Parents and Parenting

[T-bone]

This is a thread for parents to talk about their kids, discuss health matters and ask questions/get answers about what's going on with their kids' lives.

Are you a new parent? a veteran? dealing with a teenager?
This thread is for you.

If you don't have kids you're welcome to read but please try to refrain from posting as this thread is meant to be a help and support area for parents only.

Thanks.

[kopernikuz]

Hey, cool thread T! I'll participate style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

Maybe we could start off with brief intros of ourselves as parents, to get to know each other and see common areas of discussion?

My wife and I have five kids... two boys 10 and 3, and three girls 9, 7, 5. And we homeschool, does anyone else?

Looking forward to talking kids with some of you folks style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[T-bone]

With 5 kids you probably need to home school!

That concept has always sort of puzzled me. Perhaps you can explain the ins and outs of homeschooling for someone like me who has never experienced it?

[kopernikuz]

Sure...

First off, let me say, we don't homeschool because of some deep distrust in the public school system... There are some great teachers and people out there in the education system... there are also some not so great, but for the most part, teachers are wonderful... most people who become teachers do not do so to become rich... lol... but to help kids... so our reasons for keeping kids from public schools is not teachers. God bless you if you are one, you're a tremendous human being.

So our main reasons for homeschooling are:

1) Individual learning: In the PS system, everything works on a middle ground. Everyone must move at the pace of the most average student. Kids who learn quickly tend to be unchallenged and restless and kids who learn slower get left behind, and the others move fine because it's right at their pace. This isn't necessarily a fault, it's just inherent in trying to teach a group of kids the same thing at the same time. It's typical of a classroom setting. At home, you move at the pace of the child... there is no need to be repetetive over things they understand fully, and there is time to focus on the things they need specific help with. Example: My oldest daughter was readin several grades above her level even in 1st grade, I'm not bragging, just pointing out that she "got it"... my son, on the other hand, is still having trouble with his own level... reading's just not his "bag"... so we focus on strengths and weaknesses individually based on the child, not on an average nationwide... The exact reverse is true of these same two kids on math... though both have progressed to better understandings of the areas they struggled in because of the individual attention they receive.

2) Less Government=Good: The government's job is to work in the best interests of the population. Unfortunately they do this well in some areas and poorly in others. To me, the government has never been a good source for what children should be taught. Where they attempt to remove un-PC items, they don't teach a diversity, but instead teach a government-approved view of the world... I'd rather my kids were a bit more well-rounded, understood diverse views and made up their own minds. We encourage self study on things that interest them... there's more than one version of Columbus' story... I want them to understand them all and try to recognize truth from embellishment... make sense?

3) Homeschooling allows for a more diverse understanding of the world around us, because they experience things for themselves. Everything is a learning experience... from going to the grocery store (math, nutrition) to gardening in the backyard (biology)... we use real life experiences to teach some of the lessons. They have books and curriculum that we've chosen, but at the same time, a trip to take a walk by the lakefront can become a valuable learning experience if taken advantage of. These of course are things public schoolers and their folks can do as well if they choose, naturally, it's just that it's inherent in a Homeschooling education to do it... they also have more time for it.


Those are the whys:

The hows:

We teach all the staples: reading, writing, science, art, arithmetic, etc... they have books and workbooks that they work through. Some of the time, they just go and get their books and work on them by themselves to get ahead, and come with questions. My wife schedules time each day to sit with them and do this while I'm at work. Everyone does it together, though each is obviously at a different level. There are some things where my wife will instruct them, but the process is more instruction sitting next to the student than in front of them in a presentational style. They're able to do a lot of it on their own when they get the jist, and since there's not 30 of them, they can move as fast as they are able.... though they push themselves faster sometimes.

You still have to report to the state you live in, but the rules are different from state to state. Our kids take a standardized test at the end of each year, to see where they fall in line with the nation's kids... and they're usually right on the money or in the upper percentile in each subject. That's a big difference, our kids are accountable for their performance every year, whereas PS usually only at certain grades. We could not take the test and instead have a portfolio for each child reviewed by a PS teacher who signs off... we may do this one year just for something different...

Suffice it to say, we don't do it to be superior to PS or anything, PS does what it can with the limitations inherent in it. I graduated from PS and I turned out okay. We've just decided we'd like to see if we can't give our kids an even better chance. So far, they're doing phenomonally.

Last point, sorry so long...

The major question everyone has is... What about socialization? Well, I remember what my mom used to say... "You should be at school to learn... not to socialize..." What kind of socialization skills do they learn at school that they can't learn in the neighborhood, church, community sports teams, etc... none. In fact, I'd say my High School socialization experiences were a poor learning experience for the real world where cliques tend to dissolve... kids can make friends in many other places besides PS.

Anyway, thats a nutshell explanation, sorry for the length. If you have specific questions I'd be happy to answer.

[T-bone]

Can you take us through a typical day of home school?

[kopernikuz]

My longwinded rambling didn't make you want me to shut up about it? LOL

I could probably do that, though I'd have to say there's no such thing as a "typical" day... in fact the very nature of homeschooling is to find "atypical' ways of learning style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif But my wife has compiled an essay or two on the subject, I'll see if she'd be okay with me republishing... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[T-bone]

I meant like -

8am we do this, 10am we teach this, etc.
I think it will help people who want to try it.
I'm not trying to be weird about it.

[T-bone]

How many here have newborns or infants under 2?

[Jjm3233]

We have two kids a 5 year old girl and a boy who is 18 months.

T - different families home school in different ways - my Mom had a pretty rigid scheduling system, my wife's did not. Even so the more kids you have to deal with make an overly scheduled life harder to accomplish.

For example: when my parents started home schooling us I was in 9th grade, my twin brothers were in 7th and my sister was starting Kindergarten. My sister needed a lot of my Mother's attention - learning to read read and write, my brothers needed some attention, I needed practically none. So my sister had the mornings, my brothers after lunch, and my work was gone over later in the afternoon. So my sister's day was planned out, my brothers less so and I was simply given my assignments and knew that they had to be finished by 3, unless I needed help.

Two years later when my brothers started Algebra they ended up with the lion's share of my Mom's help and had a more rigid schedule.

My typical High School (circa 1990) day:

7am - Wake up, get shower, eat breakfast, do dishes (if it was my day)
8am - Start school - usally foreign language first, then math, then English, then science
Noon - lunch - clean up (if it was my day) - I Love Lucy
1pm - back to the grindstone - Bible, History
3 pm - (or so) go over day's assignments - get graded

[T-bone]

That sounds cool. Is this generally a midwest or southern thing? I'm in NJ and it's almost unheard of out here or out east in general.

[Jjm3233]

T - It seems to be concentrated more in the Midwest/Southeast - but I am aware of at least three home schooling oragnizations in Jersey alone - but I don't have any idea about the number of students.

[kopernikuz]

Hey, Jjm... you and your wife were both homeschooled?

And you're dead on about the more kids the more different the schedule, we have friends who are more rigid and disciplined but have less kids... but usually it seems the results are the same, as long as the desire and dedication on the part of the parents and the kids is working.

My wife runs a website for homeschool moms and she has hits from around the country and including Canada. Her message boards are full of ladies from the midwest, but also as I said Canada, Alaska, Florida, Maryland, California, etc... what you'll find is that each state has different rules, and some people move to the states that are the most homeschool friendly, this is why you see such a concentration in certain areas.

The truth is though, T, I thought homeschooling was unheard of around here when my wife and I first discussed it... until we started looking into it as an option, and then I found they were everywhere. So it might be going on, but since you're not involved in that particular community you don't hear about it. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Blizzard]

I am a single mom working two jobs, so homeschooling is not an option. Besides, I work in a public school.

I have one son, he is 13 and a half and most of the time he is a sweetheart. It's his diabetes that causes mood swings which makes things crazy at our house. When his blood sugar is high he's hyper and wants to wrestle me and bounce balls off the walls. When his blood sugar is low he's gets depressed and nothing is right, he complains and screams and cries, and generally throws some type of fit that is unnecessary. If he gets too low I have to hold him down and pour juice in his mouth while he screams. Luckily he is so confused in that state that he doesn't remember it afterwards.

I dread him getting bigger and stronger and the mood swings getting worse.

When I got him a cell phone for his 13th birthday people said I was nuts. "What does a 13 year old need with a phone??" But I have to say, that is the absolute smartest thing I have ever done. I know where he is at all times. I don't sit home and worry that he fell in the lake and drown every time he goes fishing. And best of all, I can call him when he's out riding his bike and tell him to bring home some milk. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

I always wanted 5 kids, but could never find a man who wanted the same.

[Vibroblade]

Shoulda married me Blizz.

I currently have three children. The oldest is 10yo and is my only daughter. The boys are ages 5 (year_ and 2 months. My wife wants to have at least one more but, while I certainly enjoy the act of procreation, I'm not sure if I want more children or not.

My entire family is employed in the teaching profession. In a way, I was both home schooled and publicly educated.

Blizz,

I think I'll get my daughter a cell phone for her birthday. It's cheaper than putting in another telephone line, and can be used to track her down. I'm seriously considering a GPS phone. I have no intention of telling her that it has GPS because I don't want her to know that I can find her whenever she carries it. Underhanded? dang straight, but I have no problem invading the privacy of my children.

[T-bone]

I'm definitely getting my kids phones - it's like a safety measure these days with kids and I can always know where they are.

[Dutch]

I have a 9 year old daughter.

The homeschooling talk is intriguing. My wife and I work full time so we couldn't do it, but I have been a public school teacher for 11 years and I am at the end of my rope with it. Kop, all the stuff you said makes a lot of sense and you are right on a lot of observations you made about our nation's public school system. Working in education has made me decide to send my daughter to Catholic School (same one I went to matter of fact). Now, I know that private schools aren't a guarantee that your kid will turn out great, but I am satisfied with it so far.

