Why are so many UMC kids "gifted but learning disabled"?

[Anonymous]

I think the last sentence in the above post is an important component of this. The number of people in this area who claim their kids are gifted is likely inflated, too, so why wouldn’t the number of people claiming 2e also be inflated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymou[b wrote:s]In part because we now pathologize cognitive differences that can be part of superior intellectual performance: ADHD, autism, even dyslexia.[/b] These are often genetic, so someone who succeeded with these characteristics to become UMC will pass them down. Also these cognitive differences do some with downsides and weaknesses, so parents who struggled as kids (even if they ultimately succeeded in college and career) now want to help their own kids do better.

Definitely also an aspect of anxious helicoptering too, though.

I think this is it. We are pathologizing cognitive differences that are really part of what determines overall intelligence.

x1000000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The way I see it, their kid tested high IQ in one area and lower in another, making it average IQ. But, now there is an excuse that this is a proof of a learning disability. Rather than what we all know it to be, all people are stronger in some areas and weaker in some areas. But, rich can buy these diagnoses. my DD tested the same, high verbal, lower reasoning. Psychologist never once mentioned 2e to me, never. She has 504 and is considered SN, and nothing else. So what if her English scores on SAT are fraction under 800? Her math score is low, hence her score is average. If child has low processing speed that child will end up with a low IQ testing score. The rest of made up by parents as 2e. I don't believe in 2E, and I never have. I am a parent of two SN kids. Sure they are smart about somethings, but they are SN kids. 2e is a BS concept.

People can claim their child is 2e with an IQ under 130, but that’s not the definition of 2e. It’s iq 2 st deviations above the mean and another exceptionality like an LD.

I hear you. I hear this too. One are two index scores in the gifted range and an average IQ is exactly what it is.

[Anonymous]

Call it what you will. My child is very smart in some ways and a total mess in others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The way I see it, their kid tested high IQ in one area and lower in another, making it average IQ. But, now there is an excuse that this is a proof of a learning disability. Rather than what we all know it to be, all people are stronger in some areas and weaker in some areas. But, rich can buy these diagnoses. my DD tested the same, high verbal, lower reasoning. Psychologist never once mentioned 2e to me, never. She has 504 and is considered SN, and nothing else. So what if her English scores on SAT are fraction under 800? Her math score is low, hence her score is average. If child has low processing speed that child will end up with a low IQ testing score. The rest of made up by parents as 2e. I don't believe in 2E, and I never have. I am a parent of two SN kids. Sure they are smart about somethings, but they are SN kids. 2e is a BS concept.

Teacher here. I don't think it's totally BS. I have seen some kids that I would truly label as 2E. But I do believe the majority of kids with this label are just somewhat more pronounced in their strengths and weaknesses than most. Most 2E kids I've seen, I would not really characterize as gifted. Actually most of the gifted kids I see, I wouldn't characterize as truly gifted either.

Mom of "2e" kid here. Yes, I agree with you. My kid is more pronounced in strengths and weaknesses. But I'm aware that there are other kids equally as strong as him who don't have his weaknesses. In some ways, it's just a label that really does indicate that it's a kid who needs extra support to live up to his potential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because no one wants average kids. Everyone around here seems to think there kid is super smart or has SN.

The SN forum is full of people who want neurotypical kids.

+1. This thread is so nasty. My kid has an IQ of over 140, and has wicked ADHD. Would I like to have been able to send him to a regular preschool, and regular camps? Yes! Would I like for him to be able to have playdates without getting that look from the other mom? Yes! Would I like to save the $10-20,000 I spend every year on special therapy and treatments, and all the heartache of wondering if I've got the right treatment plan or am medicating him too much or too little or with the wrong stuff? Yes! Yes! Yes! I'd trade 30 IQ points easily for that, but no one gave me that choice.

