Mountain Xpress Forums

Dentists

2009-11-06T13:28:49-05:00

I took my son to the dentist this morning, then I learned that their web address is http://www.ashevillepedo.com

What would you do?

The Great Chocolate Milk Controversy

2009-11-11T16:45:55-05:00

Evidently, there’s a battle about whether or not chocolate milk should be served in schools because of the sugar content.

From USA Today ... um ... yesterday ...

The creators of the “Got Milk?” campaign are getting ready to make a big push to keep chocolate milk on kids’ minds and on school lunch menus, a plan that has some educators and obesity activists none too pleased.

The new ad campaign from the dairy industry, set to launch Monday, emphasizes that sugary flavorings are ways to get kids to drink milk. Without them, some youngsters won’t drink regular milk and won’t get its nutrients, the ads say.

The “Raise your hand for chocolate milk” campaign starts Monday with an ad in USA TODAY featuring chocolatey brown colors and the launch of a website that asks people to sign a petition declaring their support for chocolate milk in school.

But some educators and obesity experts say kids get enough calcium — essential for bone growth — and will drink white milk if it’s the only milk offered. They say kids get too much sugar, which is heightening America’s obesity problem, and schools shouldn’t serve chocolate milk at all.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-11-09-choc-milk_N.htm?csp=34

Of course, there’s another battle going on, which is that other beverage makers want a slice of the market share that milk has had in public schools since the 1940s. If you think about it, milk has had a de facto monopoly of school lunches for the past 60 years or so, and it’s probably worth examining the rationale behind that.

From what I’ve been able to find in just sort of casually looking around the internet, the U.S. dairy industry sells about 460 million gallons of milk to American schools each year, accounting for about 7% of total milk sales. And a little more than half of all chocolate milk on the market is sold in schools. Given that the dairy industry is a $110-ish billion a year behemoth, we’re talking about billions — maybe even tens of billions — of dollars here. If I was in the juice or soy milk trade, you’d bet I’d want to get in on that action.

Is chocolate milk a dangerous health hazard? Or is this just the result of a secret battle for government contracts? And how do you feel about kids dietary needs being caught in the crossfire?

Child rearing methods

2009-10-02T12:47:47-05:00

After the recent discussion of Love and Logic, I’d be interested to hear other parents’ experiences on what works for them. Having two boys relatively close in age, a lot of our issues involve infighting and knowing when it is appropriate to be crazy. Love and Logic has helped with this a lot, and we now have a good rewards system. What do you do?

spare the rod and spoil the child

2008-07-05T18:56:47-05:00

On the Discourse of Distractions blog i read (and responded):

I briefly visited one of my in-laws (Johnny, uncle to my wife) on the 4th. It was sort of a family reunion. One of the many children running wild in the yard (I know not his name nor his mother’s; my wife’s father was one of 15 children and it is much too difficult for me to remember their names and those of the 2-3 generations of offspring) was climbing on a rather young Bradford pear tree.

Bradfords are a very soft wood and tend to split easily. The child’s mother yelled at him to “get out of that tree right now!” When the child asked why, the mother said, “Because Johnny’s gonna whip you!” The child quickly climbed down.

Her ignorant comment immediately reminded me of this story, zen. I imagine the reason she didn’t say, “because I said so,” is that she had let this child get away with ignoring her so many times in the past, she knew her word carried no authority with the him. If she had said, “because you might break it,” i imagine his response would have been a look of confusion because she had failed to teach the child any sense of respect for other people’s property. Instead, she threatened the boy with violence, albeit deceitfully and vicariously.

Johnny is a very nice guy and certainly would not whip someone’s child, whether a relative or not. This mother, in her stupidity, has now instilled distrust and fear in this child - a fear that Johnny, given minor cause, will physically harm him. I wonder how many times in this child’s life she will teach him lessons like this - and what type of person he will grow up to be.

It’s amazing that parents use words instead of deeds to discipline. And i don’t mean ‘beating his ass’ but learning to follow up exactly and unfailingly with their threats. Sure, threaten to take away his gameboy for a week, go without supper, or even a spanking if the parent can do that with appropriate love, but follow through with it. Mete the punishment immediately and without malice, but don’t endlessly threaten for the very reason this story is a lesson - because, like drugs, you’ll have to escalate the dosage to have any effect at all!