Anyone out there have serious issues with the amount of enabling some (actually, many) parents do these days? From my dealing with parents here on the education end, I find that I am sometimes EXTRA hard on my girl to impress upon her that I demand that she listens and that she does what I ask her to do. Hopefully it doesn't come back to bite me in a$$ someday.

Isn't this hard? No easy answers, huh?

P.S. She loves Star Wars (or else) style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[kopernikuz]

Yeah, I don't want anyone to think I'm knocking the public school system, though it needs work... we felt that homeschooling gave our kids the best chance and have sacrificed a LOT to make it happen... it's not easy, it definitely takes time and effort.

Blizz, you are the woman, I tell ya... props to you. I don't fault you at all for holding down two jobs and whatnot... you have to do what you have to do for your family... and God bless you for doing so. Particularly with your son's condition. I too was raised by a single-mom... it's not easy, and I was no picnic of a kid (behaviorwise)... LOL. You're a hero style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

We are blessed to be able to let my wife stay at home, it was a hard decision... and we've sacrificed in many ways including my holding three jobs when my firstborn was first born... But we've been glad for the benefits of having at least one of us there, whatever it cost us. Naturally everyone can't do this... but we're glad we were able to.

[Obidobi]

Originally posted by T'bone@May 14 2004, 04:19 PM
How many here have newborns or infants under 2?
I'm a fulltime father for a 20 months old son when I'm at home from sea.. His mother is working on the same ship as me. When I'm home, I take care of him and when at work she take care of him.
We use him as a relay stick every 3 week... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

He is a funny guy who has just started to talk understanable words. There is full speed from about 0730am in the morning until about 1330. Then he needs a little nap to recover.
Then it's back to lightspeed until about 8 pm.
I give him a bath and he brush his teeth and nighty nighty.
I always go to the bedroom and lay down beside him until he sleeps. Except if he is had some sweets and he is out of control and all over his bed.
Then I just tells him that I'm leaving for the living room and that he must sleep. He never follows me back out.
He usually calm down if I do that and fall asleep.

I also have a son living with my exwife. He is 5 years old and just awesome. He take care of his younger brother during the day.(We go to him everyday). Not at school. Starts August 2005.

My exwife also have a son who I say is mine too... I have been his father since he was 1,5 years old and now he is turning 12 in June. His father hasn't been there for him at all, until now that my wife and I has separated.
He ihas been at school everyday for soon 6 years now.
There is no such as homeschool in Norway. Mostly public schools and some private schools for religous people..

[Blizzard]

Originally posted by kopernikuz@May 14 2004, 01:59 PM
You're a hero style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif
style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blush.gif

Nah, anyone could do it if they had to. Any normal person that is. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Vibroblade]

Don't sell yourself short Blizz. I don't think I could do it.

[T-bone]

My 4 year old son is really being defiant lately and just not listening. I'm finding I'm losing my temper more than I'd wish to.

[Obidobi]

Originally posted by T'bone@May 17 2004, 03:21 AM
My 4 year old son is really being defiant lately and just not listening. I'm finding I'm losing my temper more than I'd wish to.
That is quite normal T...! He is used to get all the attention you know!

Now he has to share it with his sister.... He is getting a litlle jealous about the whole thing....
I know all about it.... Just try not to be angry too much, because he might blame it on his sister...

Remember to give him a lot of attention too.....This is a new situation for all of you... Takes some time to adapt... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[T-bone]

i dont know if that's the problem - he gets loads of attention, he's just not listening and trying to tell us off and stuff - being disrespectful. He was punished all day today and just when i said he wouldn't be punished tomorrow because he was good today - he acted just as bad as he did yesterday. Incredible and weird...he's been doing this before the other baby was born, been about a year now he's been acting up a lot more than usual. I just don't wanna blow my top anymore...i don't like having to literally pick him up and put him in his bed as he's kicking me.

[Obidobi]

It's the age....My 5 year old son did that too, but has calmed down a bit.... Around me anyway! Not around my exwife though! My kids know I have rules to follow, but she has problems because she's not authoritative enough..! She lets it floate and gets it because of that.

I never touch them physically though. I would never do that. But I have told them that they need to know the rules of society the sooner the better.
If you breaks rules, you'll get punished....!
My punishment is: Grounded at home, no tv, no playing games etc


I'm waiting for my 1,5 year old son to get an attitude too any minute... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif
I guess they become more aware of themselves and test how far they can go...

[T-bone]

Yes i didn't mean i was beating him or anything - but I asked him to go up to bed and he said no i'm staying on the couch - i said, go to bed, he said no - stuff like that.
so i blow my top and i pick him UP and PUT him in his bed.

[Obidobi]

He is streching the line. He is testing how far he can go... Just be strong and firm. If you give him your little finger, he'll go for the whole hand....

[T-bone]

Yes I'm very aware of that - my wife's not as hard as i am.
plus she's a TV junkie and can't stand not having it on.
when i tell him no TV i mean none - not even stuff he doesn't want to see, like what she watches.
she says i'm also punishing her too but i say hey, one day of no TV isn't gonna kill anyone.
i just don't like his little attitude lately but i'm sure he'll get over it - i just had to vent.
he's a good kid.

[Obidobi]

I'm sure he is a good kid.... It's a phase they go through... All of them...
Does your wife watch a lot of soaps? My exwife surely do.... I just had to leave the room when she was watching that.. I just can't stand soap opera's... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/banghead.gif

[Blizzard]

Sounds like every single four year old I know. They love attention, even if it is negative attention. Yelling and screaming, they love it.

But whatever you do, don't let him win. He's asking for boundies when he has a fit. All kids need boundries.

Bedtime: Instead of getting upset, try ignoring him. If he won't get in the bed leave him standing there and turn off the lights and shut the door. Another trick, tell him he is making you sad. Guilt works on all kids, age 4 to 84. Or the best thing, make enough time to crawl in the bed with him and read him a book and have a nightly routine that is happy. Of course that doesn't always work, but when it does it will lower your blood pressure.

[Vibroblade]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>My 4 year old son is really being defiant lately and just not listening. I'm finding I'm losing my temper more than I'd wish to. [/b][/quote]

Funny you should mention this T. My little boy is doing the same thing. He's never been an angel, there's too much of his father in him ( nice SW quote there eh? ), but he's being very disrespectful lately.

I've tried it all: yelling, ignoring, spanking ( this is Ky people, ass beating remains firmly entrenched in our parenting repertoire ) but the thing that seems to work the best is taking his gamecube.

I don't know if your kid is into video games, but just the threat of losing his gaming privileges really scares my kid....

[T-bone]

Yea I do all that stuff - i just got fed up tonight and had to vent a little. I'm good with it all, I just hit a level.

The TV and Thomas the Tank Engine are the things we take away. DVDs and stuff. That'll work.
Just felt like venting style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

He'll be fine tomorrow but the last 2 days man...eek.

[Obidobi]

I think it's kind of strange though.... My boys would rather stay with me than my exwife when I'm at home...
Even that I'm more strict than her... Maybe because daddy is their hero.... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Vibroblade]

Same here. My son would rather be with me anyday...of course, daddy can play video games and mom can't. I suspect that has a lot to do with it.

[Obidobi]

^I'll bet it does! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

[T-bone]

RE: Homeschooling - I just saw this today and thought it was relevant to the prior discussion:

http://www.parentstages.com/index.asp?head...urceloc=MyYahoo (http://www.parentstages.com/index.asp?header=par&content=article.asp?id=3229&sourceloc=MyYahoo)

[kopernikuz]

Cool, T. thanks for the link... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Dutch]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>I've tried it all: yelling, ignoring, spanking ( this is Ky people, ass beating remains firmly entrenched in our parenting repertoire ) but the thing that seems to work the best is taking his gamecube.[/b][/quote]

*ass beating*, that made me laugh.

[Jjm3233]

Originally posted by T'bone@May 16 2004, 09:04 PM
Yea I do all that stuff - i just got fed up tonight and had to vent a little. I'm good with it all, I just hit a level.

The TV and Thomas the Tank Engine are the things we take away. DVDs and stuff. That'll work.
Just felt like venting style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

He'll be fine tomorrow but the last 2 days man...eek.
We usually take her bike - tends to work. Or no sweets. Between the two it usually works out.

[Obi-Stu]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>How many here have newborns or infants under 2? [/b][/quote]

3 Boys under the age of 4

Oldest is 3 and a half
Next is 21 months
Next is 3 months.

here is a picture for those who haven't seen yet.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>My 4 year old son is really being defiant lately and just not listening. I'm finding I'm losing my temper more than I'd wish to. [/b][/quote]

Gee I'm not the only one. My wife is really concerned about, but I see we are not alone.

[T-bone]

Found these online today. I do them all anyhow but I thought I'd share with others who were curious or new parents:

Talking to Your Child About Strangers
Don't neglect to talk to your children often about safety precautions. Nearly one out of every 10 parents has never discussed safety outside the home with their kids, and one out of five hasn't discussed a plan of action if someone tries to abduct them.

Give your children the basics on how to avoid and escape potentially dangerous situations. Teach them to:

- never accept candy or gifts from a stranger.
- never go anywhere with a stranger, even if it sounds like fun - predators can lure children with questions like "Can you help me find my lost puppy?" or "Do you want to see some cute kittens in my car?" Remind your children that strange adults should never ask children to help or to do things for them.
- run away and scream if someone follows them or tries to force them into a car.
- say no to anyone who tries to make them do something you've said is wrong or touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.
- always tell you or another trusted adult if a stranger asks personal questions, exposes himself, or otherwise makes them feel uneasy.
- reassure children that it's OK to tell you even if the person made them promise not to or threatened them in some way.
- always ask permission from a parent to leave the house, yard, or play area or to go into someone's home.