Also, it's pretty well acknowledged that the rates of ADHD, ASD and probably other LDs are increasing due to all the chemicals in the environment, many of which are known to be neurotoxic. (And most of which we grew up consuming, so it's stored in our fat tissues and released to the fetus while we gestate or maybe even in our breastmilk.) (There's also interesting research being done linking it to gut flora, so all the antiobiotics we consume in our food is maybe a factor as well.) So if this all bothers you, call your Congressional rep and encourage them to pass stricter laws governing pesticides and other chemicals.

I am on special needs forum a lot. I have two SN kids. Where is this well acknowledged? As for antibiotics, I grew up in Eastern Europe and antibiotics were given so much. Non stop. Cough, cold, sore throat, anything. There was no ADHD diagnosis then in my country at all. LD disabilities, imo, are not increasing due to chemicals, they are increasing because we are denying out children the freedom to grow up and develop their emotional and intellect abilities at the regular pace. This is not all our fault, this is how we live, not everyone is a millionaire that can start environmentally friendly farm and raise their kids range free, most of us can't. Pesticides were all over Eastern Europe when I was growing up. Sister, cousins and I are all high IQ, our children all have something wrong with them... The difference? We grew up "free range," our kids grew up being expected to read at 3 and driven to activities in very urban environment. Out little village became a suburb and just exploded. Same with my US DH, all his siblings are smart and grew up "free range" and not a single diagnosis, kids all have some diagnosis. I mean, come on, you surely see the common thread? And it is not pesticides! Out lifestyle is preventing our children from being children and WE(notice we, not just YOU) are coming up with cover up stories. Media, movies have replaced reading, reading teaches patience, screen does not. Our society is to blame, but not for pesticides, for parental and teaching failures. My DD is hyper social ADHD, and I would trade nothing, nothing for her not be be adhd, because honestly her adhd was just called social, has endless energy kid 30 years ago. Now, she never hurt anyone, if your child is aggressive, I would question the ADHD diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call it what you will. My child is very smart in some ways and a total mess in others.

So your kid is a kid? A human?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the real reason. So they can get accommodations in the classroom and EXTENDED TIME on tests. Who wouldn’t want their child to get unlimited time for the SAT if they could come up for a phony reason that they need it!

No one gets unlimited time on tests. Also, many kids who get extended time on school tests don't get extra time on the SAT. Now it will be even harder for kids who legitimately need it to get extended time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because no one wants average kids. Everyone around here seems to think there kid is super smart or has SN.

The SN forum is full of people who want neurotypical kids.

+1. This thread is so nasty. My kid has an IQ of over 140, and has wicked ADHD. Would I like to have been able to send him to a regular preschool, and regular camps? Yes! Would I like for him to be able to have playdates without getting that look from the other mom? Yes! Would I like to save the $10-20,000 I spend every year on special therapy and treatments, and all the heartache of wondering if I've got the right treatment plan or am medicating him too much or too little or with the wrong stuff? Yes! Yes! Yes! I'd trade 30 IQ points easily for that, but no one gave me that choice.

Also, it's pretty well acknowledged that the rates of ADHD, ASD and probably other LDs are increasing due to all the chemicals in the environment, many of which are known to be neurotoxic. (And most of which we grew up consuming, so it's stored in our fat tissues and released to the fetus while we gestate or maybe even in our breastmilk.) (There's also interesting research being done linking it to gut flora, so all the antiobiotics we consume in our food is maybe a factor as well.) So if this all bothers you, call your Congressional rep and encourage them to pass stricter laws governing pesticides and other chemicals.

