TresSugar

Mother of Obese Teen Charged With Criminal Neglect

TresSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:30:00 -0700

Jerri Gray, the mother of a 14-year-old boy who weighs 555 pounds, has been charged with felony child neglect by South Carolina. Her son has been taken to foster care, and she faces 10 years in prison for putting her son at risk by neglecting his medical needs. Gray, who works three jobs, has told the media that her son got so overweight because she could not keep track of what he was eating.

Gray was a fugitive this past Spring, going to Maryland with her son while authorities attempted to bring the abuse charges. At that time, South Carolina's Department of Social Services said: "This agency doesn't get involved in such cases based on a child's weight alone, but will take action in cases where health care professionals believe the child is at risk due to the parent's possible neglect in providing medical care."

Still, Gray's attorneys say the case could potentially set a dangerous precedent that could, for example, be used to charge parents of anorexic children. If you can charge a parent for a kid being overweight, could you charge parents with underweight children too?

Should childhood obesity be considered grounds for charging a parent with child abuse?

Parents in Nebraska Dumping Teens Before Law Changes

CitizenSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:32:35 -0800

More than half of the 33 children legally abandoned in Nebraska since the state's safe-haven law took effect in July have been teens. Nebraska is the first state to permit the abandonment of anyone under 19 years of age.

The state's governor announced that lawmakers would rewrite the law, which was created to provide an alternative for so-called "dumpster babies," at the end of October after a circus of attention on stats that showed many parents were abandoning teens. Sadly, the number of drop-offs has almost tripled since the announcement of the law change.

Authorities searched for a 17-year-old girl yesterday who escaped an Omaha hospital when her mother tried to leave her there. Her 14-year-old brother was reportedly taken into custody by the state.

Source

Parents Abandoning Teens Under Law Created For Babies

LibertySugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:30:44 -0700

Nebraska recently became the first state to permit the abandonment of anyone under 19 years of age, despite speculation that such a law might encourage anyone with an unruly or disabled child to simply leave them at a safe haven. It looks like those fears have been justified.

Last month, 15 older children in Nebraska were dropped off at safe-haven spots after their parents or guardians deemed them unmanageable, according to the New York Times.

One mother left her 14-year-old son, two more boys and one girl, ages 11 to 15, were abandoned in hospitals and, a single father surrendered nine of his 10 children, ages 1 to 17, saying that his wife had died and he couldn't raise them alone. Sadly, the list goes on. To see what lawmakers have to say about the trend, read more.

Officials are calling the child surrenders a "misuse" of a new law that was intended to prevent the abandonment of infants (usually by teenage mothers), but is actually being used as a way to get rid of difficult teenagers or older children that are straining financially strapped or overwhelmed families. It is believed that a shortage of short-term care, counseling, and psychiatric services has led to families feeling like they have no other choice. Nationwide, more than 2,000 babies have been turned over since Texas enacted the first safe-haven law in 1999, according to the National Safe Haven Alliance in Virginia.

Source

Nebraska Lets Parents Surrender Kids - Up to 19 Years Old

CitizenSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:04 -0700

When you say “abandoned child,” most people conjure up an image of a basket with a baby in it left at the doorstep of an orphanage or a wealthy benefactor. In Nebraska, a new vision of the baby amongst the reeds might emerge - one of an unwanted teenager left at one of the many “safe-haven” drop-off centers for abandoned children.

Whereas every other state in the Union with safe-haven laws focuses on newborns, Nebraska just became the only state to permit the abandonment of anyone under 19 years of age. Critics of the law claim that this is going to encourage anyone with an unruly or disabled child to simply leave them at any safe haven. The executive director of a New York adoption institute says, "Whether the kid is disabled or unruly or just being a hormonal teenager, the state is saying: 'Hey, we have a really easy option for you.'"

However, Senator Tom White, who helped craft the legislation, thinks differently: “All children deserve our protection, if we save one child from being abused, it’s well, well worth it.” Is it? Should parents have the ability to abandon any kid, regardless of how old they are?