[T-bone]

Home Schooling Is on the Rise
By BEN FELLER, AP Education Writer

WASHINGTON - Almost 1.1 million students were home-schooled last year, their numbers pushed higher by parents frustrated over school conditions and wanting to include morality and religion with the English and math.

The estimated figure of students taught at home has grown 29 percent since 1999, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the Education Department.

In surveys, parents offered two main reasons for choosing home schooling: 31 percent cited concerns about the environment of regular schools, and 30 percent wanted the flexibility to teach religious or moral lessons. Third, at 16 percent, was dissatisfaction with academic instruction at other schools.

The figures were released Tuesday.

"There's potential for massive growth," said Ian Slatter, spokesman for the National Center for Home Education, which promotes home schooling and tracks laws that govern it.

"Home schooling is just getting started," he said. "We've gotten through the barriers of questioning the academic ability of home schools, now that we have a sizable number of graduates who are not socially isolated or awkward — they are good, high-quality citizens. We're getting that mainstream recognition and challenging the way education has been done."

In perspective, the 1.1 million home-schooled students accounts for a small part — 2.2 percent — of the school-age population in the United States, young people aged five through 17.

Slatter said the new figures accurately reflect the growth of home schooling but underestimate the number of children involved; his group says it is 2 million.

In the government's view, home schooling means students who spend at least part of their education at home and no more than 25 hours a week in public or private schools. Overall, more than four out of five home-schooled students spend no time at traditional schools.

A separate federal report showed a rising number of teenagers are skipping school for fear of getting hurt, even though reported school violence is down.

That sense of anxiety — fueled by terrorism warnings, high-profile school shootings and a desire to keep children out of harm's way — probably has helped home schooling grow, said Ted Feinberg, assistant executive director of the National Association of School Psychologists.

Home schooling presents several questions that must be considered, he said. Among them: Do parents with no formal training as teachers know how to handle a variety of subjects or to tailor instruction for children of different ages? Do students get the same materials they would have at schools, from books to science labs? Are families with two working parents prepared to go to a single income so that one parent can teach at home?

Also, Feinberg said, parents must consider whether their children will emerge from home schooling with limited exposure to other children and various cultures. More federal research is needed to help resolve such questions about home schooling, he said.

"At some point, children are going to have to interact with the rest of the world," he said. "If they haven't had the opportunity to build their emotional muscles so they have that capacity to interact, how effective are they going to be outside their cloistered environment?"

[kopernikuz]

Originally posted by T'bone@Aug 3 2004, 10:43 PM
"At some point, children are going to have to interact with the rest of the world," he said. "If they haven't had the opportunity to build their emotional muscles so they have that capacity to interact, how effective are they going to be outside their cloistered environment?"
Ahh... the tired old argument...

My mom always said "You go to school to learn, not to socialize..."

I was brutally emotionally tortured by other children through elementary school. My ability to cope with and interact socially and culturally with other people did NOT come from school. I did not build my emotional muscles in school... mine were beaten bloody... to the point I did not want to socialize. I wasn't the only one. This isn't true for everyone obviously, but if we're relying on the school system to give our kids social skills, we're looking in the wrong place.

This argument is lame for the simple fact that everyone just assumes that if kids aren't in school, they aren't making friends. While some homeschool families may cloister away their children from public view, the grand majority have them involved in scouts, sports programs, church groups, and community service. They not only are socially active, but the ones I know are well-mannered and posess high moral character, something I wouldn't trade for some of the attitudes of many of the kids in my neighborhood...

A kid can be emotionally and socially successful in either, if nurtured properly.

[T-bone]

Time to bump this up again with a new topic: ADHD

What do you think of this (especially you Vibes)

http://www.jsonline.com/alive/family/1116sadkid.stm

I'm having an issue with my wife and I believe she's wrongly diagnosing (self diagnosing too) my son who's not even 5 yet with ADHD and I am very much against drugging the kid for something that's to me not even really a tangible sickness. My son threw a tantrum in PRE-K and my wife's ready to give him pills. I told her I'm very much against it and this will not change - for many reasons but mostly because in my heart I know it's the wrong move.

[Vibroblade]

I'll give you the short answer for now as I got to get back to work...

I think ADHD is widely overdiagnosed. Sometimes, kids are just not even tempered. The goal with treating ADHD is not to make the child easier to manage but to assure that the child is not having difficulty in school wih respect to maintaing his/her studies. If the child begins to fall behind in their school work, the child should have a FULL psychological evaluation prior to being labeled as ADHD.

[T-bone]

Yes she suggested he be "tested" but I'm not sure it's needed. This looks to me like a quick fix method. He's not even 5 and can read almost anything - it's incredible. He's not good with writing yet but I know it'll come. He's a little kid who just had a sister - he's got a few small issues I'm sure but with patience and love, he'll be fine and I know I've been paying extra attention to him lately.

I just don't like this - fix the kid - mentality. It's probably more like - fix the parents - half the time. We never had this crap when I was growing up...at least not as much. I don't remember any kids taking this stuff to "calm them down." I'm not going to have my son thinking something's wrong with him or he's "sick" at 5 years old when he's just being a kid. 90% of the time he's just fine and very good, helpful, eager to please - but he just watches too much TV. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

Well, I'm against it. If it was every day, chronic and nonstop then maybe i'd say a test is in order. This is like, once a week he throws a fit and to me - that's what kids do. He's smart.

[Dutch]

It is a fine line to be sure. I have seen a few kids that were helped tremendously by medicine, but I agree with you all that say it's overdiagnosed.

Good luck with whatever you do. I'm sure you kid will turn out fine.

[T-bone]

Parents Go on Strike, Move to Front Yard
By MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press Writer

ENTERPRISE, Fla. - The dishes, garbage and dirty laundry would pile up for days when Cat and Harlan Barnard's teenage children refused to do their chores. So the Barnards went on strike, moving out of their house and into a domed tent set up in their front driveway. The parents refuse to cook, clean or drive for their children — Benjamin, 17, and Kit, 12 — until they shape up.

"We've tried reverse psychology, upside down psychology, spiral psychology and nothing has motivated them for any length of time," said Cat Barnard, 45, as she sat in a lawn chair at an umbrella-covered table.

The strike took Benjamin and Kit by surprise. They came home from school Monday to find their mother outside with handwritten signs that read "Parents on Strike" and "Seeking Cooperation and Respect!"

Cat Barnard, a stay-at-home mom, and her 56-year-old husband, a government social services worker, decided their children needed to learn about empathy and responsibility.

The Barnards unsuccessfully tried smiley-face charts and withholding allowances to get their children to do chores. They even sought help from a psychologist.

The tipping point may have been when Benjamin didn't offer to help his sweating, struggling mother work on the lawn Sunday, even though she should have been recovering from oral surgery.

"I had absolutely no motherly guilt after that," Cat Bernard said.

The Barnards have slept on air mattresses in the tent and have barbecued while their children fended for themselves with frozen TV dinners. The parents only go inside to shower and use the bathroom.

The strike seems to have struck a nerve. The phone has been ringing incessantly with requests for media interviews from around the country.

Passers-by from this bedroom community between Orlando and Daytona Beach have shouted out words of encouragement. One woman driving past the Barnards' house rolled down her car window Wednesday and shouted "Good for you! You should put the kids outside!"

Benjamin returned from school on Wednesday to find a dozen reporters in his parents' front lawn. He refused to say anything to them and went into the house followed by his mother, who tried to console him.

A well-intentioned neighbor reported the Barnards to sheriff's deputies, who checked up on the family three times Tuesday. They were satisfied that the children were safe.

One of Kit's teachers also stopped by the house, thinking she had been abandoned, after the teenager said that her parents had moved out of the house.

Cat Barnard said she and her husband will keep up the strike until they see some changes.

"If we have to stick it out here until Christmas, then ho, ho, ho, we're out here," she said.

[Darth Whaler]

My 19 month old loves to do puzzles. He has too many of them if you ask me. My wife and I are having a problem with storage of these things. The pieces end up missing all the time and bookshelves just don't seem to do the trick.

I'm sure I'm not the only parent in the world whose kid has lots of puzzles. Does anyone have any advice for storage of these things? Currently we're keeping them in a large Rubbermaid covered bin. The problem with that though is that the pieces end up all over the place so we have to sort through a mess of pieces to find the ones that go with the appropriate puzzle. What do you guys use for puzzle storage?

[T-bone]

we use those bins too - join the club, there are parts of toys everywhere and i do my best to keep like things together but i just don't think it'll happen - ever.

funny thing is, as they get older they will just go find what they want and don't really care too much if it's all there - dunno why.

the only other thing i can think of is to keep the original boxes and use those.

[yodafn]

Originally posted by T'bone@Oct 14 2004, 10:31 AM
Time to bump this up again with a new topic: ADHD

What do you think of this (especially you Vibes)

http://www.jsonline.com/alive/family/1116sadkid.stm

I'm having an issue with my wife and I believe she's wrongly diagnosing (self diagnosing too) my son who's not even 5 yet with ADHD and I am very much against drugging the kid for something that's to me not even really a tangible sickness. My son threw a tantrum in PRE-K and my wife's ready to give him pills. I told her I'm very much against it and this will not change - for many reasons but mostly because in my heart I know it's the wrong move.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>



I agree with you. He sounds like a perfectly normal boy of his age. Toomany parents and teachers today, want to medicate little boys so they will not have to deal with their inability to sit still. It's easier than disciplining them. If your wife is embarassed by his outbursts in Pre-K, tell her they are perfectly normal. If the Pre-K can't handle that, then it is not a good school. Also, I have read articles that say children medicated for ADHD are far more likely to be drug addicted later in life. Medication should be a last resort and only for those who really need it in order to function in society.

