Post-it Note Tuesday!!!

 

Keeping it Simple from Boyland,

~Nacia
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Huffing: The choice of a new generation

This topic is not in my usual repertoire for Moms in Boyland, but since I am mother who wants her children to live the healthiest and most productive life, I thought this would be relevant.

When I was in middle school a woman, we called the "drug lady" would meet with our class about once a month to discuss all the dangers of drugs and alcohol. During the hour we would all shout out names of drugs we had heard of, and she would proceed to tell us the harmful side-effects of each. We discussed peer-pressure and the related stresses of kids our age. I especially liked the class because it provided a brief interlude between Math and Social Studies. I didn't feel like it shed any new light on the topics of drugs and alcohol since I was raised with a mother who let me know that no topic was off limits. But for those kids not able to ask those same questions with their parents, it gave them a safe place to get information.

A few weeks ago my 11 year old son came home and unloaded his daily stack of school papers. One of them included "facts" about Marijuana use. I was pleased to hear that his school district was providing the fifth graders with a drug prevention counselor to explain to them the issues that they might soon be facing in the junior high. I asked my son what they discussed in class. He said they read a story about a boy, and his magic hat. According to the story, whenever he would put on his magic hat he would forget all of his responsibilities, become lazy, his and his eyes would get red. The more he wore this hat the less he would act like himself. His participation in athletics decreased and his grades would plummet. You may have guessed it, but this kid was smoking the sticky icky, ganja, Mary-J, or wacky-tobacky... better known as Marijuana. Now I get it, they want our kids to have an easy way to relate wearing (a probably tie-dyed) hat to smoking pot. I am all for giving kids information about how the abuse of any kind of drug can be harmful, or even deadly. The story and its message is not what alarmed me.

When I asked my son what other drugs were discussed in class his answer "None". I was shocked. In a country were more people are dying by overdosing on prescription medications, alcohol related poisoning accidents, toxic agents, and poor diet (aka food addiction) our schools choose to use 1950's style propaganda to make our children believe Marijuana is the thing they should be most afraid of. According to a statement by the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services:

In 1999, almost all drug overdose deaths fell into one of three categories.  The most common type was called “narcotics,” and it included prescription painkillers, called opioids, in addition to cocaine and heroin. OxyContin® and Vicodin® are examples of opioid painkillers. Methadone is also now widely used as a painkiller in addition to its use for treatment of addiction.

According to a study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2004:

The leading causes of death in 2000 were tobacco (435,000 deaths; 18.1% of total US deaths), poor diet and physical inactivity (400,000 deaths; 16.6%), and alcohol consumption (85,000 deaths; 3.5%). Other actual causes of death were microbial agents (75,000), toxic agents (55,000), motor vehicle crashes (43,000), incidents involving firearms (29,000), and sexual behaviors (20,000).

The annual number of people who died from the use of Marijuana is 0%.

Estimates suggest that from twenty million to fifty million Americans routinely, albeit illegally, smoke marijuana without the benefit of direct medical supervision. Yet, despite this long history of use and the extraordinarily high numbers of social smokers, there are simply no credible medical reports to suggest that consuming marijuana has caused a single death.

During my son's class there was very little mention of cocaine, crack, methamphetamines, pain killers, anti-depressants or a newer way to get high called "huffing".  I had heard of kids inhaling toxic chemicals to get a high, but I had no idea it had become so prevalent. The U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services  recently reported that 1.1 million American children have used inhalants such as "shoe polish, glue, aerosol air fresheners, hair sprays, nail polish, paint solvents, degreasers, gasoline or lighter fluids" to get high between 2006-2007. These are all products that can be easily and legally purchased at your local grocery store. 18% of 8th graders have admitted to huffing a substance to get high at least once in their lifetime. Death can occur from first time use, as well as prolonged abuse. This open letter, from father Jeff Williams, recounts how he lost his 14 year old son from huffing household dust remover.

Today, both kids and their parents need to be informed about "drugs" that cover a much larger scope then just Marijuana, or even alcohol. I believe our schools need to provide a more complete picture when presenting information that could save our children's lives.

How can parents and schools work together to continually update their drug-education programs so they are more relevant and less antiquated?

Concerned about our kids from Boyland,

~Nacia
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2 Cent Tuesdays: Teen Cribs

My blogger friend The Maternal Experiment created a great idea this week to add some feedback and generate comments to her own blog. Every Tuesday she will be posting a topic where are readers can have an opinion free-for-all. This weeks topic: Teen Cribs.