I am on special needs forum a lot. I have two SN kids. Where is this well acknowledged? As for antibiotics, I grew up in Eastern Europe and antibiotics were given so much. Non stop. Cough, cold, sore throat, anything. There was no ADHD diagnosis then in my country at all. LD disabilities, imo, are not increasing due to chemicals, they are increasing because we are denying out children the freedom to grow up and develop their emotional and intellect abilities at the regular pace. This is not all our fault, this is how we live, not everyone is a millionaire that can start environmentally friendly farm and raise their kids range free, most of us can't. Pesticides were all over Eastern Europe when I was growing up. Sister, cousins and I are all high IQ, our children all have something wrong with them... The difference? We grew up "free range," our kids grew up being expected to read at 3 and driven to activities in very urban environment. Out little village became a suburb and just exploded. Same with my US DH, all his siblings are smart and grew up "free range" and not a single diagnosis, kids all have some diagnosis. I mean, come on, you surely see the common thread? And it is not pesticides! Out lifestyle is preventing our children from being children and WE(notice we, not just YOU) are coming up with cover up stories. Media, movies have replaced reading, reading teaches patience, screen does not. Our society is to blame, but not for pesticides, for parental and teaching failures. My DD is hyper social ADHD, and I would trade nothing, nothing for her not be be adhd, because honestly her adhd was just called social, has endless energy kid 30 years ago. Now, she never hurt anyone, if your child is aggressive, I would question the ADHD diagnosis.

Free range means parents are lazy and kids parent themselves. It’s a cop out for I want kids for status but cannot be bothered with them. Parenting means teaching your kids and driving. Not this free range hands off parenting and then complain about how kids are being raised as the lack of parenting is why we have so many kids and teens running wild and behaving as they have and do. You may have replaced reading for electronics but that is not what many of us have done. It’s a justification and assumption when it’s often not the case.

My child has a specific disorder. The school was pushing ASD or adhd so they can get their SN numbers up as they lost special education teachers. They want kids medicated as it’s easier to sedate than teach. Schools put kids on computers far more than parents and push for the SN label as it’s about money. Many parents I know comply as they fear retaliation, which happened to us. It is not as simple as you make it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FISQ 133
dyslexic
presto 2E

This area has a very high percentage of overacheivers. JDs, MDs, PhDs, multiple masters, all marrying. Therefore, this area will have a higher rate of gifted kids.

The 2e thing is new to me. My DC was having trouble in school, got tested, and this is the Dx. Now the ADHD thing I'm not so sure about. I think if the LD is treated, the ADHD will go away but only time will tell.

Why so many LDs? 10% of all kids have dyslexia. Not sure the rate on ADHD or HFASD. IQ and those things can be mutually exclusive. Also, 2e kids are wired different. I'm hoping is happy no matter life choices but mean mommies like you should be ashamed of yourselves and the mean things your kids say to mine.

This.

And also because 2e kids can also present as average -- their giftedness masking/compensating for the LD -- and only a certain type of parent will dig into that and get help. And that's the kind of parent who frequents DCUM.

I seriously doubt a kid who is actually 2e will "present as average". Maybe they end up with overall average grades or test scores. But if they're truly 2e, then their giftedness and disabilities should be apparent to any minimally informed observer.

My kid likely falls somewhere in the 2e range, according to today's expanded definitions. Any teacher or professional who watches him and interacts with him for a fairly short period of time is going to be able to perceive his strengths and weaknesses. Average, he ain't (for better or for worse).

I agree with this. I know two kids who are like this. Their strengths are glaring, but so are their shortcomings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the real reason. So they can get accommodations in the classroom and EXTENDED TIME on tests. Who wouldn’t want their child to get unlimited time for the SAT if they could come up for a phony reason that they need it!

No one gets unlimited time on tests. Also, many kids who get extended time on school tests don't get extra time on the SAT. Now it will be even harder for kids who legitimately need it to get extended time.

We cannot get a suitable Iep without claiming our child has something different than what it is. People make it sound so easy and it’s not. Many of our kids go without basic supports. I cannot even get our school to send unfinished work home so we can teach it at home. Our kids are dumped in centers Andy told to figure it out as a group and there is no real teaching or instruction or explainations or textbooks. The current system is failing our kids. That is the bigger issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because no one wants average kids. Everyone around here seems to think there kid is super smart or has SN.

The SN forum is full of people who want neurotypical kids.

