Motherly Law

Making an Informed Decision: Alternative Medicine Part II

As I was thinking about yesterday's post on homeopathic remedies, I decided that perhaps I should have provided more background information and definitions regarding alternative medicine choices. To be clear, honey, as referred to yesterday in the opening paragraph, is not a homeopathic remedy. My point was simply that I, personally, use a combination of types of treatments; whatever I think is the best approach given the symptoms and issues at the time.

Here is a bit more information on a few alternative medicine approaches:

Holistic Health is looking at the body as a whole and working cooperatively with all systems and practitioners to achieve optimal health in mind, body and spirit. This means taking stock of your health on a spiritual, physical, nutritional, social, environmental, emotional and lifestyle level. For more information on holistic health, check out this page of the American Holistic Health Association site.

Homeopathy is medical science that is based on the "law of similar"; that is, the idea that like cures like. So, the theory goes that any substance that will produce certain symptoms in a healthy person can cure like symptoms in a person who is sick. For instance, take an onion: when you chop an onion, the juices will make your eyes water and nose run; now think of a person with hay fever; suffering from watery eyes and runny nose; a homeopathic remedy made from an extremely diluted onion can relieve these symptoms. There over 3,000 substances used as homeopathic remedies that treat the mundane cold, annoying allergies, painful arthritis and much more. Read more about Homeopathy here.

Herbal Medicine uses herbs to produce dietary supplements that improve a person's health. The supplements are sold over the counter in tablets, teas, extracts, powders and dried plants. However, many herbal remedies can also produce adverse effects in certain people. Herbal remedies should not be taken without consulting with a medical doctor.

There are many different approaches for each of us to choose from when trying to attain the best possible healthy, in both mind and body. Of course, there are other choices, including modern medicine, other than those listed here.

Watch for my announcement about the Motherly Law Virtual Cookie Exchange later; I would LOVE for you to participate. Over and out...

Anna

A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down: Homeopathic Remedies v. Pharmaceutical Drugs

Honey, Please!

When I wake to a little one asking for honey, I know I've got a sick boy with a sore throat or cough. At our house we start with a spoonful of honey for these symptoms. That thick, sticky, antimicrobial natural medicine often does the trick in the middle of the night, allowing my little guy to return to peaceful sleep despite congestion, sore throat and/or cough. Of course, I don't rely solely on natural remedies. I also stock children's ibuprofen, acetaminophen, Emetrol (for upset tummies), homeopathic cold and flu tabs from Boiron, medicated cough suppressant rub (a God send for stuffy, congested, croupy, snotty nights) and medicated first aid salve; both from J.R. Watkins Apothecary.

Treating our Kids Right

Intuition, a gut feeling, a sixth sense, instinct; call it what you will, but whatever it is, as a mom, I listen to mine frequently. When it comes to deciphering whether my son's runny nose and cough is just a cold; my son's headache and vomiting are actually strep throat in disguise; or I should make a bee line to the emergency room when his fever spikes, even when the nurse on the phone tells me I can wait and see, I trust my gut instinct and seek appropriate treatment.

A parent's primary interests are the health and safety of his or her child. To that end, the parent tunes in to the child to pick up signs of distress or ailment in order to attack any infection at the first symptom.

The question is when a parent goes in to battle an earache, teething pain, the flu, a cold, a cough, an upset tummy or other treatable malady does Dr. Mom or Dr. Dad reach for pharmaceutical drugs or homeopathic remedies to soothe and restore the health of the sick child? There are now just as many homeopathic remedies to choose from as there are pharmaceutical drugs.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy has been around for hundreds of years, but has only recently become more mainstream. Europe has been much more open to such treatments, but in the last decade the United States has begun to embrace these natural remedies spending billions of dollars on homeopathic products.

From the Greek words "homio" meaning like or similar and "pathos" meaning treatment, homeopathy is the practice of healing the body with highly diluted natural occurring substances that create similar symptoms when taken in large doses. It's a natural way of providing remedies to ailments, but not everyone believes that homeopathic remedies work.

Some parents question whether these natural elixirs are safe for their kids to use and would rather stick to over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs. Other parents have opted to take a better look at alternative medicines in light of the recent over-the-counter children's pharmaceutical drug recalls due to dosing issues in some instances and tiny metal shavings in another instance. And some parents have always used homeopathic remedies as their first line of defense when it comes to minor injuries and illnesses.

Homeopathic Remedies & Pharmaceutical Drugs

Homeopathic remedies are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA does categorize homeopathic remedies as a drug rather than a dietary supplement. Remedies labeled as such must meet the FDA's standards of Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States (HPUS) just as pharmaceutical drugs must meet the agency's United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards. However, according to the FDA's Compliance Policy Guide (CPG), compliance with the HPUS or USP "does not establish that it has been shown by appropriate means to be safe, effective, and not misbranded for its intended use."

So, are these remedies safe for use by children? Most doctors agree they are safe for use. Some doctors even subscribe to such treatments in place of over-the-counter pharmaceutical remedies. Since the active ingredients are so greatly diluted, there isn't much danger in overdosing as is a big concern with over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs meant for children.