Now just like Sabreena I was curious about this version of the MTV show Cribs. The original was a voyeuristic view into the home of the mega wealthy including pop stars, sports figures, and that guy who owns Virgin Airlines (he has his own flippin island!). It was a way for us middle income Americans to drool over palatial estates, enormous pools, and even some stripper poles. Now all these things are on my list of things I have only imagined having (sorry not the stripper pole honey). They obviously worked very hard to get the popcorn maker for their personal home theater, or the 8 Bentley's in their driveway. The same can not be said for these entitled brats who parade around their houses like they pay the mortgage. There is just something wrong about teenagers, who are already in a time of their lives when fitting in and being popular are at the height of the to-do list, are flaunting their parents hard-earned luxuries and passing them off as if they had anything to do with it.

Teen Cribs- I'll pass - bring on The Jersey Shore! (I think I just lost 10 IQ points)

What do you think?

Giving my 2 Cents from Boyland,

~Nacia
1 COMMENTS

Yeah I said it!

My apologies in advance if this vlog is too harsh (my husband made me say that). Please know this post was recorded after the first 5 days of P90X, very early in the morning, with no breakfast. Yeah I know those sound like excuses, but whatever I haven't had sugar all week, I was bound to do something CRAZY!



Saying too much in Boyland,

~Nacia
2 COMMENTS

You want me to do WHAT?

Hey everyone! It has been wayyyy too long since I have posted anything. I've had busy 2 weeks. Between a wedding, having family in town, and the 3rd cord for my laptop dying (That could be a whole other post!) I've been slacking on my blogging duties. So here is an update on whats been going on.

Last week I discovered that the baby making Gods didn't have it in the stars for me to get pregnant this month. I am disappointed, to say the least. I really thought this was going to be a piece of cake. Granted as I had said before I've never "tried" to get pregnant. Unfortunately I think that is why it worked. Even though I said last month I was going to "Let go, and let God" I was completely full of BS and thought about it everyday. My wonderful Hubby suggested after this last go around that we take a break and not time, schedule, or monitor our sexual activity (what fun is that!?) I reluctantly agreed. I have a lot going on just trying to finish up my real estate course while at home ALL DAY with a clingy 4 year old. Adding the stress of trying to conceive was not helping anyone. I was not happy with my hubby's request, but I guess it made sense.

Then came the real stroke of GENIUS! The Hubby has been working really hard the last 5 months at getting his body back into the shape he was in before my cooking and sympathy baby weight packed on the pounds. I was supposed to have joined him on this endeavor, but I like Oreo Cakesters and eating out way too much. One night after watching the P90X infomercial for about the 10th time he turned to me and said, "Honey we should do that together!". The enthusiasm in his voice was actually cute, since he rarely speaks without a soothing monotone voice. After the laughter subsided and the tears stopped rolling down my face, I realized he was on to something. When would be a more opportune time for the Universe to laugh in MY face at my baby making efforts, then to put 3 months into shaping a lean, mean, sculpted machine, and then have it all turned to mush by wonderful baby bump!!!??? It was perfect! I knew that as soon as I reached the toned physique I  yearned for since college I'd get knocked up! It was the most perfect, ironical, ass-backward plan, he had ever concocted, and it just might work. TAKE THAT Universe!

This morning at 6 am the Hubby and I hit up Day 2 of this Hitler-style workout regimen. Muscles that I didn't know existed hurt and sneezing is now followed by intense abdominal pain. Yeah we'll see who has the last laugh Universe! Ow, I think pulled another muscle.

Feeling the Burn from Boyland,

~Nacia
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Waiting Bites....

Just a quick update, since I'm currently on throw-up watch. Unfortunately it's not mine. Bryson has a killer cough that has been making him ill all morning. So, not sure I'm knocked up, but I'm sure eating like it. Yesterday I made banana cupcakes with Cinnamon icing. The day before that,  it was cinnamon rolls from scratch (which have made their first and last appearance in this house considering they were hard mounds of dough). I've been cleaning like a fiend even though the "nesting" phase shouldn't come until about month 5. I've hung shelves, curtain rods, new curtains, decided to paint my dining room table, and rearranged Bryson's room and closet. Or maybe I'm channeling my inner 1950's June Cleaver. Who knew she even existed? Either way my house is looking better then ever so I guess I can't complain too much.

On Tuesday I will be posting a new Vlog to update everyone on "Prego or No Prego, that is the question". I really do hope it's good news this week. I'm not sure if Brian can handle anymore "scheduled" coloring. Who knew he would be so emotional about it. He asked that I not make it so obvious that I was just trying to get his sperm. He wants spontaneity, so cute. It makes me chuckle a little. What a reversal of roles.

Has your husband or significant other ever pulled a "woman's " move on you?

Waiting Again from Boyland,

~Nacia
2 COMMENTS