+1. This thread is so nasty. My kid has an IQ of over 140, and has wicked ADHD. Would I like to have been able to send him to a regular preschool, and regular camps? Yes! Would I like for him to be able to have playdates without getting that look from the other mom? Yes! Would I like to save the $10-20,000 I spend every year on special therapy and treatments, and all the heartache of wondering if I've got the right treatment plan or am medicating him too much or too little or with the wrong stuff? Yes! Yes! Yes! I'd trade 30 IQ points easily for that, but no one gave me that choice.

Also, it's pretty well acknowledged that the rates of ADHD, ASD and probably other LDs are increasing due to all the chemicals in the environment, many of which are known to be neurotoxic. (And most of which we grew up consuming, so it's stored in our fat tissues and released to the fetus while we gestate or maybe even in our breastmilk.) (There's also interesting research being done linking it to gut flora, so all the antiobiotics we consume in our food is maybe a factor as well.) So if this all bothers you, call your Congressional rep and encourage them to pass stricter laws governing pesticides and other chemicals.

I am on special needs forum a lot. I have two SN kids. Where is this well acknowledged? As for antibiotics, I grew up in Eastern Europe and antibiotics were given so much. Non stop. Cough, cold, sore throat, anything. There was no ADHD diagnosis then in my country at all. LD disabilities, imo, are not increasing due to chemicals, they are increasing because we are denying out children the freedom to grow up and develop their emotional and intellect abilities at the regular pace. This is not all our fault, this is how we live, not everyone is a millionaire that can start environmentally friendly farm and raise their kids range free, most of us can't. Pesticides were all over Eastern Europe when I was growing up. Sister, cousins and I are all high IQ, our children all have something wrong with them... The difference? We grew up "free range," our kids grew up being expected to read at 3 and driven to activities in very urban environment. Out little village became a suburb and just exploded. Same with my US DH, all his siblings are smart and grew up "free range" and not a single diagnosis, kids all have some diagnosis. I mean, come on, you surely see the common thread? And it is not pesticides! Out lifestyle is preventing our children from being children and WE(notice we, not just YOU) are coming up with cover up stories. Media, movies have replaced reading, reading teaches patience, screen does not. Our society is to blame, but not for pesticides, for parental and teaching failures. My DD is hyper social ADHD, and I would trade nothing, nothing for her not be be adhd, because honestly her adhd was just called social, has endless energy kid 30 years ago. Now, she never hurt anyone, if your child is aggressive, I would question the ADHD diagnosis.

Free range means parents are lazy and kids parent themselves. It’s a cop out for I want kids for status but cannot be bothered with them. Parenting means teaching your kids and driving. Not this free range hands off parenting and then complain about how kids are being raised as the lack of parenting is why we have so many kids and teens running wild and behaving as they have and do. You may have replaced reading for electronics but that is not what many of us have done. It’s a justification and assumption when it’s often not the case.

My child has a specific disorder. The school was pushing ASD or adhd so they can get their SN numbers up as they lost special education teachers. They want kids medicated as it’s easier to sedate than teach. Schools put kids on computers far more than parents and push for the SN label as it’s about money. Many parents I know comply as they fear retaliation, which happened to us. It is not as simple as you make it.

I disagree that school want to up theirs special needs numbers. I know of kids who have been denied 504s with a diagnosis and strong teacher support saying the child clearly needs accommodations. Also, who are these parents medicating their kids for fear of retaliation? Teachers aren't even allowed to say they think a kid has a specific disability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because no one wants average kids. Everyone around here seems to think there kid is super smart or has SN.

The SN forum is full of people who want neurotypical kids.

+1. This thread is so nasty. My kid has an IQ of over 140, and has wicked ADHD. Would I like to have been able to send him to a regular preschool, and regular camps? Yes! Would I like for him to be able to have playdates without getting that look from the other mom? Yes! Would I like to save the $10-20,000 I spend every year on special therapy and treatments, and all the heartache of wondering if I've got the right treatment plan or am medicating him too much or too little or with the wrong stuff? Yes! Yes! Yes! I'd trade 30 IQ points easily for that, but no one gave me that choice.