These remedies are natural and non-toxic and should not cause any adverse reactions. Even still, care should be taken to discontinue use if any negative side effects appear. Of course, if the illness persists for more than five days, the child should see a doctor for further treatment.

Hyland's and Boiron are two of the leading homeopathic remedies companies in the U.S. These companies provide hundreds of natural remedies for both children and adults and are stocked in pharmacies, natural foods stores and co-ops across the country.

Whether homeopathy truly works is subject to debate. There are those who are devoted followers those who think homeopathic remedies are simply a placebo; and those who dabble in homeopathy with medicine cabinets filled with homeopathic remedies standing shoulder to shoulder with pharmaceutical drugs.

The Scoop

Many parents like the idea of using natural cures to soothe their kids when they suffer mild illnesses, injuries or pains, but will turn to ibuprofen or acetaminophen when the fever shoots up in the middle of the night. For most parents, it's a delicate balancing act of keeping as many toxins and potentially harmful substances out of their children's bodies while maintaining their health and wellness.

So, where do you fall in this wide spectrum? I'm more of a dabbler with both pharmaceutical drugs and homeopathic remedies in my cabinet. Here's hoping for a healthy holiday season! Over and out...

Anna

Getting Stuck for a Sticker: Reasons to Get Vaccines

Advancing in Age

I'm in an odd state of excitement and denial. I can't believe I have a child about to go to Kindergarten. I'm thrilled for him because he is so excited about the prospect of entering school, but I'm a little scared of starting the whole school cycle. I'm not looking forward to school bullies or being restricted by school year schedules or parent teacher conferences (I always hated those when I was the student too. I always imagined the worst), etc, but I am looking forward to Darling 1 meeting friends and learning new and exciting things through hands-on experiments at his charter school.

I keep looking at my "baby" and wondering where my "little peanut" went. He is so big, tall and mature, yet still so young and vulnerable too. I recently called to make Darling 1's 5 Year-Old Well Check appointment with his pediatrician. Darling 1 was standing there when I made the appointment over the phone. When I got off the phone, he said, "But that means I'll have to get a shot, and I don't like shots!"

Reasons to Get Stuck

This is true. He doesn't like a shot, but who does? And yet, we all endure the quick jab, the immediate temporary pain and eventual muscle pain that dissipates within a few days all for the sake of keeping illnesses at bay. I explained all this to him, and then promised him a fruit smoothie from Jamba Juice after the appointment.

Here are the top ten reasons to get vaccines, as an adult or a child:

1. You will feel good about doing your part to stop the spread of potentially deadly illnesses;
2. You don't have to worry about getting lockjaw (Tetanus) when you step on a rusty nail or get bitten by a cat (cats carry Tetanus in their intestines); which can happen at any age;
3. The flu is NOT fun; and it could be deadly for a person of any age;
4. It's the law if you intend to send your child to school or daycare;
5. You and your family can travel to other countries without worrying about contracting diseases that may not be so rare there;
6. You can milk the muscle pain side effect and get out of getting up with the baby or changing a diaper or dealing with a temper tantrum (at least for one day and night);
7. You won't be up nights worrying that your child might somehow contract polio;
8. Your child won't have unsightly chickenpox scars (of course, I'm kind of partial to mine);
9. You won't use up all of your sick leave/vacation time (or your spouse's) on festering, puking, whining, miserable kids; maybe you can actually take an illness-free vacation; and
10. You get a cool sticker (at least if you get a shot at a pediatrician's office).

Thinking of Myself (or Not)

I have been careful to ensure the Darlings have gotten their vaccines at the recommended times, including their yearly flu vaccines. I am not always so vigilant about my own health though. I meant to get a flu vaccine this past fall, but kept putting it off due to inconvenient timing and busy schedules. Time passed, and I put it out of my mind entirely; that is, until I came down with fever and chills and aches. Then, it dawned on me; I had the flu; I was the only person in my household who had not gotten a flu shot; and I was the only person in my household who got sick at all. I was miserable.

The Scoop

Many readers commented here, on Facebook and on Twitter about spacing out the vaccines better with child number 2 after their first child got so many early on. I have had the same experience with Darling 1 and Darling 2, but I also switched pediatricians when Darling 2 was a wee one. So, I wasn't sure if it was the difference between the two pediatricians or the current trend. Clearly, I was not alone in this. I do think it's better to space them out better, rather than to clump 4 or 5 in at one time.

My pediatrician looks at the options and weighs the necessity, age of my child and spacing of other doses when deciding on which ones, if any, should be given at a particular time. Do make sure to bring up any questions or concerns you have about the number or spacing of vaccines with your child's pediatrician. Never simply assume the doctor knows best. My opinion is that a parent's gut instinct counts for more than education and training; ask the questions and do the research. This is your child you're talking about.

So, suck it up and get it done. I know I won't be missing out on a flu shot again this year! Over and out...

