Does more sleep equal less depressed teens?
Did you find that your teen was less moody and less depressed over the winter holiday break? Was it because he or she was sleeping in and getting more hours of sleep?
A new study released in the Jan. 1 issue of the journal Sleep found that teens were far less likely to suffer from depression or have suicidal thoughts if they got more sleep.
“Adolescents who reported they usually sleep five or fewer hours per night were 71% more likely to report depression, and 48% more likely to have thoughts of committing suicide, compared to young people reporting eight hours of sleep nightly, the study shows.”
“James E. Gangwisch, PhD, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York and his colleagues collected data on 15,659 adolescents and their parents who had participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a school-based sample of students in seventh to 12th grades, between 1994 and 1996.”
“The researchers say lack of sleep may produce moodiness that hinders the ability to cope with stresses of daily life, harming relationships with peers and adults. They say educating adolescents and their parents about the benefits of healthier sleep practices may be beneficial.”
The researchers say teens need at least nine hours of sleep a night.
Their conclusion is that parents should just set earlier bed times. Well, duh, but is it really that easy?
We have a hard time getting a 2-year-old and 8-year-old to go to sleep. (Our 6-year-old is an excellent sleeper! We’re wondering if there is slow gas leak in his room.) I can imagine that it would be very hard to browbeat your 16-year-old to go to bed.
Are you surprised that getting more sleep can make that big of a difference in their likelihood to be depressed or think suicidal thoughts? (Just a reminder on that stat: Sleeping five or few hours were 71% more likely to report depression, and 48% more likely to have thoughts of committing suicide.) Is it any wonder new mothers feel depressed and moody?
Is your pre-teen or teen more moody or depressed when they don’t get enough sleep?
As a teenager, do they respect the bedtime you set? Is it hard for them to go to bed on time and finish all their homework and have some time to relax?
How can parents effectively enforce bed times as their kids get older?
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66 comments Add your comment
mom2alex&max
January 4th, 2010
8:10 am
I don’t have teens yet, but I’ll be reading with great interest the comments of those who do. From the outside, I wonder if with all the battles that have to be fought with teens if this is the hill to die on. I could be wrong.
If I remember correctly, my parents didn’t enforce a bed time on me when I was a teen. But I was so busy with a rigorous academic schedule and several activities that I was usually O.U.T by 10pm.
MaryKay
January 4th, 2010
8:11 am
Theresa. Your blog has gotten out of control. You need to do more checking in and block those who are only on here to be nasty and insult others.
I have commented on most posts over the past few weeks, trying to make helpful comments and have found nasty comments being directed at me for no reason but that others don’t agree or just want to mouth off. You have lost me as a reader and contributor.
I’m sure others will make smart remarks about that, but I hope you have enough professionalism to take this to heart. All you have to do is read the repeated smart-assed comments directed to me by FCM in particular.
Good luck with your blog. You’ve lost this reader.
motherjanegoose
January 4th, 2010
8:18 am
I think most teens are not getting enough sleep. In the past, some schools have delayed their start times to allow for more sleep, not sure this would ever happen in our district:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6896471
My daughter has to leave for school at 6;45, which is necessary but I think is ridiculous. She is 17 and while I do not have a mandatory bedtime that is appropriate, I suggest she is in bed by 10:00.
She gets up at 6:00 unless she has to go in early. Once my children hit their senior year, I leave it up to them as they will be handling it all alone next year at college.
Due to my travel, she is used to getting herself up and out the door alone. I sometimes get up with her and sometimes not….depends on where I have to go. Mine are not breakfast eaters, that early, so they would prefer just to grab a granola bar or something quick.
Yes, I think anyone is moody when they do not get enough sleep…I KNOW I am.
My husband gets up at 4:00 and I hear him getting ready, so I am sort of awake…sometimes he is not up and I wake him up. His car pool meets at 5:00, to avoid the traffic and they get home around 3:45. Worth it, to him. I could not get up that early every day! He is very tired by the weekend!