Also, it's pretty well acknowledged that the rates of ADHD, ASD and probably other LDs are increasing due to all the chemicals in the environment, many of which are known to be neurotoxic. (And most of which we grew up consuming, so it's stored in our fat tissues and released to the fetus while we gestate or maybe even in our breastmilk.) (There's also interesting research being done linking it to gut flora, so all the antiobiotics we consume in our food is maybe a factor as well.) So if this all bothers you, call your Congressional rep and encourage them to pass stricter laws governing pesticides and other chemicals.

I am on special needs forum a lot. I have two SN kids. Where is this well acknowledged? As for antibiotics, I grew up in Eastern Europe and antibiotics were given so much. Non stop. Cough, cold, sore throat, anything. There was no ADHD diagnosis then in my country at all. LD disabilities, imo, are not increasing due to chemicals, they are increasing because we are denying out children the freedom to grow up and develop their emotional and intellect abilities at the regular pace. This is not all our fault, this is how we live, not everyone is a millionaire that can start environmentally friendly farm and raise their kids range free, most of us can't. Pesticides were all over Eastern Europe when I was growing up. Sister, cousins and I are all high IQ, our children all have something wrong with them... The difference? We grew up "free range," our kids grew up being expected to read at 3 and driven to activities in very urban environment. Out little village became a suburb and just exploded. Same with my US DH, all his siblings are smart and grew up "free range" and not a single diagnosis, kids all have some diagnosis. I mean, come on, you surely see the common thread? And it is not pesticides! Out lifestyle is preventing our children from being children and WE(notice we, not just YOU) are coming up with cover up stories. Media, movies have replaced reading, reading teaches patience, screen does not. Our society is to blame, but not for pesticides, for parental and teaching failures. My DD is hyper social ADHD, and I would trade nothing, nothing for her not be be adhd, because honestly her adhd was just called social, has endless energy kid 30 years ago. Now, she never hurt anyone, if your child is aggressive, I would question the ADHD diagnosis.

Free range means parents are lazy and kids parent themselves. It’s a cop out for I want kids for status but cannot be bothered with them. Parenting means teaching your kids and driving. Not this free range hands off parenting and then complain about how kids are being raised as the lack of parenting is why we have so many kids and teens running wild and behaving as they have and do. You may have replaced reading for electronics but that is not what many of us have done. It’s a justification and assumption when it’s often not the case.

My child has a specific disorder. The school was pushing ASD or adhd so they can get their SN numbers up as they lost special education teachers. They want kids medicated as it’s easier to sedate than teach. Schools put kids on computers far more than parents and push for the SN label as it’s about money. Many parents I know comply as they fear retaliation, which happened to us. It is not as simple as you make it.

Perhaps your definition of free range is different than mine? We played in the orchard, rode our bikes, and then we went to school walking. And then to HS taking a city bus, and we did our own homework. And we answered to our parents if we messed up. My mom and dad were very far from lazy parents, but they knew that kids need to be kids, and that we didn't' need to be driven everywhere. I assure you nobody ran wild. Bad grades warranted consequences, but we were allowed to fail and answer without a parent standing over our head every minute of our day. I thought you might understand, but clearly you are some tiger mom. I think you you are a prime example of parents finding excuses for their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because no one wants average kids. Everyone around here seems to think there kid is super smart or has SN.

The SN forum is full of people who want neurotypical kids.

+1. This thread is so nasty. My kid has an IQ of over 140, and has wicked ADHD. Would I like to have been able to send him to a regular preschool, and regular camps? Yes! Would I like for him to be able to have playdates without getting that look from the other mom? Yes! Would I like to save the $10-20,000 I spend every year on special therapy and treatments, and all the heartache of wondering if I've got the right treatment plan or am medicating him too much or too little or with the wrong stuff? Yes! Yes! Yes! I'd trade 30 IQ points easily for that, but no one gave me that choice.