[Valin Kenobi]

Originally posted by kopernikuz@Aug 3 2004, 10:12 PM
This argument is lame for the simple fact that everyone just assumes that if kids aren't in school, they aren't making friends.* While some homeschool families may cloister away their children from public view, the grand majority have them involved in scouts, sports programs, church groups, and community service.* They not only are socially active, but the ones I know are well-mannered and posess high moral character, something I wouldn't trade for some of the attitudes of many of the kids in my neighborhood...

A kid can be emotionally and socially successful in either, if nurtured properly.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>


[not a parent]

I second that!

I was homeschooled from 3rd - 12th grade (public school for K - 2). I was in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, up to the rank of Eagle Scout. I also volunteered at the public library, etc.

True, I'm not a super outgoing person or party animal, I stink at speaking in front of groups, and I'm mainly a loner (partly due to being an only child). But it's just wrong to say I'm completely misanthropic and socially inept. In terms of being well-mannered, I daresay I was lightyears beyond most of my public-schooled peers.

[/not a parent]

[JediJaina]

Originally posted by T'bone@Jan 29 2005, 08:26 PM
we use those bins too - join the club, there are parts of toys everywhere and i do my best to keep like things together but i just don't think it'll happen - ever.

funny thing is, as they get older they will just go find what they want and don't really care too much if it's all there - dunno why.

the only other thing i can think of is to keep the original boxes and use those.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>



I know I'm not a parent, but I thought I'd chime in. One of my sisters has started using the easy zipper type of bags to keep those kind of things in.

http://www.ziploc.com/easy.asp

[T-bone]

we use those too actually - for some smaller things.

[Darth Whaler]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the info. I'm just kind of a neat freak and all these puzzle pieces are driving me bonkers!

[Darth Star]

^You should see my house. It would make you feel better.

Originally posted by T'bone@Oct 14 2004, 09:42 AM
I just don't like this - fix the kid - mentality.* It's probably more like - fix the parents - half the time. We never had this crap when I was growing up...at least not as much. I don't remember any kids taking this stuff to "calm them down."* <div align="right">Quoted post</div>

I agree. Everyone seems so obsessed to find a scientific reason for every action or reaction, and they have to put a label on everyone.

T, your kid seems perfectly normal to me. Kids that age have all these emotions going on but haven’t developed the tools to express them properly.

[Justin]

Hey T'bone, you've probably thought of this already but you may want to find out what's going on in that class that might make your son throw tantrums.

When I was that age I used to throw tantrums before going to school and my mom thought I was bipolar (lol) but in reality my kindergarten teacher was picking on me because she was a nutty nut-bar and I just didn't want to go to school and deal with it.

For some reason I had a problem articulating this to my parents, even though I clearly remember her saying really derogatory things to me. Eventually some other parents said their kids were having similar problems because of her so they got rid her.

So there may be something else going on there besides your son just freaking out for no reason. Maybe he's having a problem with some of the other kids?

[T-bone]

well that was actually months ago and we took him out of there. My wife got her old daycare job back and starts today (different place) so let's see how that goes.

[T-bone]

She quit style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[T-bone]

Popular ADHD drug comes under greater scrutiny from U.S. parents
By Marilyn Elias, USA TODAY

Parents whose children take Adderall XR for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) face a dilemma this week: whether to let their kids stay on a medicine that could be unsafe when experts say there is a lack of long-term research to guide the decision.

The popular drug, which has been linked to 20 sudden deaths worldwide, mostly in children, was taken off the Canadian market Wednesday, sparking questions about whether kids in the USA should be using it.

The Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) issued a public health advisory on its Web site saying that the rate of sudden death for children on Adderall XR is no higher than for those not on the drug. But children with heart defects could be at higher risk.

Parents are making decisions about stimulants such as Adderall XR with few facts, says Julie Magno Zito, an epidemiologist at the University of Maryland. There are no good long-term studies of such medicines, she says. Rare side effects of a drug won't surface in short studies unless they include a huge number of kids, such as in a national HMO, and that kind of study hasn't been done on Adderall XR, Zito says.

About 700,000 children in the USA take Adderall XR, a timed-release stimulant, and 300,000 use Adderall, a version that often needs to be taken more than once a day, according to Shire Pharmaceuticals Group PLC, maker of the drug.

Parents whose kids are doing well on Adderall might consider a "wait and see" approach for now, says Baltimore pediatrician Richard Gorman. "School failure is a big issue for kids with ADHD, and these are very rare effects so far."

Of the 20 reports of sudden death, 12 were in the USA from 1999 to 2003, a time frame when 30 million prescriptions were written for the medicine, according to the FDA (news - web sites) advisory.

More deaths could be reported in the wake of Canada's decision to pull the drug off shelves. On the other hand, the withdrawal could be rescinded if harmful effects are confirmed to be rare, Gorman says.

But parents should take a hard look at whether their children really need these medications, says University at Buffalo psychologist William Pelham, who has studied ADHD treatments.

Behavioral training programs for children, parents and teachers can lessen the need for drugs or make them unnecessary, he says. Programs are available through community mental health centers. And there's information on non-drug treatment at www.wings.buffalo.edu/adhd.

All children on ADHD drugs should get thorough medical exams, says Peg Nichols of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), an advocacy and support group that receives some funding from drug companies, including Shire. "Parents need to be advocates for their kids and never fear asking questions," she says.

[Master Cephus]

I am kind of torn on the subject.

I had a cousin who seriously had a problem. My aunt took him to psychiatrists, and nothing helped. They finally gave him medication to calm him and his grades improved, and he was actually better socially. He only took the medication when he was in school. When summer started, he went off of it and it was really helpful for him.

Now I have a neice and she is pretty normal. she gets wild every so often, but what normal kid doesn't? Well she spent the night at our house one night and she told my wife that she had ADD and that she needed medication...at least that is what mommy said. Well I told my sister a thing or two and she decided that Callie was really normal after all.

I think the drug is widely used as a quick fix for parents who aren't willing to struggle the normal route. However, in some extreme cases, ADHD medication could be the only answer.

[Darth Star]

Originally posted by T'bone@May 14 2004, 06:19 AM
How many here have newborns or infants under 2?
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>

I have two under 2. Twins 22mos.

[T-bone]

My daughter just turned 1 today and my son is 5.

[RebelRoss0587]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>I think the drug is widely used as a quick fix for parents who aren't willing to struggle the normal route. However, in some extreme cases, ADHD medication could be the only answer.[/b][/quote]

I completely agree. I know so many parents who have their children on ADHD and ADD medication, and it's just hiding from the real problems. Also, pretty much everyone has at least some of the symptoms of ADD. A lot of kids who are diagnosed with either ADHD or ADD just use that as an excuse for every failure in their lives.

[Blizzard]

Many, many times I have been told my son was ADHD, but always by friends or family, never a professional. Why? Because he was being a kid. My son is goofy and happy and hyper and high on life, and that's exactly the way kids should be.

I see so many kids who walk around like zombies on medication just so their parents have it easy. These kids are not being allowed to learn to control their behavior and emotions on their own, hense (in my opinion) they are going to have a horrid time doing it as adults. We need to let kids be kids and make mistakes and learn from them so they grown up to be half-way normal adults.

I am not talking about kids who reallly need to be on meds, I know quite a few of those, too.

[T-bone]

A bump and a heads up: http://www.katu.com/stories/81908.html

[MANVERU]

HOLY CRAP!!!

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif


^
that's the only thing I can say!

[T-bone]

Yea - we know my son is getting 2 of these for Xmas and we're a little afraid that my daughter will not be safe. We're going to return them right away.

[MANVERU]

What is it?

Some type of lego?

[T-bone]

some kind of building block thing using magnets.
they're getting returned immediately or if he opens them by mistake, they're going in the garbage.

[MANVERU]

yeah, good idea.

The thing that I'm shocked about, is the company is still producing them!


I couldn't see any harm if the Magnets WERE NOT detachable, but this is so dangerous

[walong]

Yow, that's an upsetting story. Yes, get rid of those things asap, it's never worth the risk.

I'd never have thought that magnets could do something like that! Altho this one part seems a bit out of line:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>"It does say there is a choking hazard on here," Penny Sweet said. "Unfortunately, they don't say it causes serious injury or death, which is the kind warning they need to have on here."[/b][/quote]
I mean, doesn't choking readily lead to serious injury or death? Just how explicit do these labels need to be? Plus, the boy was 2 years old, and the label already said to keep it away from kids under age 3. Still, it is unclear from the article exactly how this happened: if the magnets fell out of the toy due to a defect, then the manufacturer should recall the product (IMHO).


This reminds me a bit of when my daughter was ~18 months old. She thought that the little lights on the Christmas tree must taste good (I guess because of the color) and she had to try them out. Thank God I caught her in time, before anything could happen, but I had to take all the lights off the tree after that.

[Darth Star]

That stuff hits home so much harder when you've got kids that age.

[T-bone]

Plus too much TV in general style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[MANVERU]

yeah, definetly.


I have a question to all parents.

Do you have a limit to how much TV you alow your kids to watch?


and if so, how much?

[T-bone]

we try to but you know, kids are kids.
my son has a computer in his room too - not on the net, just to use for games and his Encarta which he likes. He plays dvds and music on it too.

