ParentWonder

Helping Parents Succeed

Drug switch plunges boy into hell

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When Wade Somani was put on a new drug to calm his hyperactivity and aggression, he suffered hallucinations and completely lost control.

After two years on Ritalin, he was put on Rubifen in April under Government subsidy changes to save $1 million a year.

"He had terrible hallucinations. He had shaking spasms in his legs. He was throwing himself around the room, screaming and howling that he was in agony," his mother, Jude Betham of Pukekohe, recalled yesterday. "We were very frightened because we’ve never seen him like that before."

Full report: NZ Herald
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Outsourcing your parenting tasks

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No time to prepare lunch for your kids? Not free to send and pick up your son from a soccer training?

No worries. You can outsource these tasks to someone else. Parenting is getting more complicated now with today’s busy lifestyle.

I read with amazement this story of Parenting Subcontractors about a company called Health e-Lunch Kids. It charges parents $4.99 apiece for the homemade, nutritious meals it delivers each day.

Need ferrying services for kids? You may need to call Mother Hen’s Helpers.

I am not sure if parenting subcontractors would help improve parent-child relationship. Some people may end up spend less time with children because of this service. They use the “saved” time on their work instead.

But personally, I still think parents have to involve and spend time with children. You just can’t let others do the job for you. Listening to and communicate with children are, among others, stuff that you can’t outsource.
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Single mom: How do I tell my daughter about her irresponsible father

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Question: As I’m a single mother (my husband and I have been a part from the time I was 7 months pregnant with my daughter), how do I answer my daughter (she’s 2 years and 8 months) if and when she asks me about her father — without confusing her and making her feel that it’s her fault.

I am so afraid that she will blame herself for her father’s irresponsibility. So far I have never mentioned her father to her. And as she has never seen him before, it has not been an issue yet. I’m just trying to prepare myself when she starts asking questions.

Singlemom

Answer: You are right about the need to prepare answers for your child regarding her father. At every stage of her life, she will have different questions about her family. Your answers should be tailored according to her level of understanding. At two years, she may want to know whether she has a daddy. Your answer should be “Yes. You have a daddy. He is not with us right now.” When she gets older, she may want to know more. You can start to give her the answers that are appropriate to her questions. Do not taint your answers with your negative feelings towards her father. This may further complicate the issues of not having her father around.

If you do not involve your child in your animosity with your ex-spouse, your child will not get hurt or blame herself for the divorce. As your child grows, you must work towards bringing her up confident and independent. She can grow up feeling loved, supported and secure in your single parent home environment.

Join a single-parent support group. You can find good help in single parents who have gone through the challenges of raising children on their own.

Ruth Liew is an expert in early childhood education, child development, parenting, and child care. She is also an author and a columnist.

See also:
Blog: Diary of a Single Mom on the Edge

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Internet police avert girl’s suicide plans

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An 11-year-old schoolgirl who told Internet chat-room visitors that she was planning to kill herself was traced by Attica electronic crime squad officers who informed her parents, it was revealed yesterday.

Working on tipoffs, police traced the messages to the girl’s home and informed her parents that the girl had expressed her intention to commit suicide, citing personal problems. The parents said they had not been aware that their daughter was unhappy.

Full report: ekathimerini.com

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