Also, it's pretty well acknowledged that the rates of ADHD, ASD and probably other LDs are increasing due to all the chemicals in the environment, many of which are known to be neurotoxic. (And most of which we grew up consuming, so it's stored in our fat tissues and released to the fetus while we gestate or maybe even in our breastmilk.) (There's also interesting research being done linking it to gut flora, so all the antiobiotics we consume in our food is maybe a factor as well.) So if this all bothers you, call your Congressional rep and encourage them to pass stricter laws governing pesticides and other chemicals.

I am on special needs forum a lot. I have two SN kids. Where is this well acknowledged? As for antibiotics, I grew up in Eastern Europe and antibiotics were given so much. Non stop. Cough, cold, sore throat, anything. There was no ADHD diagnosis then in my country at all. LD disabilities, imo, are not increasing due to chemicals, they are increasing because we are denying out children the freedom to grow up and develop their emotional and intellect abilities at the regular pace. This is not all our fault, this is how we live, not everyone is a millionaire that can start environmentally friendly farm and raise their kids range free, most of us can't. Pesticides were all over Eastern Europe when I was growing up. Sister, cousins and I are all high IQ, our children all have something wrong with them... The difference? We grew up "free range," our kids grew up being expected to read at 3 and driven to activities in very urban environment. Out little village became a suburb and just exploded. Same with my US DH, all his siblings are smart and grew up "free range" and not a single diagnosis, kids all have some diagnosis. I mean, come on, you surely see the common thread? And it is not pesticides! Out lifestyle is preventing our children from being children and WE(notice we, not just YOU) are coming up with cover up stories. Media, movies have replaced reading, reading teaches patience, screen does not. Our society is to blame, but not for pesticides, for parental and teaching failures. My DD is hyper social ADHD, and I would trade nothing, nothing for her not be be adhd, because honestly her adhd was just called social, has endless energy kid 30 years ago. Now, she never hurt anyone, if your child is aggressive, I would question the ADHD diagnosis.

Free range means parents are lazy and kids parent themselves. It’s a cop out for I want kids for status but cannot be bothered with them. Parenting means teaching your kids and driving. Not this free range hands off parenting and then complain about how kids are being raised as the lack of parenting is why we have so many kids and teens running wild and behaving as they have and do. You may have replaced reading for electronics but that is not what many of us have done. It’s a justification and assumption when it’s often not the case.

My child has a specific disorder. The school was pushing ASD or adhd so they can get their SN numbers up as they lost special education teachers. They want kids medicated as it’s easier to sedate than teach. Schools put kids on computers far more than parents and push for the SN label as it’s about money. Many parents I know comply as they fear retaliation, which happened to us. It is not as simple as you make it.

I disagree that school want to up theirs special needs numbers. I know of kids who have been denied 504s with a diagnosis and strong teacher support saying the child clearly needs accommodations. Also, who are these parents medicating their kids for fear of retaliation? Teachers aren't even allowed to say they think a kid has a specific disability.

504 is not an IEP. The more kids with IEPs with specific diagnosis gets the special education teachers. We were denied a 504 after terminating our IEP as they would only allow us to continue with an ASD or ADHD diagnosis. We were not going to allow them to improperly diagnose our child who was in private services since age two and many evaluations all with the same diagnosis. Yes, many schools are resistant as they do not want to provide the services in less it benefits them. My child goes without at school and we spend a small fortune doing them privately. What they are allowed to do is different from what really happens. Teachers are not allowed to diagnose but they suggest and demand the school allow for testing. When they first tested our child they refused to talk to outside providers or us so they can try to get their preferred diagnosis. Diagnosis means extra teachers. They completely retaliated to my child in how they treated her, grades, if she did the slightest thing wrong she got sent to the office for the rest of the day and then lost lunch and recess for a few days after when normally all the kids were acting up and only she got in trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because no one wants average kids. Everyone around here seems to think there kid is super smart or has SN.

The SN forum is full of people who want neurotypical kids.

