I almost could not believe my ears as I listened to the story. My own daughter sat there in disbelief as I continued to ask pointed questions about how she succeeded. Her story is similar to my own daughter’s story because they share birthparents. She is the older sister, and they lived in the same home until shortly after my daughter turned three. Like my daughter, she has struggled over the years with lying, stealing, cutting, and destroying property that was not hers. Her lying was worse than my daughter’s lying, because at 15 she began making terrible accusations about... more

High blood sugar can cause damage to your whole body, including your teeth and gums. Having diabetes can increase your risk of cavities and gum disease even during childhood. If your child has type 1 or type 2 diabetes, then you already know how important it is to keep blood sugar levels under control. High blood sugar increases the supply of sugars and starches in your mouth, contributing to more plaque. The acid in plaque wears away the tooth enamel causing cavities. The plaque can harden under the... more

I wrote an article last year about MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, because my foster child brought a note home from her school about it. It was not one of those, “This is what contagious disease your child is being exposed to this week,” notes that you get almost every week from public school. The purpose of this informational sheet about MRSA was to calm worried parents because MRSA was getting quite a bit of publicity then. The note suggested washing hands frequently to prevent spreading germs, covering open sores with bandages,... more

We have a teenage daughter who has FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) whom we adopted at the age of six. Conversations with her can be difficult. Sometimes she misinterprets our words and sometimes she acts before we finish talking. There are even times when we tell her very clearly what she should do, but she does something else. She seems to have preconceived ideas about what she is going to do and doesn't really listen to our instructions. The older she gets the worse these habits seem to be getting. Life with her at home can be quite challenging. I find myself being frustrated... more

Is this exciting news for children and adults suffering from type 2 diabetes? A new hot cocoa contains special flavanols that actually improve blood flow in type 2 diabetics. Hey mom, chocolate really is good for you. It seems that Mars Incorporated is doing more than making chocolate bars lately. They have created their own scientific division called Symbioscience. Symbioscience joined forces with some researchers in Germany to study the effects of flavanols on vascular function.

This... more

While listening to the radio this morning, I heard a sad story that brought tears to my eyes. A little girl was surprisingly celebrating her third birthday. Specialists had told her parents that she wouldn’t live to see her first birthday. Her father went on to explain that she had severe brain degeneration caused by mitochondrial disease. He did not know how much longer she would be with their family. She had not achieved any of the familiar childhood milestones. Her family had been providing for her complete and total care for all of her three years.

He... more

Over the 14 years of providing a foster home to children, we have gotten used to many behaviors. You might even be surprised to know what we consider normal that is unless you have been a foster parent to toddlers and older children yourself. The children with passive aggressive behaviors far outnumber the “in your face” outspoken children in foster care. The outspoken children will tell you where to shove it so you know exactly what they are thinking. The passive aggressive children say “yes” to your face, and then break something or make a mess. It no... more

If your adopted child constantly leaves jackets and shoes outside, somewhere, but doesn’t know where, then your child might have ADHD.

If you cannot find your child because he is on the roof, he might have ADHD.

If your adopted child accidentally breaks something almost every day, she might have ADHD.

If your child broke your DSL cable plug, he might have ADHD.

If your child has broken chunks out of ceiling tiles while playing basketball indoors, he might have ADHD.

If your child decided that the fastest exit from the house was the... more

Have you adopted a child with passive aggressive behaviors? It can be difficult not to get angry when the child breaks your things several times a week. Perhaps your child is one who seems to enjoy making special messes that you find in the morning. Have you ever noticed that your child’s passive aggressiveness seems to get worse, or episodes more frequent, after one of your angry outburst? Unfortunately, your righteous anger seems to feed their behaviors. Therefore, the secret to reducing or eliminating your adopted child’s passive aggressiveness is to minimize your reactions.... more

Many of us rushed off to the tanning salons when they began opening all over the country. Today, even the smallest towns seem to have at least one tanning salon making them easily accessible to teenagers. Many parents thought the tanning salons were safer than outdoor tanning and encouraged the use. After all, the time of exposure was limited, there was privacy, and teenagers could avoid a burn on vacation by getting a starter tan. If you have recently adopted a teenager, she may pressure you for a membership. She may think that a tan could help her fit in, make... more