[goodwije]

well, i wouldn't say that excessive TV watching does not lead to bad behavior, but ADHD has been diagnosed since 1902. I think the bigger problem (not to sound like Tom Cruise here) is that Psychiatrists in the zeal to cure all are diagnosing ADHD in every child that shows some kinds of behavioral problems. I believe that true ADHD is neurological, not psycological or social, the later two of which are better treated without the introduction of stimulants.

[walong]

I think in recent years TV has become more problematic. Certainly there is more vulgarity, violence, and sexual content than ever before. Children tend to emulate what they see, so I can't help but think that kind of stuff must have some degree of a negative effect, even on older kids and (to some extent) adults.

It's too bad there is no way to quantify the effect, because that just leaves it as a subjective argument.

[walong]

I think I may have ADD (the inattentive type, not the hyperactive form). I heard a co-worker describing the symptoms of his child, and recognized some of them as things that I had kinda struggled with for as long as I could remember. So I took two of the screening tests that I found online and scored in the low-to-moderate range. I brought the results to my doc who suggested trying out one of the meds (strattera -- it's a non-stimulant). I think I've noticed some improvements, tho it's still early.

So now I'm starting to wonder about my kids, since this can be hereditary and my younger one in particular seems to have trouble focusing on some schoolwork, particularly math.

[Filoviridae]

Originally posted by walong@Dec 22 2005, 09:10 AM
I mean, doesn't choking readily lead to serious injury or death? Just how explicit do these labels need to be? Plus, the boy was 2 years old, and the label already said to keep it away from kids under age 3. Still, it is unclear from the article exactly how this happened: if the magnets fell out of the toy due to a defect, then the manufacturer should recall the product (IMHO).
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>


Yeah she's just trying to pass the blame. I think this was just an accident plain and simple. If anyone is to blame it's the parents. But really who can keep an eye on every particle in their house? I've got a little guy starting to crawl right now and I worry about stuff like this but you just do the best you can do.

[Blizzard]

Dayum!!

I will be spreading the word to all parents I know. Those are dollar store toys, my son has had those in the past.

[T-bone]

Originally posted by Filoviridae+Dec 23 2005, 04:37 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Filoviridae @ Dec 23 2005, 04:37 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-walong@Dec 22 2005, 09:10 AM
I mean, doesn't choking readily lead to serious injury or death?* Just how explicit do these labels need to be?* Plus, the boy was 2 years old, and the label already said to keep it away from kids under age 3.* Still, it is unclear from the article exactly how this* happened:* if the magnets fell out of the toy due to a defect, then the manufacturer should recall the product (IMHO).
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>


Yeah she's just trying to pass the blame. I think this was just an accident plain and simple. If anyone is to blame it's the parents. But really who can keep an eye on every particle in their house? I've got a little guy starting to crawl right now and I worry about stuff like this but you just do the best you can do.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>
[/b][/quote]


wait til you pop out another one - then you'll see how hard it is to keep things from one that the other can handle.

muahahahaha

[Master Cephus]

We have a little miniature schnauzer and we're at our parent's house for Christmas. We got in Tuesday night and my wife's parents were watching a little 6-year old boy. Our dog has anxiety and gets a little nervous around kids that are high strung....

That is the ultimate birth control...

[T-bone]

Ok - well today my son went to another Dr. and they're going to officially diagnose him as mildly ADHD -

HOWEVER - he's not going to require medication, which is really all that I was interested in. As long as they don't want to load him up with medicine I don't care what they call him or what disease flavor of the month they want to slap on him.

So I'm relieved but still not buying the diagnosis. I think if we turn the damn TV off once in a while things would even out but my wife is a TV junkie too. When she's home, it's on and he does tend to space out and stare at it a lot.

He's a perfectly normal kid by the way. Personally I don't see much wrong there but he definitely needs occupational therapy for his writing/coloring skills - that I'll admit. He has trouble with coloring in the lines unless i'm actually standing over him and he takes his time with it. At school he tends to just scribble.

[Filoviridae]

Maybe he doesn't have trouble, maybe he's just gifted in non-mainstream art. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[T-bone]

Maybe.

However, on the flipside he's VERY intelligent. He's in Kindergarten - and the teacher makes him read books to the class when she needs to do something or have a break. It's just the writing that he needs help with. Coloring too. He doesn't like to write in the lines unless he's tracing but then again, some days he does great. I think it's a matter of just focusing on it rather than something out the window. I also think he just doesn't want to do certain things like color so he just scribbles back and forth over a circle to go - here, I did it, ok?

[Blizzard]

Sounds like my son. He's a scholar, not an artist. He's a whiz in math, but hates his graphic arts class.

When I taught my kinders to color in the lines it was more of a lesson in patience and concentration. Some kids never get the hang of it.

My son's 3rd grade teacher tried to tell me Cam had ADD. I ripped her a new one for diagnosing, which teachers are not allowed to do. She was a new teacher and did not have a clue how to handle kids, much less a kid with diabetes who was hyper after lunch every day because he had to burn off that food somehow. She used him as an example in class and constantly punished him for just doing kid things. I had to put him in a new school, and that teacher was even worse, but he blended right in with the other 31 hyper kids.

[Suzanne (ex CoS Leia)]

My eldest's 2nd grade teacher said the same thing - and realistically it was simply that he was bored. As long as he was given something stimulating that would enable him to focus he was fine.

At work I deal with ADD kids frequently and the really clear ones can't even sit still to look at a book for more than a page or so. They even have trouble sitting still to have conversation.

To me, if a kid is capable of sitting still to do something they enjoy (other than tv, computers or video games which virtually mesmerise even those with ADD) then it's simply a matter of tailoring activities to fit their interests. A decent teacher should be capable of doing this - and making suggestions to parents for what they can do at home.

[T-bone]

FDA Report Details 25 ADHD Drug Deaths
By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer

Twenty-five people died and 54 more suffered serious cardiovascular problems after taking drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder between 1999 and 2003, the government says.

Children accounted for 19 of the deaths and 26 of the cases of nonfatal cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, stroke, hypertension, palpitations and arrhythmia, according to a Food and Drug Administration report released Wednesday.

The FDA report also includes data on another 26 deaths between 1969 and 2003 in ADHD drug patients. Those include death by suicide, intentional overdose, drowning, heat stroke and from underlying disease.

The report's release came a day before an FDA panel was to discuss new ways of examining the potential cardiovascular risks of the drugs, which include amphetamines such as Adderall, and methylphenidates, sold as Ritalin, Concerta, Methylin and Metadate.

The few studies that have looked at longer-term use of ADHD drugs provide little information on those risks, the FDA said. The cardiovascular risks include heart attack, stroke, hypertension, palpitations and arrhythmia.

Sales of drugs to treat ADHD have increased sharply in recent years, with use growing at a faster rate among adults than children, according to a recent study by Medco Health Solutions, a prescription benefit manager. Spending on ADHD drugs soared from $759 million in 2000 to $3.1 billion in 2004, according to IMS Health, a pharmaceutical information and consulting firm.

Death and injury reports led the FDA's Canadian counterpart, Health Canada, to yank the ADHD drug Adderall XR from the market for six months last year.

A Canadian panel eventually concluded there was inadequate evidence of increased harm from Adderall XR compared with other available therapies, a conclusion the FDA also reached based on data on hand.

The FDA review released Wednesday found fewer than one adverse event — that is, a death or serious injury — per 1 million ADHD drug prescriptions filled, with the sole exception of the 1.79 cases per million of nonfatal cardiovascular or cerebrovascular problems reported in adults treated with amphetamines. Also, in some of the cases, the children who died were later found to have had undiagnosed heart conditions. And in three of the five cases of death in adults receiving amphetamine treatment, the patients had pre-existing hypertension. That suggests hypertension "may be an important risk factor for sudden death in the adult population," the report said.

However, the report noted, the rare occurrence of sudden death in children treated with drugs for ADHD "warrants close monitoring." One possibility would be to add labeling to the drugs that would recommend that doctors consider the benefits and risks of prescribing the drugs to patients with heart problems, the report concluded.

Adderall is made by Shire Pharmaceuticals and Ritalin is made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. Various other companies make generic versions of Ritalin as well.

The FDA has asked its Drug Safety and Risk Management advisory committee to discuss the feasibility of different ways of studying whether the deaths are linked to use of the drugs, as well as specific ways of conducting such studies.

That earned the FDA a rebuke from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who contended such work should have already begun.

In a letter sent Monday to acting FDA commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, Grassley said in part, "I remain concerned that while both psychiatric and cardiovascular risk signals have cropped up across this class of drugs this past year, it appears that FDA is just now beginning to 'discuss approaches' for studying these risks."

[T-bone]

Feds Consider Warnings on ADHD Drugs
By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer

A federal health official said Thursday that there was a strong possibility that popular drugs like Ritalin used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may be linked to the deaths of 25 people.

"There's smoke. Does that represent a fire?" asked Dr. David Graham of the Food and Drug Administration.

To find out, an FDA advisory committee considered how best to study whether the popular drugs increased the risk of death and serious injury.

"We wouldn't be going through this exercise if we didn't think there was a real possibility of increased risk," Graham told reporters.

Further studies would examine the incidence of sudden death and serious health problems, including stroke and heart attack, among some of the millions of children and adults treated each year with the drugs. That could lead to new warning labels.

The deaths occurred between 1999 and 2003, according to an FDA report. Nineteen of them involved children. The report also detailed 54 cases of serious cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, stroke, hypertension, palpitations and arrhythmia, in adults and children being treated with ADHD drugs.

Some of these ADHD drug-treated patients had pre-existing heart conditions or hypertension.

The drugs include amphetamines, such as Adderall, and methylphenidates, sold as Ritalin, Concerta, Methylin and Metadate.