In a perfect schedule, for me…I could sleep in until 7;30 every day and get in bed around 10:30. I do not need tons of sleep but uninterrupted sleep is the best and not rushing around in the morning is wonderful~. I am a light sleeper and never sleep through the night, so I lose about and hour or more during the night,
Back to work today…yes, I am blessed to have a job!
motherjanegoose
January 4th, 2010
8:20 am
My comment evaporated and I have to go to work…have fun all!
1GrayGal
January 4th, 2010
8:54 am
Perhaps the solution is less about bed times and more about delaying the start time of school or other responsibilities in the morning. I don’t know about you but I have always found that while it’s hard to get them in bed….it’s a lot easier to allow teens/tweenies to sleep in than awaking them at the crack of dawn.
JATL
January 4th, 2010
8:58 am
Lack of sleep is a HUGE problem for teens. This was easy to see as a high school teacher. Like mom2alexandmax, I’m not sure exactly how to force older teens to go to bed and actually sleep! I also remember being so busy in high school with extra-curricular activities that I was exhausted by 10 or so. I think one thing that would be a huge help is to make teens relinquish their cell phones before going to their rooms at night, and keeping television and game consoles out of their rooms. These things aren’t necessary to life! I’m amazed at how many parents act like they simply have no control over these objects when they’re the ones who own the house, pay the mortgage, and bought the items! Most of my students who never got enough sleep were the ones watching tv in their rooms until 3am.
MaryKay -I’ve never said anything nasty to you, although I’m sure you’ll perceive this as nasty. You need to get a thicker skin! This is a BLOG on the INTERNET! Have you ever read or participated in any other blogs? They get WAY nastier than this one does! You don’t know these people or have to deal with them in person, so who cares if they say something nasty to you? Not everyone shares the same opinions -that’s why this blog is largely about people’s opinions regarding parenting and parenting issues. If someone on here says something I don’t like -either directly to me or in general -I can respond or ignore it. I don’t think Theresa needs to spend every minute monitoring the blog like a 3rd grade teacher. Something tells me you’re the type of person who demands certain tv programs that offend your morals or have a message you don’t like be taken off the air instead of just simply changing the channel.
Jason
January 4th, 2010
9:06 am
Maybe this is looking at the wrong causal agent. Given that fragmented sleep is a common SYMPTOM of depression, perhaps the reason that people who get more sleep reported being happier is that they’re happier to start with, and therefore get more sleep.
Most doctors will tell you that lack of sleep doesn’t cause depression. Depression causes lack of sleep. Looking at depression as something that can just be fixed is short-sighted.
lovelyliz
January 4th, 2010
9:10 am
My 13 year old niece slept in everyday, except for Christmas morning during the break which is good. What was bad was that she was the last one to go to sleep at night. Letting teens sleep in only works if they don’t stay up later. Whether they wake up at 6 AM or 9 AM is meaningless, if they do so after less than 8 hours of sleep.
JMP
January 4th, 2010
9:16 am
1GrayGal, no offense, but you must be kidding! Why should responsible parents and young adults have to amend their schedules to accomodate children who aren’t in bed at an appropiate time? The world does not work that way and parents are delinquent when they don’t teach their children how the world actually works. As opposed to establishing order in your household, you would rather everyone else bend to make life easier-even easier than they are getting at home-so Susie or Johnny’s feelings aren’t hurt or that they may have to act like responsible young adults…eee gads! You send these kind of kids to school and regretfully the teachers and other students have to deal w/their unsocialized behavior. How about this….establish some rules in your household and hold fast to them!
lovelyliz
January 4th, 2010
9:27 am
And as the point has already been made, what are these teens going to do when they have an early AM class in college or a job where they are expected to be there and be ready by 7:30 in the morning?
If you want the teen to get more sleep, take away the smartphone & iPod, disconnect the wireless router, remove the computer and television from their room and send them to bed 8-9 hours before they have to wake up.
Time management is a lesson they have to learn eventually.
...
January 4th, 2010
9:33 am
In previous times, a teenager was considered an adult. While I realize that teenagers in our society are not considered adults, I do think that they are old enough to digest the information presented here. Why no just explain to them the reasoning behind your request that they sleep more? Show them the statistics and explain it to them.
