re: Why do you think certain things are becoming widespread?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Love = Moco and Bubba:</b>" All kids learn differently. Some are hands on (like me) and others can just read/hear it and know what ... [snip!] ... he also said he was sick a lot as a kid. Since we have been together and he doesn't eat out as often he is hardly ever sick. "</blockquote>



For me, personally, meds were just not an option. My husband has been on them forever and I really think he's addicted. I was working full time and a lot of overtime and the school kept calling me telling me to get them checked. Finally I just talked to my boss and told him I was thinking about homeschooling instead of the meds and he applauded my opinion and said I'll have a job waiting for me if I want to come back. Sadly, not everyone has that option and I'm very thankful I do. It just seems like nowadays everyone wants to diagnose differences instead of celebrating them.

I think that allergies are brought on by early exposure to allergenic foods, like giving peanut butter to a baby or exposing them to it at too young of an age in some other way.

I'm honestly sure about ADHD and Autism other than they ARE real things.

Quoting Bangtail:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Love = Moco and Bubba:</b>" All kids learn differently. Some ... [snip!] ... and I'm very thankful I do. It just seems like nowadays everyone wants to diagnose differences instead of celebrating them."

I applaud your choice too  I think it is really great when a parent does what is best for their kids instead of turning them into zombies. As for your job, that is even more spectacular. I don't think very many employers would do that.

I am just going to start out with home school and when my kids are older I will give them the choice to go to public school but I still have 5 years or so before my toddler is school age anyway.

Quoting Anja[VBA2C GRAD]:" I think that allergies are brought on by early exposure to allergenic foods, like giving peanut butter ... [snip!] ... them to it at too young of an age in some other way. I'm honestly sure about ADHD and Autism other than they ARE real things."

I don't doubt Autism and ADD being real things however I think that the number of cases of it are ridiculous and that not every kid diagnosed and medicated truly has the disorder KWIM?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Anja[VBA2C GRAD]:</b>" I think that allergies are brought on by early exposure to allergenic foods, like giving peanut butter ... [snip!] ... them to it at too young of an age in some other way. I'm honestly sure about ADHD and Autism other than they ARE real things."</blockquote>



They are very real things. However, I believe that ADHD is VERY overdiagnosed. When it is real, it can be managed without meds. I know that not everyone is as fortunate as I am to be able to not work and homeschool, so I won't judge the choices of others. I just personally don't want my kids to take meds that have lifelong side affects. Instead, I avoid sugar and red dyes and give them ample play time. With autism, I simply don't have personal experience with it. From the outside it looks like they're diagnosing every socially awkward or introverted child with it. To me it's like fibromyalgia. I know someone who very genuinely has it and has been fighting it for years. I also know people who claim to have it as an excuse to be lazy. Some doctors will diagnose anything to sell a pill.

Quoting Bangtail:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Anja[VBA2C GRAD]:</b>" I think that allergies are brought on ... [snip!] ... for years. I also know people who claim to have it as an excuse to be lazy. Some doctors will diagnose anything to sell a pill."

So red dye actually causes behavior issues? You are the second case I have heard of with not allowing their kids to have foods with it. Really makes me question processed foods and the purpose of dyes... I know if my kids doctor were to ever say they have such and such. Well I would be changing their diet first before anything else.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Love = Moco and Bubba:</b>" So red dye actually causes behavior issues? You are the second case I have heard of with not allowing ... [snip!] ... if my kids doctor were to ever say they have such and such. Well I would be changing their diet first before anything else. "</blockquote>



For my kids it does. Normal sugar just gets them all hyper, but too much red dye turns them into little demons.

Quoting Bangtail:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Love = Moco and Bubba:</b>" So red dye actually causes behavior ... [snip!] ... For my kids it does. Normal sugar just gets them all hyper, but too much red dye turns them into little demons."

Thats crazy. I put in a previous post but my grandpa had a student at his school that couldn't have a specific red dye #40 I think because it made the student a totally different person basically.

I admit I just gave my toddler hot cheetos( he loves spicy and sour foods) but I am a believer in moderation. However if it were to come down to it I would cut out anything and everything that was not made by me. Just makes me wonder what goes into the chemicals that are put into processed food and how they really effect us even though it is deemed as safe by the FDA

<blockquote><b>Quoting Anja[VBA2C GRAD]:</b>" I think that allergies are brought on by early exposure to allergenic foods, like giving peanut butter ... [snip!] ... them to it at too young of an age in some other way. I'm honestly sure about ADHD and Autism other than they ARE real things."</blockquote>


Early exposure does not cause allergies. DS had had allergy type things since 8 months old and he is perfectly fine. I actually know more kids who didnt have things like eggs and nuts until 18 months or later and they have allergies.

Quoting White Chocolate Milk:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Anja[VBA2C GRAD]:</b>" I think that allergies are brought on ... [snip!] ... fine. I actually know more kids who didnt have things like eggs and nuts until 18 months or later and they have allergies."

I breastfed my oldest and we started giving him tastes of food around 3 months old (chocolate, ice cream, mashed potatoes, anything mushy basically) and he has no allergies so to speak. I am allergic to dog nails (I found this out as a teen when I used a dremel to trim my dogs nails and broke out in hives) and allergic to my cats (again break out in hives if I get scratched or am locked in a room with them that has no airflow then my throat closes). The dog nails came up when I was 14 and did the dogs nails by myself for the first time and the cat came up when I was 17. So far neither of my kids are allergic to the cats of which we have two.

So in my experience early exposure has nothing to do with it, though it may for some kids with under developed systems or that are fed formula.