The FDA said it has tallied an additional 26 deaths between 1969 and 2003 in ADHD patients involving death by suicide, intentional overdose, drowning, heat stroke and from underlying disease.

The FDA's Drug Safety and Risk Management advisory committee is reviewing different ways to study whether the deaths are linked to use of the drugs. The few studies that have looked at longer-term use of ADHD drugs provide little information on those risks, the FDA said.

Analysis of the reports of death and injury suggests a possible link between the drugs and cardiovascular problems, the FDA's Dr. Kate Gelperin told the panel. But the link is not conclusive, nor is it clear whether there is an increased incidence of death or serious injury among people treated with the drugs, she added.

That, Gelperin said, "is really a question we'd like to have answered."

An FDA review found fewer than one case of death or serious injury per 1 million ADHD drug prescriptions filled, with one exception: 1.79 cases per million of nonfatal cardiovascular or cerebrovascular problems in adults treated with amphetamines.

Currently, about two million children and one million adults are prescribed ADHD drugs each month, the FDA's Dr. Andrew Mosholder said. Adult use alone grew 90 percent between March 2002 and June 2005, he said.

Sales of ADHD drugs increased to $3.1 billion in 2004, from $759 million in 2000, according to IMS Health, a pharmaceutical information and consulting firm.

That stepped up use could spell increased risk.

"Because adults have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke to begin with, any increase in risk caused by these drugs could affect a large number of people," Graham said.

The FDA's Canadian equivalent, Health Canada, briefly pulled the ADHD drug Adderall XR from the market last year. A Canadian panel eventually concluded there was inadequate evidence of increased harm from the drug. The FDA reached a similar conclusion at the time.

Adderall is made by Shire Pharmaceuticals and Ritalin is made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. Various other companies make generic versions of Ritalin as well.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, criticized the FDA's pace in studying the issue earlier this week.

[walong]

FWIW... it looks like Strattera was not implicated, since that drug is not a stimulant.

[T-bone]

http://www.local6.com/news/7840616/detail.html

[Blizzard]

OMG, this is why I never once hired a sitter, especially a teenager. When he was little I only left my son with my parents or sister.

[Filoviridae]

Yeah if I were the parent I'd be in jail right now for killing the sitter.

[Obi-wannabe]

Originally posted by T'bone@Mar 9 2006, 04:08 PM
http://www.local6.com/news/7840616/detail.html
Quoted post


Those stories make me sick. I feel horrible for kids who will carry that with them the rest of there lives. All pedophiles should be immediately sentenced to death. There are so many monsters out there it scares the hell out of me. I hope that creep fries!!

Something about a male babysitter is weird to begin with, that would send red flags up for me. I don't mean to be sexist , but with male babysitters I guess I am.

[Filoviridae]

Yeah unless it's like an older brother or relative male babysitters are odd. That kind of thing belongs to the women...just like cooking and housekeeping.

[duck]
:nahnah:

[Tovor]

Parents, is this something you would have your toilet-training children play with? It seems disturbing to me.
http://www.scandinaviandetails.com/s.nl/sc...it.A/id.1324/.f (http://www.scandinaviandetails.com/s.nl/sc.12/category.26/it.A/id.1324/.f)

[Sargoth]

Forget the kids! I'm getting a set for *me*. :D

[trebor gahkor]

Okay, that's just sick! I think that toy designer needs to have his head examined (and maybe he needs to play with the real stuff to see if that's what he wants kids to play with)!!!!

[Tovor]

Originally posted by Sargoth@Apr 24 2006, 09:12 PM
Forget the kids! I'm getting a set for *me*. :D
Quoted post

I trade you my set for all your Star Wars figures. Fair deal?

[Tovor]

Originally posted by trebor gahkor@Apr 25 2006, 09:46 AM
Okay, that's just sick! I think that toy designer needs to have his head examined (and maybe he needs to play with the real stuff to see if that's what he wants kids to play with)!!!!
Quoted post

Word!
I wonder how many people have actually purchased that "toy" so far, and what went through their minds when they did.

[Sargoth]

^ Have you ever been to IKEA? The children's toys they sell there are pretty...strange.

It must be a Sweedish thing. :p

[Tovor]

Originally posted by Sargoth@Apr 25 2006, 05:05 PM
^ Have you ever been to IKEA? The children's toys they sell there are pretty...strange.

It must be a Sweedish thing. :p
Quoted post

No, I haven't been. Link?

[Master Magnus]

Originally posted by Sargoth@Apr 25 2006, 11:05 PM
^ Have you ever been to IKEA? The children's toys they sell there are pretty...strange.

It must be a Sweedish thing. :p
Quoted post

As a Swede, I can say that everything at IKEA is pretty strange. :p Seriously, I remember that the Swedish Consumer Agency reported IKEA a few years ago on the grounds that the toys IKEA were selling contained dangerous chemicals (IIRC, it was color boxes etc.), but I don't remember how it went (I don't have any children and I think the furniture etc. that IKEA sells are hideous).

[Sargoth]

Originally posted by toVor@Apr 26 2006, 12:46 AM
No, I haven't been. Link?
Quoted post

Here's a sample (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15567&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=47214&langId=-1&parentCats=15567*16117*16119). The kids section is filled with stuff like this. Kind of like Picasso meets H.P. Lovecraft meets a really bad acid trip..

As a Swede, I can say that everything at IKEA is pretty strange. tongue.gif Seriously, I remember that the Swedish Consumer Agency reported IKEA a few years ago on the grounds that the toys IKEA were selling contained dangerous chemicals (IIRC, it was color boxes etc.), but I don't remember how it went (I don't have any children and I think the furniture etc. that IKEA sells are hideous).


We just had one open up close by about 18 months ago. It's bizarre. Customers come from as far away as Mexico and California. It's almost as though there is a Cult of IKEA that follows every retail opening. My parents used to go there at least once a week for the breakfast special - along with about 100 other loyal initiates.

[Tovor]

Originally posted by Sargoth+Apr 26 2006, 05:22 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sargoth @ Apr 26 2006, 05:22 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-toVor@Apr 26 2006, 12:46 AM
No, I haven't been. Link?
Quoted post

Here's a sample (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15567&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=47214&langId=-1&parentCats=15567*16117*16119). The kids section is filled with stuff like this. Kind of like Picasso meets H.P. Lovecraft meets a really bad acid trip...
[/b][/quote]
Wow. Wierd stuff.

[leiaorgana]

Originally posted by Sargoth@Apr 26 2006, 04:22 AM
We just had one open up close by about 18 months ago. It's bizarre. Customers come from as far away as Mexico and California. It's almost as though there is a Cult of IKEA that follows every retail opening. My parents used to go there at least once a week for the breakfast special - along with about 100 other loyal initiates.
Quoted post


Here it's because the cafeteria at IKEA it's cheap (at least here in Finland) and Yes I have to agree that they have pretty weird stuff but the IKEA stores here in Finland are pretty decent...

[T-bone]

So as of today, my wife and a partner now own a day care center here in northern NJ.

Anyone here from that area with kids gets a nice discount!

[Blizzard]

^Awesome! Tell her I said congrats!

[walong]

I just saw this on Barnes and Noble.com:

http://a1204.g.akamai.net/7/1204/1401/0505...000/9616449.jpg (http://a1204.g.akamai.net/7/1204/1401/05050608011/images.barnesandnoble.com/images/9610000/9616449.jpg)

Honestly, what has hppened to decorum and decency? Is there no limit to the amount of crude and vulgar material that these corporations will try to market to our children?

I'm no prude, but I think this is just way out of line.

[T-bone]

I have to admit - it made me laugh.

[Justin]

Oh man that's awesome.

[James]

its just funny, as old as toilet humour is :lol:

[walong]

Yes it's quite funny, but so are the "man from Nantucket" limericks... should we be teaching those to our children, too?

BTW, there is a doll of Walter too... with "three realistic sounds" no less. What's next... realistic smells too?

[T-bone]

It's a natural bodily function. They have books out there like "Everybody Poops" and what not. It's about learning your body and stuff.

Nantucket lyrics are obviously something you don't tell a kid, come on.

My kids and I have a lot of fun with farts at home actually. It's a source of humor as well. We usually say there's a little invisible duck in the house. :)

[walong]

It's one thing to teach kids about natural functions, and I don't see the harm in putting a bit of humor on that. But I don't see the need to glorify it with illustrations of birds passing out in the dog's wake, nor with scenes (from Walter's book) where his flatulence is used to blast burglars out of a window.

[T-bone]

So.... don't buy it? If you want to shield your kids from that stuff then go ahead. That's your call as a parent. I don't see anything harmful there.

[walong]

I wouldn't buy it, but then again there is always this kind of situation (from one of the online reviewers at amazon):My kids love this book! My daughter has taken it to school and all the kids loved it as well.So shielding it isn't really a practical thing in todays world, and who wants to put their kids into a bubble anyway?

When I was a kid, nobody would haver ever tried to market this sort of thing, nor would anyone have ever bought it. I think it is just indicative of one of the many little ways in which our society has gone downhill.

[Sargoth]

^ I don't know if you have kids or not, Walong. But as someone who has changed my share of diapers, a good sense of humor about such things is almost a necessity!

I mean seriously. There are a billion things in this country you can take offense to. But fart jokes? Come on!

[walong]

Oh I like a good fart joke as much as the next guy (and yes I has a whoopie cushion when I was a kid.) However there is a time & place for that stuff; I just don't see flatulence as great material for 1st grade story time for for teaching kids how to read.

[Darth Whaler]

Okay, I haven't posted in a while so this is going to be a big one. Since I now watch a lot of Noggin, Playhouse Disney, Nick Jr., Sprout, PBS Kids, etc., I decided to write my top 10 best and worst kids shows. They are based on my opinions as well as my kids. Please understand I'm being half serious, half joking while writing this.

