet (shitty gatekeeper)  all I can do now is make all our meals healthier, shop for the best ingredients and educate. Storm is great he is the most health conscience of all of us. 

NORM, now there is the serious addict. 
ASK anyone. We still argue weekly, over his eating habit, he will go an entire day eating only candy - HIS choice. Only last week I said it quite simply - “If at the age of 51 knowing all we know about food, health, etc, - and if he lives in this house - HE DOES, yet he still will choose to consume an entire bag of twizzlers for lunch - Oh well. I have no control over him or his choices. Twizzle away. Make sure the insurance is paid.”

 What else can one do? Generations have been brain washed and force fed without even realizing it. 

EVEN with what I know I STILL WILL have this peanut butter cup.  I am addicted.
For anyone that might be confused... 
I am NOT saying: give your kids cannabis! Sugar is worse!

I am saying Wake up! Pay attention! Research and HELP your children! 
I believe there is some serious fear mongering still continuing to go on today - and it is a wonderful distraction- while we continue to put toxins in our children, creating a future generation dependent on medicine. <$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Seriously, before cannabis your child will probably be introduced to these other common Highs and you are not even aware:  Sugar high - Cake, Pop, cookies, cereal
Children’s cough medicines - sugar and chemical high, prescribed medications - more children are on a prescription medication now than ever in history, children as young as 2 have been diagnosed and prescribed antidepressants designed for ADULTS. Alcohol, either from being introduced  for a celebration or kids ‘sneaking’ alcohol is a common practice in many households. Alcohol addiction is one of the worst in the world. Tobacco, as with alcohol is usually first introduced by a family member.

Don’t forget Coffee, energy drinks, glue & solvents...

What example are you setting for your child today? 
WE are the original gatekeepers. How are your kids getting high? 
Please STOP being distracted by fear mongering. Take control.
xox <><

I read all the time. Every now and then I come across an article and think - wow I did not know that! That is what happened when I read about kids drinking low fat milk - the healthier choice. IT is NOT a healthier choice.. I read that they remove the fat - using it for other products ($$$) and all that's left really is sugars in the milk - making it harder for your body and actually making it fatter. I am trying to find that exact article but It was a few weeks back - no matter just GOOGLE.
      http://butterbeliever.com/fat-free-dairy-skim-milk-secrets/   <Just one of many!
I am not - nor have I ever been a fan of milk  unless I have a warm brownie fresh baked and want a glas to wash it down. I am also not a fan of Ice cream. I want the good stuff if i DO and that means CREAM. Why do we let them play with out stuff? Our food our nutrition and our life?  I am even less a fan of milk after I did research on hormones.  

Please pay attention,  I really would never wish my twitch on anyone. Dr.s DO not know what caused it or still do not know what is causing it. WHO knows? I am learning to try to live with it. BUT why take any chances?? This is our children.

Please look at some of the links below to read more on LOW fat garbage. If it's low fat don't buy - learn to make healthier choices. 
xox <><

It amazes me how few peole even know what the DSM is. I know of several schools that have a copy. Just the way your friendly pharmacy company likes it.  More and more children are becoming  pill poppers. LEGAL pills.  
Read this article in Macleans magazine:
                                                         http://www2.macleans.ca/tag/dsm/
Is your child mental or normal? 3 out bursts a week, and they could be diagnosed mental!  Some schools even have a copy of the DSM... WTF!? 

It is one thing to diagnose an adult with a mental illness but a child? Give them a chance to be a kid, that included outbursts and bratty behavior from time to time.  Embrace it, it is a chance to teach a lesson to both parent and child.

If I thought the DSM was helping more than hurting I would probably just go about my business, but it is HURTING. 
More and more children are diagnosed every year - that does not mean they get help. In many cases they get a prescription and nothing more. Well, besides the stigma of being labeled mental. As if kids don’t have it hard enough.

 Then to put them on a medication - for depression? Possibly a psychotropic drug that will cause more long term damage than not.  Because a BOOK suggests it! 

Yep. They sit around a table and make suggestions.  No scientific facts. No X-rays, No blood tests, No test to prove a chemical imbalance - Even Dr.s & Psychiatrists are starting to question the DSM. 

“The result is that people with normal variations in emotion, behavior, and thought can receive a psychiatric diagnosis, leading to stigma and inappropriate treatment.

Because we have to live with a diagnostic system that is provisional—and that will almost certainly prove invalid in the long run—much of the research on mental disorders has to be taken with a grain of salt. “  
Read more:       http://www.neuropsychotherapist.com/dsm-5-handle-with-care/

I guess so, especially when they must  explain to the parent of a child on medication that does them more harm in long run. In some cases the child commits suicide on the drugs they are prescribed to help them. FACT - Google side effects of PROZAC  
I took that crap for too long...      twitch, twitch...

