An interesting discussion about FASD affecting life insurance acceptance has been ongoing for several days at the Michigan FASD Yahoo Group. Apparently, one adoptive parent honestly reported that her adopted daughter had FASD on the life insurance application. So far, two insurers have denied her coverage based on the FASD diagnosis. Frankly, it never occurred to me to put FASD on a life insurance application. Because there are no specific medical treatments for FASD since there are so many possible symptoms, effects, and characteristics. Instead each person’s symptoms are treated as needed. However, one member then shared that those with classic FAS may be more prone to types of cancer.

Unfortunately, the cause and effect relationship does not come naturally to the child harmed by exposure to alcohol before birth. For these children, lessons are repeated hundreds of times, with similar outcomes. Learning can be slow and frustrating for everyone involved, including the child. To help our FAS children make the connection between cause and effect, we need to allow them to make mistakes, fail when applicable, and then live with the consequences of their choices. When a poor choice requires discipline we should choose something that seems like a logical consequence of the action to reinforce the cause and effect training. Of course, after the hundredth time of assigning the same consequence to the same child, year after year, we may find ourselves getting quite angry. Thus, I began my quest to find logical consequences that teach the cause and effect relationship, and also amuse me.

I am three and a half years old now, but look about five because of my height. I have inherited your athleticism. I love to dance and currently am taking ballet and tap. I have already caught up with the second year students, although this is my first year. I can’t wait until we perform this summer on stage.

My favorite activities are reading, puzzles, coloring, dressing like a princess, and dancing. Even my big brothers occasionally succumb to dancing with me when I beg.

Shhhhh...Fostermommy is turning 70 this year (2010) in May. We are hoping she doesn’t come across this blog anytime soon and there is a good chance she won’t. Towards the end of summer 2009, her agency gave her three new placements. She is currently parenting three teenage girls and one seven year old boy. This is her first boy, and her first elementary placement in over a decade of fostering. Needless to say, she is one busy fostermommy. Between IEPs, sick runs, nightmares, homework help, rocking her new “baby” and a chronic teen runaway (boy crazy), she has not had much spare time to browse. The only way we are getting blogs from her is by having her email them to us occasionally, then one of us post it for her. That is why we are taking this opportunity to invite you to help fostermommy celebrate her 70th birthday.

Most pediatricians advise parents to wait until baby is about six months old before trying baby foods to supplement formula. But is six months a hard and fast rule that all parents and babies should adhere to. Each baby develops at a different rate, which is why the handouts from the pediatrician’s office have age ranges for developmental skills. Your baby will begin to show you when he is ready to start on foods. Remember though, to stick to one food for about a week when introducing new foods. For example, if you decide to start with peas, then feed your baby just peas for the first week. This will help you to pin down allergies early. Most experts also agree that parents should stick with the same category of food when introducing new foods. So if you start with peas, your next choice would be another vegetable, such as green beans. Once you have finished all of the vegetables you want to introduce to baby, you switch to fruits. Meats and desserts are always last on the list. Meats are more difficult to digest and desserts may contain sugars that baby does not need.