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
January 4th, 2010
9:50 am
Mary Kay — I didn’t even know where to start with you and FCM so I stayed out of it. It ran for multiple days and I wasn’t even sure where the beginning was so I just let you guys work it out.
I think we can all play a little nicer. I was way overly snippy last week when someone disagreed with me and I shouldn’t have been. I think we can all have discussions and disagree and maybe decide that we can all try to take things less personally and attack less personally. I am at fault in this as well.
I like the idea of no phone, computer, video games in the bedroom. I think that is a start to helping them wind down. Probably add to that no TVs either. I went to bed last night at midnight and then watched crapped TV until 2:30 — bad choice but when it’s hard it’s very hard to turn off!!
mom2alex&max
January 4th, 2010
9:52 am
JMP, I won’t presume to speak for 1GrayGal, but I believe that it has been proven that teens (specially boys) are physiologically predisposed to be night owls. I’d have to find the research again, but I *think* it may be a biological thing. Eventually it works itself out to a normal sleep physiology in the early 20s.
I am not sure I would suggest to change the world to suit teens, but it might not be a bad idea to have high school start even later than it does now. Say mid-morning and go into late afternoon. This might work better for working parents too I think.
Sug
January 4th, 2010
9:55 am
My next door neighbor’s daughter, is 19, and depressed. Why? Well, let’s see, she is a mother to a 2 year old, didn’t finish high school, her baby daddy harrasses her every day, and tries to pick a fight, she has NO job and lays around the house every single day, or goes to a friend’s house and gets drunk. Hmmmmmm, I wonder why she is depressed.
Just yesterday I was talking to her mother about it. I suggested to Mom that the girl needs to get up every day, and go find a job to support her child. I have no idea why this girl wont go look for a job, maybe because her parents are allowing this behavior……but now she’s on medication…..and I believe I’m paying for it with my taxes.
God forbid a 19 year old mom can’t go get a job.
ZachsMom
January 4th, 2010
9:57 am
Zach is 15 and except on the nights that he has wresteling, he is in bed at 9:30. He Has to get up at 6am to catch the bus because I am at work. He eats breakfast at school and completes any homework that he didn’t finish. I have mentioned that he is bipolar and has ADHD and I can really tell a difference in his attitude and behavior if he doesn’t get enough sleep.
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
January 4th, 2010
9:59 am
Zachs mom — I have heard that ADHD meds make it hard for kids to go to sleep at night — does he seem to be affected by it?? also if he doesn’t take meds in afternoon, is he able to get all of his homework done?
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
January 4th, 2010
10:01 am
Sug — I want to hit on another day those two new shows on MTV — 16 and pregnant which premiered last year and their new Teen Moms show which is following the moms after they had their babies and how they are surviving their first year of being a mom —- If you haven’t watched either of these shows try to check them out in the next week or so — you can also catch episodes online — I am really fascinated with both these shows — how these young, young women handle the pressures of being a mom —
http://www.mtv.com/shows/teen_mom/series.jhtml
Let’s talk about the shows next week — give you guys some time to try to see a little if you haven’t already
Mattie
January 4th, 2010
10:09 am
I do not consider myself responsible for my teens’ sleep habits. They know what is expected in terms of school grades, and they have part-time jobs they are obligated to show up on time for. When they go to bed is their choice. I do not wake them in the morning, and they do just fine getting themselves off on time. I used to obsess over their lack of sleep. Now that I’ve taken a hands off approach, our days begin peacefully and end the same way.
JATL
January 4th, 2010
10:23 am
Mattie -do your kids have tvs, game consoles, etc. in their rooms? Do they take their cell phones/iphones/whatever in their rooms where they can text all night? I’m just wondering because I think kids DO need to learn how to get enough sleep and get themselves up, etc., and I’m glad it’s working in your household, but I’m curious if they have all of these things in their rooms that seemed to be the biggest impediment to my students getting enough sleep.
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
January 4th, 2010
10:23 am
Guys — I think we’re going to have a second topic later today — keep checking back.