Source

NY Parents Paid To Parent Their Own Kids - Great Service?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:02:27 -0700

Tough, dangerous, and impoverished neighborhoods are hit with a double-whammy when it comes to raising kids: parents who are away from home a lot trying to make ends meet, and as a result, kids that are left to their own devices learning tough and dangerous behaviors to match. New York City has a program aimed at ending that cycle.

It's called Opportunity NYC and it pays cash to 2,500 families from the city's poorest neighborhoods, to do the things that are expected of parents: taking their kids to the doctor, or going to parent-teacher meetings. In areas where liquor stores out number banks and crime is high, the experimental plan is paid for by private funds with support from the mayor's office, aims to create well-parented kids to become future citizens of the world.

One recipient of benefits from the plan is a 37-year-old mom with 12 children. She lives in a large housing tower where she enters through the back door because she is too scared to go in the front. In the past four years, she's seen 10 shootings by her house. The plan's benefits appealed to her greatly. In the past two months, she has received almost $1000 for accomplishments like making sure her children do not miss school, and have dental check-ups.

Is this exactly the kind of service that will attack problems like crime at the root by giving kids the proper parental support to grow up to resist the cycle, or is it ridiculous to pay parents to parent their kids?

Source

You Asked: When Should My Daughter Meet My Boyfriend?

DearSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I am 29 years old, and I have been with my boyfriend (also 29) officially for almost a year - we dated off and on for about four years. I'm a single parent of a beautiful 8-year-old daughter and I have been toying with the idea of the two meeting, but I am just not sure when. I have been very cautious because my daughter has not seen her father since she was two (and even then she only met him two or three times), which is his choice not mine. I dated a guy a few years back and he met my daughter right way (she was three a the time). We ended abruptly, but for months she wondered where he went and I'm worried that she'll get attached again. If things don't work out between us, I don't want it to be a huge disappointment for her.

Also, he has never once asked me to introduce them, and that makes me kind of worried that he's not ready or doesn't want to. How should I bring up them meeting? Any thoughts would help.

- Tricky Introductions Tess

To see DearSugar's answer, read more.

Dear Tricky Introductions Tess,

Unfortunately, inviting any man into your daughter's life runs the risk of leaving her disappointed if something doesn't work out, but eventually it's a step you'll have to take. However, because of that constant risk, it's all the more important that the men you introduce to your daughter are committed to being a positive influence in her life whether it's for a day, a year, or a lifetime. If you've known this man for over four years and have been committed to him for nearly a year without an expressed interest from him to meet the most important person in your life, I have to say that something does seem a bit off.

Though it may just be a matter of his own insecurities from the idea of being present in a child's life, it's absolutely something that needs to be addressed before you consider letting the two meet. Give him the opportunity to reveal his concerns, fears, and weaknesses. I certainly hope none of what he discloses is a deal-breaker, but do keep in mind that if he can't be a supportive person to your daughter then he's not someone you want around - trust me on that.

If he's open and excited about the chance to get to know her then the next step is talking to your daughter. Make sure she understands that you will always be her first priority and that she can always come to you if she has questions or concerns. It's also a good idea to ease both of them into it, so once they meet for the first time, don't suddenly make it an everyday occasion. Move slowly and cautiously - the balance between being a mom and having a social life isn't easy - so no matter what, keep the lines of communication open.

Source

You Asked: How Can I Balance a Social Life With Being a Mom?

DearSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I'm a 23-year-old single mom who has decided to start dating after the end of a seven-year relationship with the only man I've ever been with. I'm trying to figure out how to balance between my love life and taking care of my 2-month-old baby. I've barely gone out since she was born. We've spent so much wonderful, quality time together, and I don't want to sacrifice any of that for my own selfish desires. Do you have any advice for balancing the two?

- Balancing Baby Life Lillian

To see DearSugar's answer, read more.

Dear Balancing Baby Life Lillian,

There's no doubt about it, balancing a baby with anything else can seem nearly impossible much of time. But every mom needs a few hours off once in a while, whether it's an opportunity for a quick snooze or dinner with friends. Though the scale will undoubtedly stay tipped to the mom side - as it should be! - it's OK to enjoy yourself without your baby. Since your baby is so young, and you're still adjusting to being a mom and a single woman, I suggest moving slowly.