Anna

To Vaccinate or Not: The Legal Requirements

Brother's Keeper

At the Minnesota Zoo play area last week, I overheard Darling 1 tell a boy much older than himself, "I don't think that's very safe," when he noticed the boy scaling the rocky side of the play area {I had been thinking the same thing}. Then, in the Aquarium wing of the Zoo, Darling 2 nearly tackled his brother when Darling 1 started to stick his hand in the tank to pet the sting rays and small sharks, something that is allowed in that tank. Darling 2 grabbed Darling 1, pulling him back, saying, "No, Brother," thinking he was about to topple into the tank with the sharks.

My Boys certainly take risks and don't always think before they act, but they're always on the lookout for safety issues. I always breathe a sigh of relief when I see them looking out for themselves, each other and total strangers; just maybe the teen years won't be overly risky; or maybe I'm just dreaming, but it's still soothing to see.

To Protect Always

I want more than anything to protect my kids from any and all harm; well, as much as possible, that is. We make choices based on this credo in order to protect them from mental and physical pain, injury, illness, poisoning, etc. and to preserve their health for the future. For the most part, these matters do not concern or affect others.

One decision that does indirectly affect many others is the decision to vaccinate our Boys. Since becoming a parent in 2006, there have been conversations with other parents, stories in the news, articles in scholarly journals and discussions with the pediatrician about whether to vaccinate or not. There have been reports falling on both sides of the issue. Back in 2006 when I became a mom, some studies still claimed there was a link between vaccines and autism.

As a new parent, I skimmed the articles, listened to other's point of view and then had my Boys vaccinated. To me, the threat of my Boys acquiring these dreaded illnesses and perhaps dying is much scarier than autism or a reaction, etc. It was a risk I was willing to take in order to avert the risks of potentially deadly illnesses.

Generations Past

My own parents and DH's parents also made the decision to have their children vaccinated. Our parents are older enough to remember having some of the now preventable illnesses themselves or seeing others suffer from them.

Viral outbreaks and epidemics are not something we want to be the norm again. And yet, in the past several years, the flu, measles and whooping cough have been spreading and many warnings have been issued. Just this spring, the Boys' preschool sent home a warning about a recent uptick in measles being reported in the county.

Required by Law

If people are vaccinated against as many communicable diseases as possible, fewer deadly pandemics will occur, as has been the case until recent years. The states do mandate that children in schools and daycare are vaccinated with a few exceptions. These laws are in place to control the spread of disease.

While it's recommended that the required vaccines be administered, there are religious, philosophical, medical and proof of immunity exemptions. Each state varies with the exact requirements, but in general the following vaccines are required by law for children:

• Diphtheria;
• Polio;
• Measles;
• Mumps;
• Pertussis;
• Haemophilius influenza type b;
• Hepatitis B;
• Rubella; and
• Tetanus

Minnesota also requires vaccines for Varicella (chickenpox) and recommends Hepatitis A, Influenza, Meningococcal and Human papillomavirus (for girls). Each state may require varying doses, require more vaccines or fewer vaccines or make other recommendations. For a link to your state's immunization website, go to the Immunization Action Coalition page and click on your state.

Exemptions

As mentioned, there are a few reasons the states will allow children to be exempt from the required vaccines. And while I personally think that getting vaccinated is the way to go, I also think that if you have a reason and feel strongly about your child not getting a particular vaccine or any required or recommended vaccines, then you should stand up and advocate for your child.

Once again, the exact requirements and documentation for each state varies, but here are the reasons allowed for exemptions from vaccines:

• Medical

  All states offer a medical exemption for children who have allergic reactions to ingredients in vaccines; who have compromised immune systems; or who have severe illnesses which could be exacerbated by and the vaccine. To use a medical exemption, a medical doctor must sign a statement advising of the medical reason why a vaccine should not be administered to a particular child.

   

• Philosophical

  Only 18 states allow for vaccination exemptions based on philosophical or personal beliefs. Most of these states require a person using this exemption to object to all of the required vaccines, not just one particular vaccine. You must be prepared to explain your objection and prove that it's a tenet you hold fast to.

   

• Religious

  This is a serious exemption, not to be used lightly. All states except Mississippi and West Virginia allow for a religious exemption. According to the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), "The religious exemption is intended for people who hold a sincere religious belief opposing vaccination to the extent that if the state forced vaccination, it would be an infringement on their right to exercise their religious beliefs."

   

  Some states define religion loosely, allowing for personally held beliefs to fall into this category, but other states allow only members of The First Church of Christ, Christian Science, or other legitimate religion denomination to use this exemption.

   

  If a state challenges a request for exemption, you may end up in court defending your choice to claim religious exemption. States have a legitimate compelling interest; that is, to prevent the spread of illness. However, this exemption is protected under the First Amendment right to exercise your religion so long as your religious beliefs don't harm others.

   

  It could be argued that the spread of disease from lack of vaccines does put others at risk. This is not to say that it can't be successfully challenged based on religious beliefs; it has been and can be.

   

• Proof of Immunity

  This exemption is allowed by states for vaccines for particular illnesses if it can be proven that your child has had the illness already or has been vaccinated previously. For instance, if your child has already had chickenpox there is no need to get the Varicella vaccines required in many states because once you have had chickenpox you can't have it again.