P.S. I’m looking for really good topics for this month for the blog!! You can email me at ajcmomania@gmail.com or you can leave them on Facebook on the ajcmomania fan page.
Does more sleep equal less depressed teens? | A Blog for Busy Moms … OQ China
January 4th, 2010
10:23 am
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FCM -- posting to Momania since 2006
January 4th, 2010
10:29 am
I do not have teens. I have two children who usually do better if I let them just get up when they feel like it. Bedtime is normally 9PM and they go without a fuss. They are ready for it too with all the activity they have in a day. Then again, who doesn’t do better if they let their internal/body clock go it’s natural course?
JMP
January 4th, 2010
10:43 am
Mom2, still doesn’t make me change my thoughts on this but thanks for the add’l comment. I have 2 sons and 3 if you count my husband(depends what day it is) ….I simply say that getting to know your children and establishing parameters in your household is what will work best. Starting school later does not work for me, and yes I do happen to work outside of the home at this time. Research, schmesearch(sp)don’t make excuses for them…you will find yourself making excuses for a much longer period of time than you would ever imagine.
Mattie
January 4th, 2010
10:52 am
JATL, my kids have tv’s, computers, IPods and cell phones in their rooms. The game consoles are downstairs where they all have access to them. I think if you make kids responsible for their time, most of them will rise to the occasion and fulfill their responsibilities. My teens are older now, two away in college, one in HS, but I abdicated my control over their sleep habits once they reached HS. The college students have never missed a morning class, and they all have good grades.
I don’t find boys in particular to be prone to moodiness, whatever their sleep habits. They do tend to sleep in whenever they can, but forcing them to go to bed just seemed like too much of a battle that I had no interest in winning.
FCM
January 4th, 2010
10:58 am
Mom2 — Back in the 70s (before I was a student) the HS in my area did split shifts and quarters. The students were able to schedule classes much like they do in college – thus allowing for after school activities. The went to the standard day to accomodate the change in Academic Standards (everbody College Prep y’all)which were being homoginzed and to still allow for the school sponsored activities (football, wrestling, langauage club).
I mention this because I have been told by the people who lived through the change that the old way was better in allowing for the sleep patterns. This in turn had better grades and behavior in the classroom — according to the teachers.
Drop out rates actually went up the first few years after the change, but so did GEDs (which still allowed you into college or military). Pregnancy rates also seemed to increase about that time…
It might make an interesting study to see if it is all correlative or causative.
DB
January 4th, 2010
11:31 am
I don’t think ANYONE — including teens! — is getting enough sleep. There are just so many distractions, and with the economy the way it is, a lot of people just have trouble sleeping, period. The symptoms you describe are all indicative of ANYONE who is sleep-deprived.
I’m a classic case — I am a natural night owl. When I have time to do what I please when I please, my natural sleep time is about 3:00 am until about 10:00 or 11:00 am. Yeah, there’s the old adage about “early birds,”, but let’s face it, most of those came from an agrarian society that valued getting out at the fields before the crack of dawn. :-) I get LOTS done between 11 pm and 3 am, because of the lack of distractions. Bills get paid, projects get complete attention, etc., etc. BUT — when I’m on someone else’s clock, I find that I may go to be “early”, say, 1 am, but dragging out of bed at 7 am starts to take a toll after a while. I dont bounce back quite as quickly as I used to.
My kids, back from college, basically slept for the first week. I don’t look for them before noon, and then I roust them out of bed. My daughter is better at saying, “Hmm — I’m tired, I’m going to bed” than the rest of us — even at school, she tends to turn in around 11 pm, because she has 8 am classes and has to have eaten breakfast and grab the bus by 7:20.
When they were in high school, I basically removed distractions: On school nights, no cell phone after 9 pm (10 pm their senior year), and no on-line chatting if they were working on homework. Honestly, staying up chatting/texting to their friends can eat up HOURS. Also, keeping an eye on food/drink intake after dinner can be helpful — I tried to discourage caffeine at night, and tried to have dinner for them as early in the evening as possible, so they weren’t eating at 9 pm — that keeps some kids (and adults!) up and running longer than they should.