Start with an hour or two away during the day, and work yourself up to an evening out. Make sure you have a great babysitter - family, friend, or otherwise - so you won't have to feel plagued with nerves while you're out. And definitely avoid planning too many social occasions too closely to one another. You want to make sure you still have more than enough opportunities to get all of that quality time in. As long as you don't let your social life take over or impede your mom time then I think over time you should have no problems making a healthy transition back into the dating pool.

Source

Spanish Twins, Separated at Birth, Sue for Millions

CitizenSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:30:22 -0700

You know that movie Big Business where Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin play twins switched at birth? This is like that, but in Spain - and with a lawsuit. What happened?

In 1973, a set of identical twins were accidentally separated at birth. One of the twins was allegedly removed from her crib shortly after birth and accidentally replaced with another girl. To see how they figured out what happened read more.

Fast forward to 2001, a woman was working in a clothing shop in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, and was shocked when one of her regular customers and frequent shoppers suddenly claimed to have no recollection of ever shopping at her store or of knowing who the clerk was. When the same woman walked by a second time, the store employee asked if she would indulge her by meeting someone who often shopped in the store. The two identical women eventually met, setting in motion a very odd legal case currently taking place.

The attorney representing the real twins defended their case: "The first right of any child is the right to their own personal and family identity. In this case, that right has been violated." The reunited twins are now suing for millions in damages along with the woman who was mistakenly raised in place of the missing twin.

Do they have a case? Was it a simple accident, or a life-ruining event?

Source

Childhood Obesity Tipped Top of Scale - Are We Winning?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:15:19 -0700

A new survey out today shows that childhood obesity, after rising for more than two decades, appears to have hit a plateau. The data gathered from 1999 to 2006 by the federal Centers For Disease Control and Prevention is being greeted carefully.

It is not yet clear if the pause in kids' weight gain is permanent or even if the small success is the result of public antiobesity efforts to limit junk food and increase physical activity in schools. Even if the trend holds up, 32 percent of American schoolchildren are overweight or obese

The director of the childhood obesity program at Children’s Hospital in Boston says, “After 25 years of extraordinarily bad news about childhood obesity, this study provides a glimmer of hope. But it’s much too soon to know whether this is a true plateau in prevalence or just a temporary lull.”

In the study, the number of children who fall into the obese category decreased from 17.1 percent to 15.5 percent between the 2003 and 2006 surveys - though the decline is not statistically significant.

Are state programs, like the one in Arkansas, to eliminate vending machines in elementary schools, and adding a half hour of daily physical activity to the school curriculum - or the one in Somerville, MA, that included doubling the amount of fruit served for school lunch, painting crosswalks to encourage walks to school, and increasing physical activity in after-school programs the cause of this trend? Has education and outreach worked? Are we winning the childhood battle of the bulge?

Source

Japan Getting Rid of Babies, US Woman Collecting Her 18th!

CitizenSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:15:44 -0700

In Japan, a Roman Catholic hospital's controversial "storks' cradle" is a flyaway success. The hatch is designed to be a safe haven for unwanted babies, and officials say in the past year 16 years babies have been safely dropped off and more than 1,000 people have called for advice. The hatch ensures a safe drop-off point where unwanted children are placed anonymously and are guaranteed care by the hospital.

The program has received criticism from conservative politicians, but perseveres in the hope of preventing abortions and abuse against unwanted children. The director of the hospital says, "As I said when it was installed, it would be best if it were not used. . . . honestly speaking, I was surprised to see there were this many troubled mothers." He said the so-called Storks' Cradle "has performed a great role," bringing attention to problems from unwanted pregnancies. To see what's happening in the US, read more.

In related news, American super-mother Michelle Duggar has the extreme opposite problem. She has just announced that she is pregnant with her 18^th child. She has been pregnant for 11 years of her life. She has seven girls and 10 boys, and said that she and her husband will keep having children as long as God wills it. The Duggar family has many shows on the Discovery Health Channel that I cannot stop watching.

Are either of these methods responsible ways to deal with child bearing? Is the safe drop-off spot a good way of dealing with unwanted pregnancies without resorting to abortion? Is having 18 children a responsible use of global resources? Are megafamilies okay if they're self-supporting? What if they're not?

Source