Think about also how your child might feel about YOUR decision to medicate them, when they are 30, they might have an opinion on what you decided regarding their mental state. If they live that long.  Do you think I am being dramatic? 
Research. Look at the rise in numbers with children being medicated and prescribed with such things like Bipolar at the age of 2!  
Perhaps not your children but your grand children? ANY child! We need to speak up for the ones that can’t.

 Calling yourself crazy and having someone diagnose you as crazy are two very serious and different things. It could affect the child forever. 
I have several cartoon ideas and I plan on drawing them all. 

WE ARE NOT CRAZY!   
WE DONT NEED the DRUGS! 
We just need MORE TLC.

xox   <><

Ignorance is bliss... ? How about when it is killing our kids? Still feeling blissful?

How about when you get a F*&^% twitch that drives crazy? Did you know it was a common side effect of one of earliest “mood” drugs approved by the  “who’s, who’s”
and pushed to the millions as ‘mama’s little helper’.  And tongue* darting...  lovely.
Twitches that never go away.   They made a pill to try,  but that just paralyzed motor skills.

I met William on Fb  a long time ago... I don't know who became who's (WHOM?)  friend, but I can tell you I have grown fond of him. I knew him before Ryuu ;-)  He makes me laugh. I'm not always sure why. I find him honest and upfront.
He has had me slightly 'ticked' to put it nicely, a few times! Once about breast feeding.  He gets me thinking.  I like his wife and I have never even seen her, usually only what banter William decides to share.  I think he is one of my favorite dads. It has been interesting for me watching and seeing the posts of a stay at home dad.... anyhow I am thankful for meeting them and look forward to watching the family grow 
;-) .  Ask and you shall receive, and he did. G

It Has Been A Year and My Baby Is Not Even Broken. 
By William F. Steele

On April 17th Ryuu Dio Steele will be turning over his first leaf. My child will be one years old. It will be a joyful day filled with all kinds of grilled meats and cakes. Let us also not forget it will be a day of swollen egos. You see I suffered through many “talks” being told too many times on how I am one of those who will never really understand what it is like to truly raise an offspring just because, you know, I have male parts. Because of all those little talks I am overly ecstatic to be here with my testosterone filled battle cry “the babe lives! Ye woman folk can move along now RawR!”

As my baby boy’s birthday nears I find myself looking back at all the little “talks” I had gotten from parents-in-the-know. Some ranged from what brands of diapers to get while others explained how colors of cups will dictate my child’s sexual preference. Some I listened to most I ignored and in the end other than a few scrapes I have made it through the first year with an intact child. You may applaud now as I take a bow. Thank you! Thank you!

Before I get feedback of “well you had it easy your wife worked and did chores” I would like to bring up during my first year as the main caregiver I was going through some drama of my own. Short version of a long story: A few months before my son’s birth my mother dies in front of me. Being a huge momma’s boy I really miss my mother. It’s funny. I can’t touch bacon anymore because I can still taste it from when I was doing CPR on her on a morning a few days before my birthday. Now no dwelling let us move on to a month before my son’s birth my house was invaded by 20 or so combat ready individuals because a friend decided to make a snitch’s paycheck. He knew being the cannabis activist that I am I would most likely have a few cannabis plants here and there plus he knew just what to say to get me to hand one over. Thirty two years old never been arrested the first time a cannabis plant leaves my home a friend gives me up for some drug money. Isn’t that just funny let me tell you once I realized who had snitched me out my cell mates all looked at me a little worried as I laughed so hard I could not breath. Oh ya before I forget about how I also was stuck playing nice to my father’s other family as she moves into my mother’s house and drives my mother’s car. No comment move along nothing more to see here. Now throw in general bad luck stuff like how I threw my back out getting out of bed when my wife’s water broke and that pretty much sums up the disadvantage parts going on during the first year or so.

I do not bring up these woeful times to glum your day I bring it up to show off my brilliance as a stay at home parent. During this time when it would have been understandable to just shut down I put on a smile, did a little laugh, and pulled up my big boy pants so I could play the role that was set before me.

And these are a few random things I’ve learned. Over these past months.

Changing Diapers Suck! And I still have not decided yet what is worse: breathing through my nose or through my mouth. Tough call do I just want to smell it or smell it and taste it in theory if I breathe through my mouth. Even if you try to go all rodeo and get it done at record speed it still sucks. As soon as the rugrat was able to sit up on his own bathroom training began. It has been a long slow road but the outcome will be its weight in gold.

This bit of advice I will have to give credit to mother’s worldwide. “When the baby sleeps you sleep!” That is such a golden rule it would be wise to burn it in to your memory if you’re a first time parent.

It does not matter what color, cloths, or if I love hello kitty my child has an even chance of becoming straight, gay, or cross gender. It irks me to no ends when a parent-in-the-know tries to push the idealism that he must conform. I have no time for this foolishness because in the end it is not the neon pink and purple sippy cup that could make him gay. Pretty sure it would be the interest in other males he develops on his own time through his own experiences that does it.