   

  You may have to have a private medical lab take blood and check the level of antibodies present for the particular illness you are requesting the vaccine exemption.

The Scoop

Later this week, I will discuss the now-debunked studies regarding the link between vaccines and autism and examine the reasons why parents opt not to get vaccines based on one of the above exemptions. I will also provide resources for getting free or reduced cost vaccines for your family, and the federal law requirements for keeping you informed regarding the vaccines give to your child.

Where do you stand on this issue? Over and out...

Anna

What’s Your SPF? The Dangers of Sunscreen

Rays of Light {Seen & Unseen}

Spring finally reared her pretty, sunny head this weekend. We've been waiting a while for her to grace us with her fair beauty. In celebration, we spent most of the day outside on Saturday, basking in the golden rays, soaking up the warmth and relishing the feeling of sun on our bare skin. I guess we soaked up a bit too much sunlight because Saturday evening I noticed the tell-tale pink spread across the Darlings' cheeks and noses and forearms; the first sunburn of the season.

Now I'm not one to take health and safety risks, as you, dear readers, well know. But, it has been a long, cold winter here in Minnesota; longer and colder than most in recent memory. The sun has been shrouded by clouds and snow much of the past 7 months. On the days there was pure sunlight the temperature was generally hovering in the single digits with below zero wind chills. Even on those days, we got outside to feel the warmth on our faces; that was the only part not covered in protective, winter gear. In Minnesota, you learn to take it when you can get it, regardless of the temperature.

So, you can see why the thought of putting sunscreen on our bare, pallid, winter skin escaped my mind. And yet, I now have been given a not-so-subtle reminder that it's time to buy sunscreen. Yesterday, I did my annual research into the best sunscreens, made a list and went shopping.

Choosing the Best Sunscreen

Buying sunscreen should not be a difficult task. The purpose of this product is to protect skin from the harmful UV rays and prevent skin from being damaged. For years, I bought the cheapest, largest sunscreen I could buy, gingerly applied it to my very pale, very sunburn prone skin, and generally ended up somewhat sunburned. And didn't give too much thought to it. Then, I had a child.

The mere thought of that soft, smooth, very pale baby skin getting burned by the sun made me cringe. I read labels, I read research and articles. There was an article being circulated by email a few years back with a list of "good" sunscreens. I recall being at Target trying to remember which ones were on the list when another mom walked up with the very same list printed from an email checking the shelves for the brands that had made the cut. She let me take a peek since I didn't have mine.

The trouble is that most on this list are outrageously expensive and not readily available at drug stores, grocery stores or department stores like Target or Wal-mart. Many are available online or through specialty stores, natural health stores and the like. One on the list I found on the Walgreens' website, available online only, for $52. Outrageous.

The basic premise of "the list" is the inclusion of a key ingredient and the exclusion of several harmful ingredients. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) analyzed 1,400 sunscreens, cosmetics, moisturizers and lip balms and graded each one with an explanation of any risk or issue. All top-rated products contain either zinc or titanium minerals to help cut UVA exposures for sunscreen users. None of the top-rated products contain oxybenzone or vitamin A and none are sprayed or powdered.

I managed to find a cheaper, rated at a 3 with minimum cautionary notes, sunscreen at a drug store. At $ 9.99 for 8 fluid ounces, it was the cheapest of the three options I had for a fairly good rating at that store. I have found that I have basically the same options at Target. I bought Coppertone Kids, Pure and Simple with a 50 SPF. Not all Coppertone options get a rating of 3, the lowest given to any of this particular brand. Check the EWG's very comprehensive list with ingredient concerns and details for each of the 1,400 products listed before you stock up for the summer.

The FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes sunscreen as a drug, rather than a cosmetic. The FDA introduced new proposed rule regarding the standards of formulating, testing and labeling over-the-counter sunscreen with ultraviolet A (UVA responsible for tanning) and ultraviolet B (UVB responsible for sunburns) protection back in 2007.

The proposed regulation creates a consumer friendly rating system for UVA products designed to help consumers identify the level of UVA protection offered by a product. The FDA proposal provides a ratings system for UVA sunscreen products on a scale of one to four stars, but no new regulations have been finalized yet. Although it was this proposed rule that generated more awareness of the dangers and issues with some of the chemicals being used in sunscreens and forced the sunscreen industry to make some changes of its own. These changes have been beneficial to the consumer.

SPF

On its site, the FDA notes that many consumers are confused by what SPF stands for and means. To clarify, SPF is the measure of how much solar energy, or UV radiation, is required to produce sunburn on protected skin {skin with sunscreen applied} relative to the amount of solar energy required to produce sunburn on unprotected skin {no sunscreen applied}. As the SPF number gets higher, sunburn protection also increases.

While SPF does not have to do with the time one is exposed to the sun {ex. SPF 15 sunscreen does not protect someone for 15 hours}, generally it does take less time to get sunburned at midday, rather than in the morning or evening because the sun is more intense during the midday. Consequently, during hours of more intense solar energy, sunscreen would need to be applied more often than at times of decreased solar energy.

