Pam Connell's comments

Methamphetamine Exposure in Babies - Blog Entry

15 Feb 2009 03:50 PM

Here's the link I mentioned above: http://adoption.families.com/blog/help-for-kids-with-fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder

Thanks Gina for pointing out that difference in what different "meth babies" actually ingest. I hadn't even thought of it. That is a big difference between cocaine and other substances.

I wonder if anti-drug programs in school specifically ask if the kids would be willing to ingest bleach or battery acid?

Unexpected References to Adoption in Children's Books: Little House on the Prairie - Blog Entry

15 Feb 2009 03:40 PM

Although Laura's Ma was quite afraid of the Indians, her Pa actually made some fairly enlightened comments in a few of the books.

The TV show, being more recent, generally portrays the Native Americans positively--I can think of two episodes in which white people who hate Indians are exposed as being bigoted and Charles strongly defends Native Americans and his family gets to know several.

I've usually just ended up saying, "Sometimes people are afraid of people who aren't like what they know. " in our case, I can say, "maybe you were even a little bit scared of me at first, because I don't look like most of the people you knew in Korea." I can also tell the story of my friend who went to an Asian orphanage and must have seemed rather intimidatingto the children--K is a large woman with a bushy mane of bright red hair.

Methamphetamine Exposure in Babies - Blog Entry

07 Feb 2009 05:53 PM

Karen and AL: thanks for writing--here is the link to a blog my coworker wrote about parenting the hurt child. It's not exclusively about meth exposure but it might be worth checking into some of the ideas for reaching children whose brains may work a bit differently . http://adoption.families.com/blog/book-review-parenting-the-hurt-child

Also, here's a blog I wrote on a book written by a mother of a teen affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. It has very specific information on the techniques and therapies this family has used.

There is so much we don't know about meth. I hope you will continue to share your experiences with our readers.

Teachers Split on Effectiveness of Homeschooling - Blog Entry

28 Jan 2009 10:47 PM

I agree Valorie--what I meant to say was that, since most teachers think the kids are on par with their grade level in terms of learning, but many still feel the kids are negatively impacted, I'm thinking the teachers are thinking about behavior or socialization impacts. I'm not trying to stereotype child actors, but if some children are making bushels of money, are interviewed in magazines, have their parents and manager rearrange their lives around the kids' schedules, are exposed to the Hollywood party scene and spend most of their non-study time with adult performers instead of "kid" activities...then I suspect those are the causes of negative socialization impacts, not the homeschooling!

Teachers Split on Effectiveness of Homeschooling - Blog Entry

27 Jan 2009 05:46 PM

These teachers are not seeing the typical homeschool population--okay, there is no "typical", but most homeschoolers aren't actors. Since the teachers say the kids are on par scholastically, I assume they refer to "socialization"-type issues--and mightn't being a child star have something to do with that?

Prospective Parents' Health Status: What Effect on Chances of Adoption? - Blog Entry

23 Jan 2009 03:27 AM

Thanks for the input. It does sound like those two medications may be the same.

Here, doctors often use the word "dependency" when a person gets withdrawal symptoms if they don't take a drug, because their body has grown used to it. It's not precisely the same as addiction, but often not great either...

But I understand now that you meant the simpler, logical use of dependency as in, you depend on something (like the medication) to keep you healthy.

Thanks for reading.

Prospective Parents' Health Status: What Effect on Chances of Adoption? - Blog Entry

08 Jan 2009 10:34 PM

I'm not familiar with warfin dependency. I've heard of a blood thinner (anti-clotting) medicine with a similar name, but I didn't think it was the kind of drug that people could develop a dependency/addiction to.

Telling Family and Friends that You are Adopting - Blog Entry

08 Jan 2009 10:32 PM

Hi KJulius, I just wrote a couple of blogs that address this issue--this morning's addresses how it might affect domestic adoption, tomorrow morning's addresses international adoption and health issues. I hope this helps. I hope to hear from you again.

PS--My grandfather had cancer when he was 40--he is now ninety and has never had a recurrence.

Reasons I am glad we homeschool: Cheating on tests - Blog Entry

08 Jan 2009 12:42 AM

Some things are so different in different places that we can't even see that we're making assumptions on how things are.

I've gotten the impression from reading and discussing with my international friends that other countries place more emphasis on standardized tests that are administered nationwide

Here in the U.S. we do have a few national exams, and most universities require at least one of them for entrance. Examples are the SAT (Scholastic Achievement Test)and the ACT.

Although the above exams do count toward college admittance, they are not the largest part. The largest part depends on the grades a student receives throughout his or her four years of high school classes. Teachers make up their own tests. Students usually have tests in each subject either weekly or every few weeks.

Also, in the United States most of the power of education depends on the state governments. Most states in turn give most of the power of determining curriculum to local school districts.

My son's teachers (my son is 10 years old) usually give the kids tests every week in math and spelling and every few weeks in social studies (history and geography) and science. These tests will make up a large portion of the grades his teachers will assign him in his three yearly report cards. Homework assignments, projects and papers, and participation in class discussions also earn points towards grades ( which are called marks in some places, I believe).

My son will only have to take standardized tests mandated by Washington state in fourth, seventh and tenth grades (roughly ages 9 or 10, 13 or 14, and 15 or 16 years old). The first two tests are solely to evaluate the school. The only one that matters to my child's future is the one in 10th graded. He must meet standards to receive his high school diploma.

These three tests are the only ones that are written and scored by officials outside the school. But colleges and universities will be much more interested in his report cards from school, where the grades are given by the teachers from tests they write themselves. Most teachers give their students a study guide of what to study, although of course the student won't know exactly which questions are on the test or how they will be worded.

Hope that helps. I can't stress enough that the state governments and local school districts are their own governing bodies, not subdivisions of the national government. They have to abide by a few national regulations (more if they want supplemental funding from the national or state government for certain programs), but mostly they are vastly different in different parts of the U.S.

Christmas Cookie Bars - Blog Entry

31 Dec 2008 05:15 PM

These are great--I love making bar cookies. But be aware that many people who are allergic to peanuts (and some who are not) are allergic to tree nuts, thus will be allergic to almond extract as well.

The extract is the hardest part of my son's food allergies. He knows to check for nuts in baked goods, but I have found natural almond flavoring in many cherry-flavored things and other baked goods, and even in cherry-flavored cough drops!

I appreciate the service you did for our troops--thank you.