The day will come when he finds some one he wants to share his love with and it will be a happy day that’s all I know. The idea where the option of shaming him to change to the “norm” causing confusion and self loathing that can very well drive him out of our lives or worst lead to one day where we find him hanging in his own closet is just unheard of in this house hold. The king of the castle has spoken so be it ordered.

Anyone can learn a lot by listening to the advice from another. But there was this one statement that I would hear every now and then that would just drive me right up the wall. “He is too young for that.” Well of course he is too young to understand physicist Brian Cox talking about whatever he seems to be excited about that day. I don’t expect him to. Nor do I feel my baby has to be able to grasp all of the sign language we practice throughout the week. The goal is to lay down the tracks for when he is at the point where he should be able to understand it. It’s a pity that so many parents will limit their child just because they are too young. 4 months into Ryuu’s life he was responding to me with simple nods and crude signs of yes or no. Once we had this crude way of communicating I knew right then age limit is just a limit of the mind. I still believe in this theory as I practice math on chalk boards with Ryuu sitting on my shoulders.

On a side note when Ryuu learned that if he signed “up” he will get thrown into the air great for him but for me I ended up doing reps of thirty lifts a day as he grew heavier. But as time went on we started to branch out into other feats of daring acrobatics like now of days he is practicing how to stand on my shoulders as I walk around. We have so much fun that all started with the American Sign Language sign for “up”.

Yes I have a child, yes I am worried about going to prison, no I will not stop being an open cannabis activist. As of a few weeks ago we have decided to up my game and try my hand with politics at a local level. The idea of leaving these unjust cannabis prohibition laws where they are scares me more than prison. The idea that my child might have to go through an arrest like I had experienced sends chills down my spine that fuels an anger inside of me.

No one has ever died from an overdose of cannabis and it’s a plant with thousands of uses. With hard work I’ll be able to show my child that if the people stand up against unjust practices they can be stopped. This will be one of the most important lessons I teach my child I believe.

Now if you happen to live in Alabama don’t forget to vote for William F. Steele in 2018. Your support would be greatly appreciated. https://www.facebook.com/WilliamFSteele

To leave you hungry for more I will brush up on the topic of food. Most understand it as one must eat to live but around here it is live to eat. My fear from all of the “talks” was I would be doomed to serving nothing but chicken nuggets and hotdogs. As a hobby chef and a cookbook author I was terrified let me tell you. I am just that skilled or I must have lucked out. No lie I have a little food disposal unit. It does not matter, veggies, seafood, sweets, meats, he is willing to eat it as long as it is offered to him. The fact that he was willing to eat anything opened the doors for so many healthy dishes without much fuss but plenty of adorable messes.

Seeing that rugrat gobbling up a simple chicken stir fry with a huge grin and smacking those lips is one of my favorite feelings. The simple joy of knowing I won’t ever need to offer Ryuu over processed foods just so he will eat is the greatest. One of my favorite cooking tips is to add hemp seeds to your meals. Those little seeds are packed full with so much healthy goodness its foolish not to add them.

Rugrat Approved Chicken Stir Fry
Can server 2 adults 1 child
1 pound of thinly sliced chicken breast or 2 deboned chicken thighs thinly sliced up
½ a cup of chopped onion
4 crushed and diced garlic cloves
Pinch of red pepper
1 table spoon of hemp seeds
½ a cup of sliced mushrooms
½ a cup of sliced bell peppers
½ a cup of (veggie of choice)
Splash of cooking oil
Soy sauce to taste (I usually use about 1/3 cup of soy sauce)
1-2 teaspoon of honey (optional)
1teaspoon of corn starch dissolved in a little water (if you want a thick sauce)

Let us start by pre heating the oil in a large wok or frying pan over a med high heat. To this we need to add the garlic giving it enough time to release its flavor without burning.

The chicken will go in next along with the soy sauce, pepper and add the honey if you want a sweet twist. Allow it to cook for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Now it is time for the veggies and depending on how you enjoy your vegetables depends on when to add them. I generally add them all in at the same time just allowing them to heat up throughout. I love keeping the crispiness of vegetables when I am cooking for myself but to each their own.

Once the vegetables are cooked to your liking you’re done unless you would like the sauce to be thicker. Lower the heat to a simmer then stir in the corn starch water mixture. The sauce will turn milky for a minute but will clear up as it mixes in so don’t panic. Allow it to simmer allowing the sauce time to thicken up to almost a syrup texture.
Serve on top of rice and Enjoy!

William sent me his cookbook! Probably not knowing I don't cook. BUT I figure IF I do cook - It will be from this book, and I will let you know how it went ;-) . William is also ambitious and hey WHY NOT! We have one shot at this life- I wanted to be a syndicated cartoonist, I have people who share my cartoons all over the world. ;-) And TEACH RYUU to reach fro the stars too!  You can get his cook book at:   http://www.amazon.ca/Cannabis-Cuisine-Whipping-Some-ebook/dp/B0053YQEMG