Other factors also account for the amount of solar energy a person is exposed to: skin type {a lighter skinned person absorbs more solar energy than a darker skinned person experiencing the same conditions.}; amount of sunscreen applied {more sunscreen equals less solar energy}; and frequency of reapplication {physical activity, heavy perspiration and activity in the water can rub off sunscreen, leaving skin exposed to more solar energy}.

The Scoop

So, until the FDA finalizes the new rules that provide for tighter regulations and clearer and simpler consumer information, refer to EWG's list and research for the best and most affordable choice for sunscreen. Remember that staying out of the sun, covering up with clothing and/or a hat is also advisable even if you apply sunscreen.

Do your best to avoid sunburn and keep an eye out for the FDA's new and well overdue regulations regarding sunscreen labeling and testing. But do get outside and enjoy the spring and summer. Afterall, around here, it really lasts only a few months. Over and out...

Anna

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The Overly Cautious Traveler: Must Read Pool Safety Tips

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Some Call It Worrying, I call it Accident Prevention

Mommy Brain

As a mom, part of my brain is dedicated to coming up with worse-case scenarios of what might happen to my Darling Boys if.... and then devising plans and solutions to avoid and/or survive such imagined occurrences.

Much has been written, spoken and tweeted about the death of Osama bin Laden this week. I'm thrilled he is out of the picture and that the U.S. has been able to thwart so many terrorist plots over the last 10 years, but interestingly enough, as much as I'm horrified of being caught in a terroristic attack, that's not the kind of scenario that usually pops into my head.

It's the everyday, freakish, what-are-the-odds-of-that-happening kind of catastrophic event that really concerns me.

Here's What Really Scares Me:

I'm scared to death of the day they are old enough to take off on their bikes {wearing well fitting, undamaged bike helmets} on adventures up and down and across streets; streets with no sidewalks or shoulders where drivers recklessly careen about in their vehicles without concern for the well-being of my children.

I'm petrified my Boys will choke on popcorn, marshmallows, tomatoes, small Lego pieces, Star Wars figurine heads {why, oh why do they detach from the body} or a million other items. Darling 2 did choke on a tomato just a few weeks ago. I did not freeze up and was able to perform the Heimlich maneuver on him and get the tomato unstuck. Thank God! I have played this scene over and over and prayed I would be able to do what I needed to do out of instinct; and I did.

I worry that my children won't get the proper servings of veggies per day or enough of the right kind of veggies or that the veggies they do eat will be contaminated with pesticides which will lead to cancer in the prime of their lives.

I contemplate what I will say when they come to me with broken hearts because their true loves don't love them back or kids they thought were their friends did something or said something that was not at all friendly. I fret about whether they will be well liked, well mannered, well accepted, well adjusted and happy as they grow and mature and become young men who never think this world is too much and contemplate their own demise.

I pray that a driver distracted by sending a text, reaching for coffee, putting on makeup, looking for a CD or having an in depth discussion over the phone does not cross into the lane I'm driving in and smash us to smithereens, but should this happen I pray that I will not die or be critically injured and leave my babies; and that the hand of God would protect my precious boys securely and lovingly strapped into their seats behind me.

I hope they never ride their bikes or run while listening to music through earphones that could muffle the sound of a trash truck, train or rapid dog fast approaching.

I take measures to ensure they don't accidentally ingest a poisonous plant or mistake a bleach bottle for a milk bottle or have access to brightly colored pills of medicine that look eerily like candies.

Crazy Lady?

Whew! I said it. Sometimes I even worry that by actually voicing these fears, they could come true. This list is not exhaustive and it changes as they grow, but this is how my heart and brain work; this is how I get through the horrible things that happen all in our world. And then I can focus on the beautiful, wonderful, magical things that also happen every day.

I think through these things; I take precautions; I implement plans; I teach my boys safety; and I pray a lot! Now don't mistake me for saying that I dwell on these things constantly and am all-consumed by tragedy and disaster. I'm not. Intense; paranoid; empathetic; analytical; planner; prayer: yes.

The Scoop

I cannot always be there. I cannot stop everything from happening to them; and nor would I want to. In the words of a spunky, blue fish named Dory, "Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo. {Nemo}" From Finding Nemo.

I want them to take risks; the kind of risks that lead to innovation, creativity, discovery, love, laughter, success and sometimes failure. After all, it's from good, bad, happy, sad, interesting, boring, small and big happenings that a person learns and grows and experiences. These are good things, but, Please Lord, no shattering events that would break my heart in two forever!

You can tell by the links in this post that I've written posts about many of my motherly fears. What do you worry about? Or maybe you don't! Here's to a safe Thursday! Over and out...

Anna

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Go Vote: Election Issues that Could Impact Your Family

My Short Political Career

The life of a politician is no life for me. I tried it a few times back in Junior High. I ran for Student Council. I didn't win, but I kept trying for a few years. I never won an election, but I did end up on the Dumas High School Student Council during my first year in high school after the person who won the election moved or dropped out or had a baby or something. I like being in charge, but I much prefer to be appointed to office as was the case with all other leadership positions I have held over the years.