First the worst....

1. Oobi – I can’t think of a show that is more stupid. I want to know what genius thought up this concept. It’s so bad, we don’t allow our kids to watch it. Take your hand, point it at your self with the tips of your fingers facing you, then move your thumb up and down like it’s a talking mouth. Add eyes and you have the characters on Oobi. No animation, no puppets, just human hands with eyes attached. Then, what puts it over the top is that they all talk incorrectly. Incorrect grammar constantly. They say things like “Me Oobi. Oobi friend you.” Dear show’s producers and network execs, thanks for teaching our children poor grammar! Terrible, terrible show.

2. Caillou – All I can say about this show is that it sucks. I especially can’t stand the voice of the main character Caillou. He’s a whiney little rat. It’s a boy character that seems to me clearly voiced by a woman trying too hard to sound like a little boy. Stupid story lines, stupid theme song, stupid show.

3. Charlie and Lola – Crappy animation which was probably done on purpose. Think South Park with much less brilliant colors. That coupled with the strong British accents of the main characters account for it never holding my kids’ attention.

4. Tie – Go, Diego, Go and Dora the Explorer…because they are the same exact show. At first my son loved Dora and I didn’t mind it. But it is just so darn repetitive. And then the characters try to interact with the viewers and wait an obnoxiously long time for a response. I like how they try to teach kids Spanish, but it just gets more and more boring every time you see it. Plus it gives kids unrealistic ideas. For example, in one episode, Dora’s adult cousin’s soccer team had a player get hurt and they need someone to fill in. Instead of choosing someone from their bench or one of the thousands of fans at hand at this huge stadium, they want a 9-year old girl in Dora to play. Dumb. Then she shows up and dominates a team of adults. Dumb. The plot should have focused on her playing with others her age.

5. Franklin – What annoys me about Franklin is that he is a turtle with a name…Franklin. All the other characters on the show don’t. There is Bear, Beaver, Mole, etc. Why does Franklin have a name and nobody else? Is Beaver the only Beaver in the entire world and therefore gets to be called Beaver? Plots are okay, but are handled in a dumb way.

6. Little Bear – Similar to Franklin, nobody has a name. There’s Little Bear, Cat, Owl, Duck, etc. Again, is there only one Duck in the world? Theme music sucks too. But what makes Little Bear even worse is the voice talent. None of the character voices seem to belong. They certainly don’t sound like professional voice talent. Listen to Little Bear’s voice and Duck’s voice…I think I hate the show just because of that. They are THAT bad.

7. Barney – Classic crappy show. Everyone over the age of 7 knows that Barney sucks.

8. Boohbah – This is an okay show for very young kids (like 1 year olds) because it features silly music and bright, pretty colors. But the show is awful. The worst parts involve the “human” characters who just try too hard. Then, at the end of each episode, (since the show is trying to foster growth in movement), a few kids demonstrate an exercise in a segment called “Look What I Can Do”. Sounds good right? Nope. The exercise is something way too simple like lifting up a leg. Seriously. And it goes on for several minutes. Watching a kid lift up one of his legs two dozen times is just too much.

9. It’s a Big Big World – I haven’t really watched this show. I’ve just caught bits and pieces. And I just hate the main character: some giant sloth thing that sings lovely “save the world” songs.

10. The Wiggles – Talk about a redundant show. The Australian accents confuse kids. Actually, okay, it’s not a bad show. At least not as bad as the others. But by rule I have to hate a show featuring 4 grown men jumping around singing and dancing like morons and acting like their 5 years old.

And now, the top 10 BEST shows...

1+...In a League of Its Own: THOMAS AND FRIENDS. My son could be just about the biggest Thomas fan on the planet. He loves it and I think it’s so dumb, it’s good. The others…

1. Maisy – Maisy is a mouse. Her and a bunch of other animal characters solve problems and use good manners. Nobody says a word but they make very cute sounds. A narrator speaks throughout the show and talks to the characters as if he understands them. But what puts Maisy over the top in my book is the use of background music. It has a very catchy reggae-like sound. I swear I could watch it just to hear the music.

2. Backyardigans – Awesome computer animation. Plots foster creativity and the importance of imagination. The characters are all animals with “diverse” names such as Pablo, Uniqua, Tyrone, Tasha, and Austin. Fun songs, fun show.

3. Blue’s Clues – Okay, I know I harped on the repetitive nature of some shows and this one sure is repetitive…but it’s just so damn cute and catchy. I admit I find myself humming a Blues Clues tune once in a while. Great unique animation style, viewer participation done right, and plots that foster critical thinking skills.

4. Pinky Dinky Doo – I haven’t seen this too many times but I know it is brightly animated, funny, and it fosters imagination and good vocabulary (by introducing and integrating new vocabulary each show).

5. Lazy Town – What sells me is the music. Kind of a hip-hop/techno style. Fosters good health and exercise.

6. Jack’s Big Music Show – Features puppets as stars that interact with real life human guests. As the title suggests, lots of music including videos made just for kids.

7. Little Einsteins – Spawned by the popular Baby Einstein DVD’s (we own all but one…and we’ll own that one soon), this is definitely a show made with learning in mind. The kids travel to famous places, learn scientific stuff, and play famous classical music pieces.

8. Oswald – How can you not like a show whose main character is an octopus voiced by Fred Savage? It’s cute and relaxed. The characters range from animals (like penguins) to objects (like pumpkins and sunflowers). Oswald’s dog is a hot dog with legs, face, and tail. Clever!

9. Sesame Street - A classic, still going strong. Still as educational and engaging as ever.

10. Play With Me Sesame – A spin-off of Sesame Street featuring Bert, Ernie, Grover, and Prairie Dawn as the main characters but includes just about all the gang. Just as engaging and entertaining as Sesame Street in my opinion.

Honorable Mention: Max & Ruby. Cute show. I like how the little kid only says one or two words during the entire episode but it always somehow manages to end up being relevant to the plot.

Indifferent: These shows are okay. Not bad enough to avoid watching but not good enough to be put in my top 10: Doodlebops (although the “Just Get On the Bus song gets stuck in my head frequently), Dragon Tales, Stanley, Jo Jo’s Circus, Miss Spider, Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, Wonder Pets, Miffy, 64 Zoo Lane, Higgly Town Heroes, Blue’s Room, Bob the Builder, Arthur.

There's plenty of others I didn't include in this post. I'm bored, but just not that bored.

[Darth Whaler]

And here is my world famous DIAPER SCALE...

We have all changed many diapers in our lifetime (or will!). As you know, they can vary. If I changed bad diaper, sometimes I find it difficult to accurately explain to my wife just how bad it was if she was not there to see it. Therefore, I invented the following scale to better determine the severity of the diaper change. I based it on the scale meteorologists use to describe the severity of tornadoes.

Before you read on, in order to understand the scale, you may need to familiarize yourself with a term I use. It is what I call POOP MIGRATION. Poop migration occurs when the poop in a diaper does not stay where it's supposed to. Instead, it moves or migrates to hard-to-clean areas like the front or up the child's back.

I call this scale LOMBARDO'S ACCURATE POOPY DIAPER Scale or L.A.P.D. Scale. I have to include my last name because I feel this scale will revolutionize the diaper industry as well as significantly change the lives of those who use it. I may have to change the name though if the Los Angeles Police Department complains.


THE SCALE:

P-0 False alarm. No change of diaper necessary or diaper is just wet. No poop present.

P-1 Poop is somewhat solid. Only one wet wipe is need to cleanse the tush. Very little wiping time required and no change of clothing is necessary.

P-2 Most common diaper rating. Poop is much less solid and may be smeared. One or two wet wipes with increased wiping time required to cleanse the tush. No change of clothing is necessary.

P-3 Messier diaper leading to increased wiping time. Two or three wet wipes required. Poop may have migrated slightly to front or back. If an undergarment is present (such as a "onesie"), it may need to be changed due to very slight soiling. Outer clothing does not need to be changed.

P-4 Very messy diaper. Three or more wet wipes are required. Clothing soiled somewhat. Change of clothing required (undergarment and/or outer clothing). High probability of poop migration to front and/or back. Time required to change a P-4 is often lengthy.

P-5 Category reserved for "disaster diapers." Four or more wet wipes are required. Lots of poop migration to front and/or back. Often times a bath is required. Clothing severly soiled. Time required for changing a P-5 is very lengthy.


So there you have it. Now you can easily reference how bad a poopy diaper was by a simple letter/number combo. For example, my wife may come home from work and I inform her that the kids were good but one had a poopy diaper. How bad? Just a P-2, nothing major. Or what if I come from shopping and notice that the baby is in a different outfit from when I left the house. I may ask "did the baby have a bad diaper?" She may reply with a simple "P-4."

See? This system allows for quick, easy referencing. I invite you to try it out in your home. I hope you will find it beneficial and worthwhile.

[T-bone]

My son is a Thomas FANATIC.

[walong]

^ If you're ever in Denver, take him to Caboose Hobbies. It's 18,000 sq. ft. and they have a lot of Thomas stuff, in addition to tons of model RR stuff (in all scales) for us "adults" :) There are several really nice display layouts and there is a hands-on Thomas layout at the front of the store. You can also check out the brass imports in the display cases (tho I advise leaving the credit card home for that one) :)

[mattypo]

Does Ringo Starr still do the narration on thomas?

[Darth Whaler]

No, I don't think so. Just some no-name guy, I think. Ringo was better. George Carlin was the best!

[T-bone]

Just thought I'd throw this in here - I am now the official Cub-Master of West Paterson, NJ Pack 31.

Oh yea!