Kids have to be taught time management — and that includes managing their sleep. It comes easier to some than to others, and it includes learning to get your homework out of the way and not start doing algebra at 11:30 at night. :-)
Plus, you’re right, Mom2A&M: There is a biological predisposition for adolescents to stay up light. When puberty kicks in, their brain waves change a bit, and the change makes it harder for their body to recognize the need for sleep.
Another benefit of getting enough sleep is weight management. Not having enough sleep also messes up metabolism to the point where your body tends to gain weight when sleep deprived.
Sug
January 4th, 2010
11:42 am
When we go to bed, everything, I mean everything, gets turned off. Cell phones are off, tvs are off, lights are off, etc.
I agree with most of the posters, once kids reach high school, they are on their own. My kids never missed a class either, but they did stay up late watching tv in the living room.
One now in college, and is doing very well getting up for those early classes. She made her schedule to start early so she could have afternoons free to study, etc.
Get up and get it over with, then relax and take care of business!!!!
DB
January 4th, 2010
11:42 am
@MaryKay: I agree with JATL, if you’re going to blog, you’re going to have to develop a thicker skin and not take everything so personally. We all throw our opinions out there and have fun seeiing how congruent they are with other people’s views — sometimes we’re in the majority, sometimes we’re in the minority, and sometimes, we’re so far out in right field that everyone shakes their head and thinks “WTH?!”
But we’re all interested in being the best parent we can be for our children. For many of us, this is the equivalent of what used to be morning coffee with the neighbor. Don’t take it personally — just roll with it. And remember — it takes two to “argue.” Sometimes, you just have to disengage if you find your blood pressure rising!
sportsmommy74
January 4th, 2010
11:45 am
Well, I have a 14 yr old stepdaughter, a 13 yr old bio son and 12 yr old stepson. The girl will sleep until the wheels fall off, but the boys go to bead by 9:30 and are up usually by 7:00 and this includes the weekends… They play sports and keep good grades. I think the girl gets too much sleep.
Our school district starts middle school late and they get the bus at 7:50am.
I like the idea of making them more responsible, because I currently wake them up in the mornings for school. It may be time for me to stop that.
Lynn
January 4th, 2010
12:02 pm
The school schedule doesn’t work well for many children who are night owls. The rigid adherence to this schedule allows for after school activities but has a significant impact on the amount of sleep our teens get. Add in the hours of homework my teens have each night and yes I have teens who are chronically sleep deprived. The break has allowed their natual sleep cycles to emerge and that includes late bedtimes and wake ups. The world runs on a morning person’s schedule. I have often said that it would be be fair to run each year on a half schedule if only to give the night owls a chance to function best on their cycle.
Julia
January 4th, 2010
12:07 pm
MK I have just been on here a few days but you really need to put on your big girl panties. This is an open web where people have their differnences. You will never see these people in real life so why let what is said on a blog make you have a bad day. You really want to see a blood bath, go look at the daily thread over on the weight watchers page.
FCM – The boy came back yesteray and made me breakfast this morning :). I really think aliens took him and swapped that kid :)
catlady
January 4th, 2010
12:09 pm
I was expected to be in bed by 9 (later, 9:30) with the lights off. If I wanted to read, it had better be before then! No TV in the room, although I did have a clock radio (remember them?) And of course no cell, ipod, etc. When I was 16 I was allowed to have a “princess” phone in the room, but God Forbid if I used it after 9 pm. (Also, God Forbid if anyone called after 9 pm. Someone BETTER HAVE DIED if the phone rang that late.) I was to be up by 7 and to school (across the street) before 8. On weekends, summers, and holidays I was allowed to sleep as late as I wanted, unless I wanted to sleep later than 7:45. At 7:45 I could hear the pots banging (although my room was at the opposite end of the house) and I knew I’d better get up.
For my own kids, I expected about the same, although they had to get up about 6:30 to get to school. Those were the rules in my house. I did let my kids sleep in until 8:30, however, during the vacation times. (My mom was sure they were headed for h!! sleeping that late)
In college, they were on their own.