Day in the Life of a Politician

It can't be easy to be continually in the spotlight; every utterance dissected and interpreted a thousand different ways; having to see your face pasted across every possible medium and all of the other uncomfortable, prickly situations that are just a day in the life of a politician.

Yet year after year, citizens feel compelled to run for municipal, county, state and federal offices; each with his or her own ideas about how things should be run. And this is a good thing. This is what having a democracy is all about. Thank God for these brave souls and their families who are willing to be placed under the microscope in hopes of bettering our country, if they win the election.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Unless you live under a rock or in my house, you have been bombarded by millions of political ads, which will continue until every last polling place has closed on Tuesday, Nov. 2^nd. Our non-TV-watching household has managed to avoid all ads except print ads mailed to us. While most advertisements seem like a waste of time and money, there are a few good ones out there that make valid, thought-provoking points and actually aid the voters in making a decision at the polls. Here are some of the best and worst political advertisements, according to www.humanevents.com.

Agree to Disagree

Politics is an area that many friends and family just agree to disagree about, and that is what I hope we can do here. As I have said, in general, I'm quite liberal, yet I do take a look at both sides and weigh the options carefully when it comes to voting. During this mid-term election season, there are a wide range of issues that I think could greatly impact families depending upon the election results on Tuesday.

Whether you vote straight Democrat or Republican or bounce around between Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians and Independents; whether you live in CA, IA or MA or any other state; whether you agree wholeheartedly with me or do not stand with me on one single issue, these election topics could affect you and your families.

The Issues

Some of the big issues are obvious:

• Economy: It's no surprise that one of the biggest issues is the economy. The Republicans blame Democrats for the "failed stimulus" and other economic policies. In conjunction with this argument Republicans are backing candidates with big business experience. Democrats counter this argument with blaming big business and the previous administration.

   

• Healthcare: Voters are confused and/or disgruntled about the healthcare bill. The future of the healthcare system depends on the outcome of these elections. I plan to post more specifically about various parts of the new Healthcare laws in the near future.

   

• Tea Party: While the Tea Party movement has captured the attention of the country and did well in the primaries, it remains to be seen how the so-called "Tea Party" candidates will fare in the general election. In the primaries, many Tea Party endorsed candidates beat established, career Republican contenders. This may be a pitfall for the Republicans come Tuesday. Will Republican voters, and perhaps others, actually vote the extremely conservative, small government advocating, Tea Partiers into office? We shall see tomorrow.

A few other issues that may have escaped your attention:

• California's Proposition 19: Prop 19 is the effort to legalize marijuana, and is also known as Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act 2010. If approved by the voters, this act will legalize the sale, possession, use and growth of marijuana under certain circumstances. The bill also allows the cities and state to regulate and tax the sale and use of marijuana. Not surprisingly, this bill has attracted the attention of many young voters. California voters are not the only ones who have such a bill on the ballot: AZ, SD and OR will be voting on the legalization of marijuana for medical use. It will be interesting to see how Prop 19 fares. And if it passes, it will be interesting to follow this topic to see if regulating the amount sold and grown and places where it can be consumed affects the war on drugs, etc. Click here for more information on California Proposition 19 .

   

• Campaign to Unseat Iowa Justices: This one is most distressing to me. There's a conservative campaign to unseat 3 IA Supreme Court Justices who joined a 7-0 opinion ruling that a state law limiting marriage to between a man and a woman violated the constitutional rights of equal protection. Those campaigning to remove the justices have spent over $650,000 on this agenda, much of it has come from out of state since the organizations spearheading this movement are from out of state.

   

  So, why does the American Family Association in Mississippi care what the IA Supreme Court justices are doing? Well, apparently these ultra conservative groups are worried that other courts might get the same idea which would lead to more states allowing same sex couples to legally get married, and this scares them to death.

   

  What bothers me about this is that these groups are retaliating at these justices for doing what they are supposed to do; interpret the law and decide cases based on their interpretations. They are advocating that these justices lose their jobs because they decided a case in a way that offends these groups. It's a scare tactic to warn other justices in other states. It's dirty politics. And by the way, IA has never once ousted a Supreme Court Justice up for re-election.

   

• State Gubernatorial Races: There are 37 states and 2 U.S. territories with Gubernatorial elections set for Tuesday. According to CBS news, the 2010 Census means that after this election many states will see their number of House seats in Washington change. Texas could gain as many as three seats, while Ohio could lose two. Who controls those states could change who controls Congress for the next decade. Because of this, Democrats are fighting hard and have a strong incumbent in Ohio and strong challengers in Texas, where Governor Rick Perry's approval is sliding. It's been a while since Texas had a Democrat Governor, but it could happen.

For more information on the issues, the candidates and the voters, click here for the New York Times political page.

The Scoop

Tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 2^nd, is the day you vote, which means you have one more day to do your homework and decide which candidates best represent what's important to you. Don't forget to check the address of your voting precinct before you head out to vote.

And if you don't vote, you should. I can remember every detail of the very first time I voted. It was November 1992. I went with my parents. I was so proud to have achieved this rite of passage to adulthood and to have contributed to the democracy of my country. The right to vote is a tremendous privilege and responsibility we as American citizens possess.