+1. This thread is so nasty. My kid has an IQ of over 140, and has wicked ADHD. Would I like to have been able to send him to a regular preschool, and regular camps? Yes! Would I like for him to be able to have playdates without getting that look from the other mom? Yes! Would I like to save the $10-20,000 I spend every year on special therapy and treatments, and all the heartache of wondering if I've got the right treatment plan or am medicating him too much or too little or with the wrong stuff? Yes! Yes! Yes! I'd trade 30 IQ points easily for that, but no one gave me that choice.

Also, it's pretty well acknowledged that the rates of ADHD, ASD and probably other LDs are increasing due to all the chemicals in the environment, many of which are known to be neurotoxic. (And most of which we grew up consuming, so it's stored in our fat tissues and released to the fetus while we gestate or maybe even in our breastmilk.) (There's also interesting research being done linking it to gut flora, so all the antiobiotics we consume in our food is maybe a factor as well.) So if this all bothers you, call your Congressional rep and encourage them to pass stricter laws governing pesticides and other chemicals.

I am on special needs forum a lot. I have two SN kids. Where is this well acknowledged? As for antibiotics, I grew up in Eastern Europe and antibiotics were given so much. Non stop. Cough, cold, sore throat, anything. There was no ADHD diagnosis then in my country at all. LD disabilities, imo, are not increasing due to chemicals, they are increasing because we are denying out children the freedom to grow up and develop their emotional and intellect abilities at the regular pace. This is not all our fault, this is how we live, not everyone is a millionaire that can start environmentally friendly farm and raise their kids range free, most of us can't. Pesticides were all over Eastern Europe when I was growing up. Sister, cousins and I are all high IQ, our children all have something wrong with them... The difference? We grew up "free range," our kids grew up being expected to read at 3 and driven to activities in very urban environment. Out little village became a suburb and just exploded. Same with my US DH, all his siblings are smart and grew up "free range" and not a single diagnosis, kids all have some diagnosis. I mean, come on, you surely see the common thread? And it is not pesticides! Out lifestyle is preventing our children from being children and WE(notice we, not just YOU) are coming up with cover up stories. Media, movies have replaced reading, reading teaches patience, screen does not. Our society is to blame, but not for pesticides, for parental and teaching failures. My DD is hyper social ADHD, and I would trade nothing, nothing for her not be be adhd, because honestly her adhd was just called social, has endless energy kid 30 years ago. Now, she never hurt anyone, if your child is aggressive, I would question the ADHD diagnosis.

Free range means parents are lazy and kids parent themselves. It’s a cop out for I want kids for status but cannot be bothered with them. Parenting means teaching your kids and driving. Not this free range hands off parenting and then complain about how kids are being raised as the lack of parenting is why we have so many kids and teens running wild and behaving as they have and do. You may have replaced reading for electronics but that is not what many of us have done. It’s a justification and assumption when it’s often not the case.

My child has a specific disorder. The school was pushing ASD or adhd so they can get their SN numbers up as they lost special education teachers. They want kids medicated as it’s easier to sedate than teach. Schools put kids on computers far more than parents and push for the SN label as it’s about money. Many parents I know comply as they fear retaliation, which happened to us. It is not as simple as you make it.

Perhaps your definition of free range is different than mine? We played in the orchard, rode our bikes, and then we went to school walking. And then to HS taking a city bus, and we did our own homework. And we answered to our parents if we messed up. My mom and dad were very far from lazy parents, but they knew that kids need to be kids, and that we didn't' need to be driven everywhere. I assure you nobody ran wild. Bad grades warranted consequences, but we were allowed to fail and answer without a parent standing over our head every minute of our day. I thought you might understand, but clearly you are some tiger mom. I think you you are a prime example of parents finding excuses for their kids.

It really depends on the age of the child. I am not a tiger mom, I am a very involved parent. We do not have orchards, there is a huge safety issue when there are lots of cars and crazy people and not a small town. Nothing. Wrong with kids being in structured activities. We do not live near public transportation so no my child is not walking a few miles, especially when we have no sidewalks when I can easily drive them till they can drive themselves. Your childhood is not comparable. We have family in Eastern Europe and that is not at all how they raised their kids nor are the kids being raised. Hands off parents is a huge issue and always has been.