The Decision Whether To Medicate Your Child

We all have an opinion about this topic. Well, most of us do anyway. On the one hand, ADHD is probably over diagnosed and therefore many children are needlessly medicated. On the other hand, if medication can help a child function better in school and in life, why keep that help away from him or her?

One of my very favorite bloggers, Dawn Meehan, wrote a really great post about this subject. She gives her personal experience, as a mother of 6 kids, then 10 pieces of advice to consider when making this decision. I found it very insightful, so I wanted to pass it along to you all. Enjoy!

ADHD: To Medicate or Not to Medicate? How You Can Decide
By Dawn Damalas Meehan

Just remember, whatever you decide will be right for you. Don’t let others influence your decision. And as Dawn points out, nothing is forever. If you decide to change your mind, that’s okay, too!

Karen

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I don’t know, maybe I have adult ADD. Maybe it’s not just random forgetfulness and disorganization and old age. Maybe, just maybe, I can blame it on something else!

Here’s a sampling of what’s going on in my brain right now:

1. Okay, it’s 75 degrees outside, but for sure, if I bring out some clothes to wear, it will immediately turn cold again, so what’s the point. By the way, what to wear today when the boys are swimming in the indoor pool at the YMCA earning a cub scout badge, cuz it’s going to be really hot in there?
2. Somehow I need to get DH to sew my curtains before my jewelry party that I’m hosting next week.  Hmmm, how to do that?
3. And how to get everyone to really clean the house while I’m out of town this weekend so it looks good for the party?
4. In fact, how to keep them from totally destroying the house?
5. I think our calendar for cub scouts ends at the end of this year.  We still have January through May to plan for. Ugh!
6. How am I going to arrange the furniture for the jewelry party? And exactly what am I serving?
7. When am I packing for my trip to Dallas? Don’t forget to check in tomorrow morning so I’m in Group A.
8. Gotta start planning for Thanksgiving.  When is it again?
9. Don’t forget charity pickup before you leave for Dallas in the morning.
10. Maybe DH can get my laptop fixed while I’m in Dallas. Bwahahahahaha!!!!!!
11. I’m really behind on my Dr. Phil's and Oprah’s.  When, oh when, will I EVER catch up????

It just gets even more boring and crazy from there.  Does everyone have this problem?  (Please say yes!)  Besides organizing my desk, I need to organize my BRAIN!

Hmmm, maybe that’s an idea for our next book…

Karen

Tuesday Debate- The Devil Called High Fructose Corn Syrup

I did a very bad thing. I went grocery shopping yesterday and allowed my kids to pick a cereal. I do this about three times a year. Too bad I caved the day before the first day of school. Of COURSE they picked something like Trix Swirls with as much high fructose corn syrup as possible.  So of course, they will want it first thing tomorrow morning. You know me, sugar them up and send them off to school.

So do you REALLY think it's that bad for them? What about in bread? Snacks? Obviously soda has to be limited. But how much is in our food and does it really make a difference? What if your child is diagnosed ADD/ADHD? Is this as bad as red dye #5?

Tell me what you know-

Melissa