If you are not registered to vote, check with your state. Some states, like Minnesota, allow you to register at the polls the day of the elections and vote right then and there. Other states will allow you to register at any time, but you may not be able to vote on Tuesday. Either way, get registered to vote. If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about our government or its policies.

Do you remember the first time you voted? How do you decide who to vote for? What issues have you been paying attention to? How do you impress upon your children the importance of voting?

On Thursday, I will post on the best ways to contact a state and federal representative and be heard about a relevant issue that you feel strongly about. I will be contacting some MN state and federal representatives in the course of researching this topic. Over and out…

Anna

You might also like:

The Unintended Result: When "Good" Laws Go Awry

The "Unambiguous" Right to Remain Silent: Changes to the Miranda Warning; Berghuis v. Thompkins

The Power of Choice: The Law of Birth Centers

Walking a Fine Line: Social Host Laws and Underage Drinking

Cruising Main

I know there are some who never drank alcohol in high school, but I didn't go to school with them. Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but not much. During my junior high and senior high years I lived in a small town in the Texas Panhandle. On weekends, the kids went to football games, cruised up and down Main St. and drank beer at parties. Alcohol was easy to get; someone's older sibling or cousin or an older friend of a friend or a guy at a party was happy to provide it. For the most part, everyone was really careful and always had a designated driver, not that this fact makes it better, safer or more acceptable, but that's just the way it was then and has been for multiple generations.

There were a few times that I was at a party that someone's parents were also in attendance. I was never comfortable with this. I have always thought that a parent should be a parent, not a pal to his or her minor children. When a parent "hosts" a party for his or her minor child and the child's minor friends this is called social hosting.

Social Host Laws

Social hosting refers to someone, not a licensed vendor, who provides alcohol to invitees in a social setting, whether adults or minors. Parents should be aware of the liability, both criminally and civilly, involved in hosting parties where alcohol will be served to minors.

There are 24 states with social host laws; only 7 states with laws aimed specifically at underage drinking. Check this social host laws map on the Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) site to see whether your state has any such laws. Although not all states have social host laws, it's not legal in any state to provide a minor who is not your child with alcohol. Some states that don't have social host laws have city ordinances making social hosting illegal in particular cities and other areas look to zoning ordinances to stop adults from serving alcohol to minors in their homes.

Criminal and Civil Liability

Social host laws can be criminal or civil in nature. Criminal social host laws make it a crime punishable by monetary fine and/or time in jail to provide alcohol to minors. A person can be found liable for negligence in a private lawsuit brought by a guest provided alcohol or by a person injured by a guest provided alcohol in states with civil social host laws.

According to SocialHost.org, at the local level, cities and counties have at least three options for implementing social host laws:

1. Infraction. Some municipalities treat social host liability as a criminal matter, but the penalty is, at most, an infraction that carries with it a monetary fine rather than jail time.
2. Misdemeanor. Some municipalities treat social host liability as a misdemeanor, in the same way some states do, carrying possible jail time as a penalty.
3. Response Costs Recovery Ordinances. Some municipalities have enacted response costs recovery ordinances. Under these ordinances, offenders face no criminal penalties—no criminal monetary fines or jail time--at all. Instead, these laws declare an underage drinking party on private property a public nuisance, which threatens the public health, safety and general welfare. These ordinances hold persons who own lease or otherwise control the property on which an out of control party occurs (e.g., parents, landowners, tenants, and the party hosts) civilly responsible for the costs of police, fire, or other emergency response services associated with responding multiple times to the location of an underage drinking party.

Tips for Hosting a Party for Minors

If you must host a party that minors will be attending, it's best to do a little planning and rulemaking within your household first. Make sure your child(ren) understand these rules and intend to abide by them. Explain the repercussions for you and your child(ren) should these rules be broken and alcohol (or other illegal substances) be brought into your home and/or consumed there.

YouthBingeDrinking.org provides these tips for planning a teenage party:

• Discuss the guest list.
• Establish firm ground rules and expectations before the party and ask your child to communicate them with his/her guests before the event.
• Limit the number of invitees (by invitation only) and the number who actually attend. Do not allow uninvited guests to attend.
• Know the ages of partygoers and how they know your child.
• Make it clear to guests that alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs are not allowed and be sure to provide plenty of snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
• Have sufficient chaperones to monitor the area and partygoers.
• Define an area for the party; do not allow partygoers in other areas (e.g., bedrooms, garage).
• Monitor the party area frequently, as well as areas that are off-limits to guests.
• Restrict entry and exit areas to deter guests from bringing in contraband.
• When a guest leaves, do not allow him or her to return. This will discourage guests from leaving to drink or take other drugs and later return under the influence.
• Establish a signal that your child may use if he or she needs help.
• Set a beginning and ending time for the party.
• Determine whether the guests will include both underage people and adults.
• If both adults and underage youth will be present, decide whether the party areas should be separate.
• Place valuables such as weapons, alcohol, and breakable objects in a secure area.
• Establish an area for coats and bags that can be closely monitored.
• Be prepared to call a guest's parents if the child appears to be under the influence or brings alcohol or other drugs to the party.