[Justin]

Dude, congratulations. Cub/Boy Scouts was a great part of my life, hopefully it will be for your son as well. I hope you have fun.

[Blizzard]

Have a kid in public school?

Don't understand the "No Child Left Behind" Act?

This explains it perfectly as if it were football.

Trust me, I work in Public Schools.


No Child Left Behind - Football Version

1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable. If after two years they have not won the championship their footballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win the championship.

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the same time even if they do not have the same conditions or opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for lack of interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents. ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!

3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren't interested in football, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like football.

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 4th, 8th, and 11th game.

This will create a New Age of Sports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimum goals. If no child gets ahead, then no child gets left behind. If parents do not like this new law, they are encouraged to vote for vouchers and support private schools that can screen out the non-athletes and prevent their children from having to go to school with bad football players.

This line is particularily sad, because I see it every day: If no child gets ahead, then no child gets left behind.

[Darth Star]

This line is particularily sad, because I see it every day: If no child gets ahead, then no child gets left behind.
That's the biggest problem with socialism, everyone isn't the same. What a rude awakening when they start real life.

[T-bone]

http://www.adhdnews.com/nov01.htm

awesome article.
we're having some of these same issues.
this really helped us out.

[kopernikuz]

http://www.adhdnews.com/nov01.htm

awesome article.
we're having some of these same issues.
this really helped us out.
Cool T, thanks for this... I was diagnosed with Adult ADD, and after talking with the doctor it really answered a lot of questions about my childhood too, but this was never really addressed when we were young. I take medication for it now, and my focus is really improved. I would've never guessed that I had a problem.

If my parents had known what we know now, my student life as a kid could've been much less stressful.

[T-bone]

Cool T, thanks for this... I was diagnosed with Adult ADD, and after talking with the doctor it really answered a lot of questions about my childhood too, but this was never really addressed when we were young. I take medication for it now, and my focus is really improved. I would've never guessed that I had a problem.

If my parents had known what we know now, my student life as a kid could've been much less stressful.

I'm really trying to avoid the medication thing with my son who is turning 7 on Dec 1st. It's really just behavior stuff and distraction with him. Otherwise he's doing ok in his grades but his math lately hasn't been very good - probably because I suck at math too. Heh.

[kopernikuz]

Yeah, I don't want to go the medication route with my kids either. I understand why people do it... but personally I don't want to medicate my children.

I believe that it is in fact problems with the way the brain processes... but it can also be corrected through instituting certain habits and behaviors. I'm no fan of putting a kid on drugs to combat it. As an adult I made the choice to try it because it has helped me do my job while I integrate more organization and try to develop the behaviors and habits that will make the ADD less of an issue.

Without the medication, I cannot slow down my brain. I cannot concentrate on any one thing. When I am reading a book, I'll go three pages before I realize I didn't read anything but spent the whole time thinking about a hundred other distracted odd things. My brain simply has a problem slowing down and processing things at a normal rate. It also becomes evident in being unable to finish things before starting a hundred more. It's not simply a matter of being disciplined... I literally cannot help myself and become uncomfortable if I am not multi-tasking... which would be great if I could also accomplish all the things I'm multi-tasking. Becoming more disciplined in my scheduling and taking time is helping significantly, but it is harder than you think when you have this problem.

I do not plan to take it forever, as I am alreasy seeing improvement in some areas just through implementing some of the things I discussed. Soon I should be able to combat some of it through modifying my behaviors. But I will still have the problem of my brain moving quicker than I can realistically process.

It's a real issue and it affects a lot of people who don't even know it... but granted... sometimes I did poorly in a subject simply because I couldn't stand it, lol. It's easier to help kids modify those behaviors at an early age than it is to deal with it later in life... hence the medication. But children are still impressionable enough and instilling behaviors and habits is oftentimes MORE effective than the medication... since often when you medicate the problem, you neglect working on the things that will eventually make the problem more liveable without it.

That's why I wish they'd been more informed about this problem when I was a kid... because I could've gotten help. Not medication... but instead they just thought I was a brat, lol.

My brother-in-law was diagnosed with ADD and was put on Ritalin... but his mother never really did anything to discipline and correct his behavior. So it never really helped him. He had developed bad habits and disruptive behaviors that he continued, even though he was being medicated for the mental processes. This is a good example of how medicating the child doesn't always help. You still have to work to develop proper behaviors, otherwise, you're only masking it temporarily.

It's like putting a bandage over a knife wound without removing the knife.

[T-bone]

Yeah, I don't want to go the medication route with my kids either. I understand why people do it... but personally I don't want to medicate my children.

I believe that it is in fact problems with the way the brain processes... but it can also be corrected through instituting certain habits and behaviors. I'm no fan of putting a kid on drugs to combat it. As an adult I made the choice to try it because it has helped me do my job while I integrate more organization and try to develop the behaviors and habits that will make the ADD less of an issue.

Without the medication, I cannot slow down my brain. I cannot concentrate on any one thing. When I am reading a book, I'll go three pages before I realize I didn't read anything but spent the whole time thinking about a hundred other distracted odd things. My brain simply has a problem slowing down and processing things at a normal rate. It also becomes evident in being unable to finish things before starting a hundred more. It's not simply a matter of being disciplined... I literally cannot help myself and become uncomfortable if I am not multi-tasking... which would be great if I could also accomplish all the things I'm multi-tasking. Becoming more disciplined in my scheduling and taking time is helping significantly, but it is harder than you think when you have this problem.

I do not plan to take it forever, as I am alreasy seeing improvement in some areas just through implementing some of the things I discussed. Soon I should be able to combat some of it through modifying my behaviors. But I will still have the problem of my brain moving quicker than I can realistically process.

It's a real issue and it affects a lot of people who don't even know it... but granted... sometimes I did poorly in a subject simply because I couldn't stand it, lol. It's easier to help kids modify those behaviors at an early age than it is to deal with it later in life... hence the medication. But children are still impressionable enough and instilling behaviors and habits is oftentimes MORE effective than the medication... since often when you medicate the problem, you neglect working on the things that will eventually make the problem more liveable without it.

I'm pretty sure I'm the same way. We all just have different ways of handling it.

[kopernikuz]

Yeah, Adderall kind of like nicotine gum... it helps curb the problem while you work on ending it for good.

[T-bone]

My son Zack is having surgery tomorrow to have an extra tooth removed. It's actually an extra tooth, not one supposed to be there. Kinda weird but it's pushing his front one out. It's like a fang but behind his front tooth. Kinda funky.

Anyhow, I'm a little nervous because he has a minor heart defect (small hole) so they're giving him all kinds of medicine beforehand and then there's the anasthesia, etc...

So this is the part where you all tell me he's gonna be just fine and those of you that pray say those little prayers, etc. You athiests can just... play a game of tic tac toe for him or something. :tease:

[RedMirax]

He will be totally fine and be up and about getting into things he shouldn't before you (or he) know it! :)

I will say a prayer for him.

[kopernikuz]

Wow T... definitely praying here... what time is he supposed to go in?

[T-bone]

Wow T... definitely praying here... what time is he supposed to go in?

early afternoon but we have to be there at 7:30am they say... we'll be home late at night.

i'll post here...

[Blizzard]

The Force will be with him, T. :)

[Darth Star]

I will say a prayer. I can sort of relate; one of my sons has a valve defect and we were told to notify the specialists if he ever needed any dental work.

[T-bone]

We're home and everything's great. Thanks all.

He was a real trooper - did fantastic.

[kopernikuz]

Great to hear T!!!!!! Tell him we're all proud of him too... lol.

[empire21]

Glad to hear it, T.

And good for your little dude for being such a trooper.

[T-bone]

Glad to hear it, T.

And good for your little dude for being such a trooper.

He's all over the place. You'd never know he had surgery today. Amazing. :stars:

[RedMirax]

Told ya! ;) :) I'm glad he's doing ok.

[leiaorgana]

He's all over the place. You'd never know he had surgery today. Amazing. :stars:

Lol! Awesome!!! That's something about the kids... they recover fantastically! :w00t:

Glad everything's fine now. ;)

[DblDwn]

Ok, first off, welcome to all of you. I started this thread for a particular reason. First, and foremost, to announce that my girlfriend and I are going have a baby. She's about 5 weeks along. I'm 29 and this will be my first. She is 34 and this will be her third, she has a 14 year old boy and a 12 year old girl from a previous marriage.

She keeps telling me that I have no idea what I am in for. From her hormonal episodes, to her lack of energy, to her increased appetite and cravings, all the way up into the delivery room, she says that I am in for a complete and utter shock to the peaceful and organized existence I have created for myself.

In order to help me get a better understanding of what to expect, and to better understand what she is going through, she is actually the one who suggested I start this thread in an attempt to get all you dad's out there to help me prepare and to get all you mother's out there, bless you all :) , to help me to better appreciate what she is trying to convey to me about how she is feeling and going to be feeling.

So any assistance is greatly appreciated. If someone just wants to share a story related to a time when they were pregnant, or their significant other was pregnant, that is more than welcome as well. Anyway, thank you for reading, and for participating.

[Javen]

I'm not a dad, but would like to say congrats. Sorry I have no advice.

[DblDwn]

Thank you Javen.

And sorry about starting the new thread T. I didn't see this one. Thank you for moving to the appropriate location.

[empire21]

Congratulations, DblDwn. :)

[Jedi Master Harrison]

My advice, as a single guy with no children would be.......run! Just joshing, congrats DblDwn. The only thing I know is that once the baby is born you have to make the most of all the time you get to spend with them as kids grow up so quick. But I'm sure you knew that anyway!

[T-bone]

You have taken your first step into a larger world.

[empire21]

You have taken your first step into a larger world.

:lol: Excellent quote.