—-

Probably my comment about spanking will be taken up as a symptom of child abuse, but as a child i was spanked when i deserved it and with love. i thank my parents to their very core because i needed it and they’re proud of how i turned out, loving, respectful and open.

What made you decide to become a parent?

2009-01-26T14:53:00-05:00

Was it just a switch that went off one day? Did you always want to be one? Did you have an unplanned pregnancy and decide to go with it?

I’m curious about this, because the idea of having kids doesn’t appeal to me at all, but obviously there’s a reason people do it.

Separated Families

2009-07-11T19:14:28-05:00

Okay, 24 hours was all I could take of having my personal story on here. It was a good personal challenge to myself and very cathartic. I appreciate the suggestions. So, maybe we can open it up to just a general discussion on separated families if anyone has anything to say.

TV news scare: Bathtub = Kiddie death trap

2009-07-15T13:12:23-05:00

Thanks for the scaremongering news story against tried-and-tested hygiene tools, KBAL 11 ...

More than 43,000 children head to the emergency room each year after slipping or falling in a bath tub, according to researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

That works out to about 120 injuries in a shower or tub each day.

“Unfortunately, adult supervision isn’t enough to prevent these injuries, they happen so quickly that a parent simply can’t react quickly enough to prevent them,” said Dr. Gary Smith. “Therefore. it is important to prevent them from happening by using a slip resistant mat inside and outside the bath and shower.”

http://www.wbaltv.com/health/20047960/detail.html

Or maybe I’m wrong, and this really is an epidemic. Bathtubs: The silent killer.

Longer walks await students

2009-06-23T08:44:38-05:00

From the AC-T ...

ASHEVILLE — Some students may have to walk up to a mile to get to their bus stops next school year.

Proposed budget cuts may force school systems across the state to significantly decrease the number of miles buses travel to pick up and drop off students, which means they’ll have to move bus stops farther from students’ homes.

The N.C. House’s proposed budget calls for cutting 7.5 percent of the funding to school transportation departments — a loss of more than $29 million statewide. Asheville City and Buncombe County schools would lose $492,000.

“It’s going to have a negative impact on children,” said Harold Laflin, director of transportation for Buncombe County Schools. “There’s no way around that. We will be forced to reduce the level of service that we provide to children.”

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090622/NEWS01/906220309/1009

While it probably won’t kill these kids to walk a little further to the bus stops—I used to have to walk 10 miles in the snow, uphill in both directions—I’m sure this is kind of bummer for local parents who already have enough to worry about.

Children who don’t sleep much

2008-12-21T06:30:36-05:00

It is 4:08 am. The boy is jumping up and down in front of the dead TV and laughing at his reflection. I generally encourage this approach to life but I am tired. Who can lend me some chloroform? The boy will not sleep.

I’m looking for something beyond conventional wisdom. I’ve tried all that. His diet is above reproach.

He likes to stay awake for 22 hours and sleep for 12. A 34 hour cycle does not jive with the rest of us. He’s 33 months old and has an exquisite attention span so I don’t think he’s Hyper/ADD/etcetera.

School Uniforms

2009-03-16T12:25:45-05:00

So what does everyone think about the possibility of school uniforms within the Asheville City system? There is a picture of the proposed uniform over on that other newspaper website.
Pros? Cons? What options would you like to see?

I am for the uniforms. I was raised in an enviroment that taught if you show up dressed to learn that is what takes place. I do think they are going to have to go with a darker colored pant and lighter colored shirt, khakis tend to get dingy over time even with the best washing routine and the maroon tops will fade. I do have some questions though before I am all in… How much? This is not of great importance for me, I feel like if I buy the uniforms I will have to buy a few less articles of regular clothing and it will basically even out. Where will the uniforms be made? I think it would be so great if we could go local and help keep the money in WNC, although I think far fetched that our school board would come up with such a fantastic idea. Will they choose something flattering? Hey I was the fat kid in school and I didn’t tuck my shirts, etc.. I hope they give some consideration that kids come in different shapes, sizes, heights… I’d really like to see a pant, shorts, capris, and skirt available for the bottoms and two or three different style shirts both short and long sleeve.

Chime in, agree, disagree, bash…