Here are some tips to prevent a teenage party from occurring if you are not at your house:

• If you are going to be away for longer than an evening, call your neighbors and give them the phone numbers where you can be reached.
• Call the parents of your teen's close friends to let them know that you'll be gone and what is permitted at your home during your absence.
• Have a responsible adult (relative, friend, neighbor) supervise your teen and your house while you're away.
• If your teen throws a party anyway, pre-arrange for a neighbor to call the police to shut down the party if things get out of control. Tell your teen you have done this.

The Scoop

Even if you think it's alright and it's legal to allow your own child to drink in your home, think twice about doing it. Condoning underage drinking can lead your child to drink alcohol even when you are not around. This could lead to your child drinking and driving or providing other minors with alcohol without you knowing it. And you certainly never want to give alcohol to a minor who's not your child. If that minor was injured in an accident or injured another in an accident after drinking alcohol that you supplied, you could be in a heap of trouble.

What's your experience with underage drinking? What's your stance on providing your child with alcohol in your own home? How will you or do you handle the issue of teenagers and alcohol? On Friday, I will post a bit of Motherly Advice. Over and out…

Anna

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Driving to Distraction: The Hazards of Texting While Driving and the Laws Restricting This Habit

Driving to Distraction Part II: Why Using Your Cell Phone While Driving is as Dangerous as Driving Drunk

The Right to Bear Arms in Your Home: McDonald v. City of Chicago

Family Day: The Family that Eats Together Stays off Drugs

Uninspired

I'm not inspired to write at this moment. I and my two spirited monkeys a.k.a Darling Boys just returned from a trip to Texas to visit my family. The return flights were delayed, and then took extra long en route due to having to fly around bad weather, which means we arrived home quite late, much later than the Darling's bedtime. Each of us had a few moments of getting close to losing it throughout the day. Once home, I scurried around to prepare for Darling 2's birthday celebration on Sunday. So, now I'm tired, I feel like I'm coming down with something (probably from the bazillion germs I encountered in the airports and airplanes) and I have a work deadline (you know, the kind of work that actually pays me money).

Never-ending To-dos

I know I'm preaching to the choir. What parent doesn't feel like this 99% of the time: a million things to get done, running on very little sleep and no chance of getting a break to take a nap, leisurely read through a magazine or drink a whole cup of coffee without having to microwave it a time or two because you keep forgetting about it because you are too busy to sit and drink it. Whew, that was a mouth full, but you know what I'm talking about.

With so much to do, sometimes the important things get left off a list. Things like playing cars or building rocket ships with blocks, reading that favorite book 4 times in a row or just sitting and really listening to what those interesting little creatures have to say about the world around them. I certainly need to be reminded every once in a while to unwind, refuse to get too wrapped up in my to-do list and just be with my kids.

Family Dinners

Right now, we eat dinner as a family just about every night with a few exceptions (Girls' Night Out nights are one exception. Mama still needs that break sometimes!). But as the Darling Boys get older, are in school and are more involved in activities it will be more difficult to regularly sit down for a family meal. And sitting down for a family meal is important. Or at least the statistics indicate that regular family meals are key to raising healthy, happy, drug-free kids.

Family Day

Today, Monday, September 27^th, 2010, happens to be Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™. According to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), Family Day is a national movement to inform parents that the parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep America's kids substance free. This year, CASA has partnered with Stouffer’s to celebrate Family Day.

Just how important are family meals? According to CASA, their research has repeatedly shown that the more often kids eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs. I like this because it's something easy that I can manage to do on a regular basis that could greatly impact my children's well-being.

The Numbers

Some interesting statistics from CASA:

The CASA family dinners report reveals that nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of teens think that eating dinner frequently with their parents is very or fairly important. Compared to teens who have frequent family dinners, those who have infrequent family dinners are:

• Twice as likely to have used tobacco;
• Almost twice as likely to have used alcohol; and
• One and half times likelier to have used marijuana.

Compared to teens who have five to seven family dinners per week, those who have fewer than three family dinners per week are:

• More than one and a half times likelier to have friends who drink regularly and use marijuana;
• One and half times likelier to have friends who abuse prescription drugs (to get high); and
• One and a quarter times more likely to have friends who use illegal drugs like acid, ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin.

Source: CASA Press Release, September 22, 2010

Websites

For more information, check out these Websites:

http://www.letsfixdinner.com/Fact.aspx

http://www.casacolumbia.org/templates/Home.aspx?articleid=287&zoneid=32

http://casafamilyday.org/familyday/about-family-day/

The Scoop

While CASA specifically talks about family dinners, I know some families make a point of sitting down together for a regular family breakfast due to busy evening schedules. I would imagine this would have the same impact. The point is to sit down together, chat about things going on in each other's worlds and connect with one another.

How often do you eat a meal together as a family? Do you think it's important? How do you manage to fit it in with everyone's busy schedules, especially when kids are older? Please share your thoughts and tips.

Now I realize this is not a regular Monday post since there is no law involved here, but I'm doing something a little different this week since I'm so tired and without much inspiration. Maybe I'll post on a legal issue on Wednesday. Over and out…

Anna

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