Comments on: A Brave New Medicated World

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:30:25 +0000

Also, bear in mind that parents are increasingly being deterred from disciplining their children, too. When I was a child, it was nothing for one of my parents to give me a slap on the bottom if I was misbehaving, whereas now all parents are allowed (or all they think they are allowed) to do is say something like, “Now, Johnny, don’t do that, please,” or some other such useless thing, when talking to a two-year-old. Two-year-olds are unable to reason things out like this, and there is no point trying to talk such a young child into behaving correctly.
Lack of positive role models has a bearing, also. One mother on ABC radio some time ago told the talkback announcer, “My child doesn’t need another male role model; they already have ‘The Wiggles’!” (Believe it or not, she was completely serious)
Something has got to be done about the insane number of prescription drugs being handed out to these parents who haven’t even tried more conventional methods of controlling their children.

By: krypto

krypto — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:11:51 +0000

how can you even diagnose mental illness in a child of that age? Unless they go all Michael Myers and dismember their family with a carving knife it’s pretty difficult I’d say, developmental issues sure, but mental illness? c’mon.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:49:22 +0000

I have to agree with you there. Unfortunately, some parents do seem to have a lot of trouble controlling their children. I try to avoid blaming parents for their misbehaving children as it has become a bit of a cliché.

I don’t have a lot of exposure to children, but one theory I used to control them is treating them as a little adult. I try to extend to children the same level of respect I would to another adult. If the child refuses to respect me back that’s when it gets nasty. What do you say to an adult who is being rude or an arsehole? You tell them off the very first time they do it. I have a very low tolerance for bullshit no matter what the source.

This theory doesn’t always work, but it does work 99% of the time for me. I think one of the most important things a parent can do is to listen to their child and also respect them as a fellow human being. Parents and children also need to learn to trust each other. For example when I was young my mother always believed I was telling the truth even if another adult accused me of lying. She knew that not all adults as truthful as children. I was never able to lie to my mother because if I got caught in a lie I would lose her trust.

I feel it is still an open question whether it is always the parents fault. There are some little Hitler’s out there who are impossible to control no matter what you do – but they are rare.

By: karla

karla — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:13:01 +0000

chris, that show was an eye-opener and I was disgusted at how ridiculous the whole situation has become. i think another important factor is that none of the ‘so called’ doctors/psychiatrists made mention of the poor/lacking parenting skills which drives those parents to seek the ‘last resort’ solution of medicating their kids as their first, effort-free solution. as you say, irritable, crying, isbehaving children is normal, but parents now have the option to stop these ‘normal’ symptoms with a simple pill or 2.. crazy! Perhaps they would think twice if the label on the box read ‘ecstacy’…

your final comments reminded me of a movie a watched recently “equilibrium” – worth watching!