WOW that was the question Ryan asked me this morning. I was like where did this come from. He saw a commercial on ABC Family while watching Family Matters before school. I did the explaining of hormone inbalence and sad feelings ect. He said "oh ok" and went back to watching. As I am making the bed he comes in and says "I don't get it". I am not sure what he doesn't get. The medical part that could be confusing or why would someone be sad all the time. I am not sure if I look into things to deeply or if I drop the ball it will go away. I am going to talk with Michael about it and see what he thinks. Layed back Michael will say drop it intill he comes to me again. I am not the type to brush off. I was brushed off on subjects as a child somewhat and vowed to not give the brush off to my children. Any thoughts out there? Any sence of dealing with this situation before with your own children? Let me know if you may have any insites. I may just be making this larger that it is. See funny how TV puts things out there when you least expect it. You would think that certain programs would chose commercials that target that audience at the time. Like if I were watching home improvemnts shows they have Home Depot/Lowes...>Why when family shows are on they don't put family type commercials? Hey TV exects what is up with that?
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
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6 comments:
Stephie, both of my daughters are bipolar and suffer from depression. My younger daughter is 12 so if she can understand it, not to worry, Ryan can too. The easiest way to tell him is that depression is when someone doesn't always feel things the same way that other people do. They feel sad more often and worry more because they just can't help it. This can make them feel moody and irritable sometimes even when they don't mean it. It happens to kids as well as adults. Sometimes because something really bad has happened in their life and sometimes just because they were born that way (in my girls' case, it runs in their dad's family). And as in the commercial (I think I know the one you mean) there are different kinds of medicine that people (grownups and kids) can take to help them feel happier, worry less and feel less irritable or grumpy. Naturally, that's the simplified answer,but it should be enough to satisfy his questions for now. Good luck and let me know if you ever need more info!
~Paige
Paige, that was a beautiful answer to the question. So sorry that your girls have to suffer with this illness, but glad that you are educated and aware!!
Stephie, I'm the type that wouldn't want to brush things off either.. I always give too much information and Bill, like Michael, thinks I should "relax" (what does that mean?) good luck.. Nice that he knew he could come back to you for more of a discussion.. that's so important.
Paige
a great big thanks...that was a great way to put it. I am so sorry the girls have that. I hope that it is controllable on a daily basis. thanks again...
Karen
I have to agree with you....We are into bringing up attentive kids so I have to give the correct answer when I can,,,,
Karen & Stephie,
Thank you. Like you Stephie, I was kept in the dark about a lot of things growing up and I didn't want to be the same way with my kids. It is unfortuante that my girls have BP and depression,but it's the card we were all dealt. It's alot to handle,but I am so undeniably thankful that nowadays there is the medical & scientific knowledge to help people young and old who suffer from these conditions by way of therapies, medications etc. As a kid, one of my best friends was the daughter of a BP mom and it was so hard for the family and very confusing for the kids because so little was known about it (back then called Manic Depression).
Trust me, I am thankful that my boys don't seem to have inherited this condition and hope that they never show signs of it. Of course I hope and pray that our new baby will never have it either. As the tv ad says: "Who does depression hurt? Everyone" I have a couple of girlfriends with depression problems and when I tell them I understand, I mean it. Not to know how it feels to have it,but to have to live with someone who does.
And just my own .02 on not explaining things to kids: It's better for them to get the correct explanation from you than to get incorrect information from classmates, playmates etc. Just give as much info to them as you think that they can handle and enough to satisfy their questions. My 9yr old son has lived with his two sisters issues for years now and still asks questions sometimes. Now my 4yr old is asking and one day it will be my 2yo and the baby asking. The % of people with depression issue is on the rise because know drs recognize it and all our kids are bound to know someone in school who suffers from it. Better to let them know that this is a condition that they did not ask for and wish they never had than to be treated like a freak. And yes, sometimes kids will be called freaks by some other uneducated kids who don't know better. Wish I didn't know that first hand. As a mom who deals with this all the time, I thank you and applaud you both for wanting to educate your own children who are blessed not to suffer this way. Big Hugs to both of you and your kids! :-)
~Paige
Has he asked you what "Summer's Eve" is for yet? : )
I would deal with it. That way, you get to control the information. Eventually, Ryan will hear about depression from friends and it will be some made up story about a bizarre situation that doesn't have any resemblance to the truth. I know that we have to talk to Andy soon, about the birds and the bees because there was something on TV about a girl getting pregnant and she wasn't married. And Andy was like: "I don't get it, how can she get a baby if she isn't even married?" Well, we glossed over it right there and then but we know that we have to get back to it--soon.
Thanks again, TV! :p
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