I really doubt many people are getting anywhere near the amount of solid sleep they need. As parents, I think we should MODEL the behavior we expect from our kids, and teach them to get along in the real world they will have to face, which is at this point most likely to be a 9-5 day.
Jane
January 4th, 2010
12:35 pm
Julia – where’s the weight watchers page?
DB
January 4th, 2010
12:40 pm
@sportsmommy74: Your 14 year old daughte is a full-blown teenager, thus the sleep. The boys aren’t quite there, yet, although your 13 year old will probably hit it this summer (the summer before 9th grade is always fascinating in terms of growth spurts!) The boys are still working off of pre-puberty biology.
Just wait . . . :-) They’ll hit puberty and suddenly, they will be sleeping 15 hours a day!
FCM
January 4th, 2010
12:45 pm
Julia — glad to hear that his visit made him more appreciative of you. Mine came home (again, as they had gone to be with my folks for a few days last week while I worked) and they are trying to be helpful. It will all get better in time.
Layla
January 4th, 2010
12:47 pm
I don’t have teenagers, but it wasn’t too long ago that I was one, so I’ll put in my 2 cents. :-)
I was always tired during high school- I wouldn’t get to bed until after midnight most nights because I had a full schedule of mostly advanced classes, several activities and, once junior year started, a part-time job. I had to get up around 6:30am, we had to be in homeroom at 7:55am and got out at 3:05pm. (my numbers may be off a bit, but close enough). During weekends and holidays, I would stay up until 2am or later and wake up around 11am- noon and still be sluggish.
Now that I’m older, I’m finding that if I go to bed around 10pm and manage to fall asleep before 11pm, I’ll naturally wake up between 5:30-6am and feel very refreshed. I read somewhere that the hours between 10pm and midnight are prime for REM sleep, which is where deep sleep happens. I also heard that not sleeping well causes weight gain. And I’ve taken ALL electronic equipment out of my bedroom- only my alarm clock stays, and if I could get rid of it I would. :-)
catlady
January 4th, 2010
1:12 pm
BTW, after decades of that schedule, I wake without a clock at the same time each day (except for a week or so after the time changes). Does that mean it is a habit, or a natural predisposition, or what?
Julia
January 4th, 2010
1:16 pm
Jane its www dot weightwatchres dot com
Julia
January 4th, 2010
1:18 pm
FCM it gets even stranger :).. He wanted taco mac hot wings with blue cheese and celery!! I asked him.. Who are you and what did you do with my son! :) that is an inside joke ;)
Julia
January 4th, 2010
1:18 pm
Jane is weightwatchers.. I guess i cant post the link on here
FCM
January 4th, 2010
1:24 pm
” teach them to get along in the real world they will have to face, which is at this point most likely to be a 9-5 day”
I agree there are many jobs that could go to that schedule.
What if the child becomes a chef, militrary, police, fire fighters, EMTs, doctors, L & D nurses (right N&M?) etc? It is likely they could be on any version of a schedule–and my experience is you will adapt to it. I worked 2 jobs and went to College the first time I got a degree. My schedule was typically 8AM to 2AM 6 days a week…that includes school and work and any other fun I managed to fit in.
My current schedule is 8:30 – 5:30 not including the time I am actively being Mom or commuting.
It is hard to say that modeling a behavior based on a preconvcieved notion of what time line they may be on is a good idea. I do believe that modeling the behavior you expect no matter what the schedule is a fantastic idea all the time. Thus the parent who works the grave yard shift at UPS is still modeling fantastic expectations, as is the smart mom of 3 who teaches for a living. ;)
FCM
January 4th, 2010
1:28 pm
Julia he is healing. Keep praying and being there for him. I promise if you show your consistant and keep your word he will see that. BUT! Don’t be surprised if he backslides a time or two…or be thankful when he doesn’t!
