doctors and parenting advice - Page 2

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by limabean

Why even go to an allopathic doctor if you have such a low opinion of them? Why not shop around for one who shares your philosophy, or try seeing a nurse practitioner instead (NPs often have a quite different patient-care style than MDs), or seek complementary/alternative treatment instead?

I like to find healthcare providers from whom I get the feeling that we're on the same side -- it shouldn't be an "us" and "them" thing. If I didn't respect my doctor or care what she thought, what would be the point of going?

I agree mama and I don't have a low opinion of all Ped's just the PA I saw last week when I brought my ds in for a concern. We don't do WBV but if I did have a MD or care provider I really liked I probably would. DS needed to be seen asap and I went to who my insurance covered and could get us in right away. I definitley am on the look-out for a new ped (am actually hoping my childhood ped is accepting new families) that way if I did have any health related issues I'd feel more comfortable going in. I am positive i won't be returning to the same office in the future

[limabean]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

I agree mama and I don't have a low opinion of all Ped's just the PA I saw last week when I brought my ds in for a concern. We don't do WBV but if I did have a MD or care provider I really liked I probably would. DS needed to be seen asap and I went to who my insurance covered and could get us in right away. I definitley am on the look-out for a new ped (am actually hoping my childhood ped is accepting new families) that way if I did have any health related issues I'd feel more comfortable going in. I am positive i won't be returning to the same office in the future

Insurance issues do complicate matters -- after I submitted my last post I thought about that, and how "shopping around" for a new doctor is really difficult when you're under HMO constraints. I didn't care for the first ped we went to with our DS, and I actually ended up switching him to my primary care doctor, who I absolutely love. At first I thought they *had* to be with a ped, but it turns out family practice is fine too (and a lower co-pay!).

Hope your DS is doing better!

[Getz]

I was thinking about this recently. I am not interested in my ped's parenting advice, but it is likely most of her patients only have her for guideance. I always smile and nod. I would argue about foreskin care (it isn't an issue, which is why she is our ped), but I just ignore everything else. She told me not to leave the house until baby was 2 months old and now not to take him out in the summer because of sun and bugs. I about crapped my pants when she said that, and was so tempted to ask her if her own kids had ever been outside!

[The Lucky One]

yes for us the Play Station is "school"

The Play Station is school? Huh?

[Joannarachel]

Originally Posted by The Lucky One

The Play Station is school? Huh?

I didn't get that one, either. I'm pretty open-minded but I don't see how something that's a known brain-drain can be considered 'school'. Anyone care to enlighten me?! :

[Rivka5]

Originally Posted by limabean

I think many doctors are beginning to take a more whole-patient approach to healthcare, rather than doing symptom-specific treatment, and I'm all for that. Lifestyle factors *do* ultimately have an effect on health, and the doctor needs a large, coherent picture of the patient's life to be able to give informed care.

Absolutely. I think it's important for pediatricians to understand things like what kinds of discipline are used in the home, how much physical activity the child gets, what they eat, what special stresses might be affecting health, etc.

At my daughter's last well-baby check, her pediatrician spent several minutes talking to us about accident prevention. He didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, but was I insulted? No! Accidents are the number one health problem affecting toddlers. He was doing his job.

[UnschoolnMa]

Originally Posted by The Lucky One

The Play Station is school? Huh?

Originally Posted by Joannarachel

I didn't get that one, either. I'm pretty open-minded but I don't see how something that's a known brain-drain can be considered 'school'. Anyone care to enlighten me?!

We are unschoolers. (Often called "radical unschoolers") We believe that everything is learning, and that includes Play Station, TV, movies, computer time, and so on. We do not consider it a brain drain in the least. So that is how I can say video games are "school".

There's actually a thread over in the Learn at Home and Beyond area about this right now. Cool stuff.

[QT_Mommy]

My pediatrician asks every visit where Cooper is sleeping. I am always honest and straight-forward. I had one doctor try to "educate" me and tell me that "a child's place is in a crib or bassinet." I just told her that I had done my own research and that I didn't agree.

Fortunately, for the most part, my pediatrician is very cool and tends to let me do my AP thing. I haven't gotten any slack about extended breastfeeding or my modifications to the vax schedule.

There are a lot of things that are parenting choices that also impact health - like TV watching (which the AAP has recommendations on) and soda drinking and junk food eating. It sounds to me like your pediatrician is just trying to get a good picture about your child's overall environment and health...

[UnschoolnMa]

Getting a good clear picture of it is fine with me. Harrassing me and my child to change it is not. I don't have a low opinion of doctors in general. Mostly our interactions with them have been fine.

[Joannarachel]

Originally Posted by UnschoolnMa

We are unschoolers. (Often called "radical unschoolers") We believe that everything is learning, and that includes Play Station, TV, movies, computer time, and so on. We do not consider it a brain drain in the least. So that is how I can say video games are "school".

There's actually a thread over in the Learn at Home and Beyond area about this right now. Cool stuff.

Thanks for the clarification!

Somehow I had a mental image of you saying, "Today you must complete 4 video games and then write a report on each of them!"

I can tell you I wouldn't be comfortable with that level of latitude in homeschooling, although homeschooling in general is something I've considered (see my siggy, I still have some time to decide )

Do unschoolers follow any sort of curriculum, or do they just go with the flow? Do you figure your kids can do basic school-type stuff (read, write, add, subtract) at the levels that more traditionally schooled students can?

(Not being fresh, just intensely curious : )

[UnschoolnMa]

Originally Posted by Joannarachel

Thanks for the clarification!

Somehow I had a mental image of you saying, "Today you must complete 4 video games and then write a report on each of them!"

LOL! How funny. I didn't think about it when I first wrote that, but I can see the way it might be read that way.

Do unschoolers follow any sort of curriculum, or do they just go with the flow?

Unschooling kids decide for themselves what materials to use (if any) and when. Generally I think most unschoolers do not use a full pre planned curric. We do have lots of books, toys, games, calculators, etc for looking up what we need though. My family does not use a curriculum.

Do you figure your kids can do basic school-type stuff (read, write, add, subtract) at the levels that more traditionally schooled students can?

Well they can read, write, add, subtract and such. We don't test unless forced to by the state (as per state HS'ing law etc) so I do not have any current data about how their levels compare to traditionally schooled kids, but seeing as how we think the testing is, well...really dumb, we wouldn't care anyway. You can't be ahead or behind yourself after all. Dd like to do fractions from time to time. Ds can type at least 35 wpm. Both read very well.

(Not being fresh, just intensely curious : )

Happy to answer.

[Joannarachel]

Thanks :

[Bruden]

I think it's important to listen to what they have to say but still leave it open to you to decide whether to follow that advice or not. I can't say that I've ever met anyone that I completely agree with 100% so I doubt I could find a doctor that could do that either.

I think there is some compelling research out there about the damage that prolonged TV watching, computer game playing, poor diets, etc. has and medical people and teachers are usually at the front lines of seeing the direct results of choices some parents make. I know my doctor doesn't know me or what I do and I try not to take it personally when he runs through the checklist they have us fill out.

I think I'd stress that we do things in moderation at my house. I wouldn't let my kids play games or watch TV more than I would read to them or have them play outside.