Julia
January 4th, 2010
1:28 pm
Jane it is the weight watchers web site
Julia
January 4th, 2010
1:29 pm
We have had a great two days and he hugged me this morning and said I did miss you :)
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
January 4th, 2010
1:35 pm
Julia – that’s funny you mention that because I was thinking about doing a weight watchers like weekly weigh in here to help me drop this baby weight that is still hanging around!!!!!!! my husband doesn’t want me to do it because he says it would be way (weigh) too embarrassing —- we definitely do need people being even meaner — I just think if I had to publicly admit my weight each week I’d think twice about the cake!
motherjanegoose
January 4th, 2010
1:48 pm
@ marykay….I understand you are frustrated on this blog. It will happen to most anyone who has a specific opinion. There were many days that my name was mud even when I did not say a word.
That drove me crazy. I have been on the blog since 2006.
Theresa has taken care of some of the ugly posters and for that I am thankful. There are others who feel they should have been left to attack me each day.
My opinion, not the popular one, is that we each have the right to express our ideas in a sensible and polite fashion. When expressing it turns rude and nasty…then the line has been crossed. If the blog itself becomes a constant battle of those who spew ugly comments then this ( to me) is disrespectful of both Theresa and the other posters. While I am strong about my opinions, I try not to be rude. Am I the only one who has considered that Theresa may not even have a job if the blog implodes with vile comments?
I feel that some posters have more experience in certain areas and thus I ( not everyone) hold these poster’s comments at a higher lever. There are others here who do not agree with this thought and hold all comments on an equal level, When I look for a valid opinion, I go to someone who has had repeated experience in the area. Exactly why I paid NO attention to my own mother when she told me, “You will not be able to breastfeed, so you may not even start. I tried it for 2 weeks with you and it did not work….” I went to my then principal who was breastfeeding her 6 month old son at the time and she offered me all sorts of advice and support! I realize that is impossible to know if the posters are really who they are but after reading several things…there are clues.
for example: deirdre ( sp) has just mentioned that she wants to quit smoking….since I have never smoked one cigarette, I would not expect to know much about the struggles she certainly will have but I will encourage her in any way possible. I will not tell her things about smoking and act like I have a clue….because I do not. I do know plenty of folks who smoke but ( to me) that does not count as having personally smoked for years.
While I am a teacher, I have never taught HS students and thus I enjoy the comments by those who do teach this level but will not try to rip them apart as I have been the mother of high schoolers but not the teacher….to me this is different.
There are those on here who will not accept a valid opinion no way no day. That is the way it is and nothing is going to change it. I get fussy at them but there is REALLY nothing I am going to do to change their mind. Kind of like telling someone you might get better produce at the Farmer’s Market than at Quick Trip. Oh well, if they like the fruit at Quick Trip…fine!
TODAY’S TRIVIA…ARE YOU READY JULIA?
What is the winter strawberry capital and probably where many of the strawberries come from in our Atlanta area now….BTW…they are $1.99 at Publix right now! Not sure how much they are at QT….lol.
There are things I know, from being a mom and teacher for quite some time and also from getting advice from many others who are in the same boat. I try to share the proven concepts but if others chose to ignore me ….oh well. This is why I really enjoy having lunch with DB, as her kids are close to my kid’s age and she has sage advise about the things she has experienced. We trade ideas and laugh over the mistakes we made and see others making too!
Just my 2 cents worth!
Julia
January 4th, 2010
2:02 pm
Well it seems all the fruiits and veggies come from Ca or Fla??? I hear they are getting freezes too though :)
Theresa – this has to be your decision not his and he should support you on this. I would not make it public you are doing it that way you dont set your self up if you do fall off the wagon. It is fairly easy to work the plan. You can have all the veggies you want not potatoes or corn but pretty much every thing else is free. There are 2 ways you can do it, on line or go in. For the first few months, I would suggest going in that way you can talk to the leader.. But once you get use to it.. do it online :).. Good luck.. Just stay off thier boards – they will eat you alive :)
Julia
January 4th, 2010
2:05 pm
I put a turkey breast in the oven with veggies under it.. gosh it smells so good alreay :)
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
January 4th, 2010
2:11 pm
I posted a second topic — what’s your kid’s texting record? What’s the most they have ever text in a day, week or month? (Should that be texted?)
Julia
January 4th, 2010
2:11 pm
Theresa – ok put it on here.. it will be good to cheer you on :)