one4oneness

I have been homeschooling since November. My 4th grade son was
being medicated with Ritalin for ADHD. Then to offset the side
effects Paxil for depression and anxiety. As well as meds for
nervousness, nausea and bed wetting. All sysmptoms not present
before trying Concerta, Adderall. Over the summer we got him off
all meds. Started the year in an expensive military school.
Kameron began having panic attacks and seperation anxiety. The
school wanted him back on meds as well as diagnosed him as ODD.

He has been doing great at home and we are working with a
educational development therapist. Last week I was served with a
summons - his father wants custody. (of his 13 year old sister as
well) He lives in another state and has minimal interaction with the
children. His grounds is academic neglect. I know that this isn't
true and it's just because he doesn't understand homeschooling.

The hearing is the 20th. I have kept excellant records of
attendance, work samples, a journal and a goal agenda book. I will
be presenting several letters from friends, family, doctors and the
therapist. Please give me any suggestions for other helpful items
to have ready for court.

Thanks - Taunya

Norma

--- In [email protected], "one4oneness" <tlemon1@s...>
wrote:
> I have been homeschooling since November. My 4th grade son was
> being medicated with Ritalin for ADHD. Then to offset the side
> effects Paxil for depression and anxiety. As well as meds for
> nervousness, nausea and bed wetting. All sysmptoms not present
> before trying Concerta, Adderall. Over the summer we got him off
> all meds. Started the year in an expensive military school.
> Kameron began having panic attacks and seperation anxiety. The
> school wanted him back on meds as well as diagnosed him as ODD.
>
> He has been doing great at home and we are working with a
> educational development therapist. Last week I was served with a
> summons - his father wants custody. (of his 13 year old sister as
> well) He lives in another state and has minimal interaction with
the
> children. His grounds is academic neglect. I know that this isn't
> true and it's just because he doesn't understand homeschooling.
>
> The hearing is the 20th. I have kept excellant records of
> attendance, work samples, a journal and a goal agenda book. I will
> be presenting several letters from friends, family, doctors and the
> therapist. Please give me any suggestions for other helpful items
> to have ready for court.
>
> Thanks - Taunya

Taunya:

Congratulations! Sounds like you have done everything needed for
your court presentation. You might want to also collect information
on the long-term potentially harmful effects of all those drugs your
son was on. Especially since no one has adequately tested the
synergistic effects of so many meds on children's delicate brains and
other vital systems (kidneys, liver, pancreas, etc.). If his dad
can't present proof that these are totally safe, then you can sue him
for the potential lifetime effects of forcing your son to be on all
those meds. Best of luck and keep us posted.

Norma

Betsy

**Congratulations! Sounds like you have done everything needed for
your court presentation.**

Yes, you sound well prepared.

Some judges can be pig-headed and you aren't guaranteed a good outcome
even if you are in the right.

Is there any way to have a non-confrontational discussion with your ex?
(Feel free to laugh at my blissful ignorance of his personality.)
Would he listen to you or your son if approached calmly with concern for
his beliefs?

It's worthwhile to use whatever logic, wiles or leverage that you have
in this situation. (Maybe a mutual relative as a go-between?)

Good luck!

Betsy

slb725dragon

Taunya,
Congratulations on homeschooling your child, and getting him off all
those meds. I could not imagine putting my daughters on Ritilan. My
nephew and a couple of my cousins had been on it, and they were even
more violent while taking it. I do not believe in using meds for
AD/HD/ODD with young children. And, I'm not sure on this, but I don't
think that it is a good idea to have such a small child on all of
those meds all at once. I would think that the long term side affects
would be horrible. I believe that doctors are way too quick to
diagnose AD/HD/ODD.

As far as depression goes, I have another nephew with it, and he does
just fine with no meds. His parents are lucky that his school works
with them, and they are always there for him.

I think you have a good handle on things to bring with you concerning
homeschooling, but I'm not sure if I would do anything spiteful
against the father for disagreeing. Homeschooling is legal in all 50
states, so I think that he would have to show proof that you are NOT
educating your son. It sounds to me like he doesn't have a chance.
Maybe if you offered him some, but not complete, say in what your son
learns. And let the judge know that you would like to have the
fathers input.

You could even call the father some time and say something
like, "Hey, I just wanted to get your input on (Son's name) school
subjects. He is doing very well and is getting good grades, and I was
wondering how you felt about..." Maybe he would like to feel more
involved. Make sure he knows about any programs that are available in
your area. Some examples are: Book clubs at the library, day sports
camps in the summer, church and Sunday school, craft classes, boy
scouts, YM/WCA programs, homeschooling 4-H programs, play groups.
That way he will know that you want your child to have some
experiences outside of the home. It might not be a bad idea to
mention these things to the judge, as well. If he is already
attending any of these, get letters from these sources as well. If
you go to church, a letter from the reverend/father, etc. would also
count.

As long as you are doing what you truly believe is the best thing for
your son, you should be okay. Who knows, if your husband is totally
against homeschooling and slips and says the wrong thing, you may
find that the judge will find it offensive because his daughter
homeschool her children. ;)

Hope i didn't offend anyone. JMHO

Shannon,
Love, hope, and happiness to all.

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/12/04 4:27:42 PM, tlemon1@... writes:

<< Please give me any suggestions for other helpful items

to have ready for court. >>

Anti-Ritalin articles.

joylyn

You might want to find a local homeschooling group and ask for
assistance from them. They might know of a local attorney or other
person to contact for help.

It's a tough situation.

Joylyn

one4oneness wrote:

> I have been homeschooling since November. My 4th grade son was
> being medicated with Ritalin for ADHD. Then to offset the side
> effects Paxil for depression and anxiety. As well as meds for
> nervousness, nausea and bed wetting. All sysmptoms not present
> before trying Concerta, Adderall. Over the summer we got him off
> all meds. Started the year in an expensive military school.
> Kameron began having panic attacks and seperation anxiety. The
> school wanted him back on meds as well as diagnosed him as ODD.
>
> He has been doing great at home and we are working with a
> educational development therapist. Last week I was served with a
> summons - his father wants custody. (of his 13 year old sister as
> well) He lives in another state and has minimal interaction with the
> children. His grounds is academic neglect. I know that this isn't
> true and it's just because he doesn't understand homeschooling.
>
> The hearing is the 20th. I have kept excellant records of
> attendance, work samples, a journal and a goal agenda book. I will
> be presenting several letters from friends, family, doctors and the
> therapist. Please give me any suggestions for other helpful items
> to have ready for court.
>
> Thanks - Taunya
>
>
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Taunya Lemon

Thank you for your input. I noticed that you posted a sample schedule also. I got the impression that you are also home schooling other peoples' children. Our church was interested in doing cooperative homeschooling. If this is true, I'd love more info.

Thanks again-Taunya
----- Original Message -----
From: slb725dragon
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 10:08 PM
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] Re: Child Custody


Taunya,
Congratulations on homeschooling your child, and getting him off all
those meds. I could not imagine putting my daughters on Ritilan. My
nephew and a couple of my cousins had been on it, and they were even
more violent while taking it. I do not believe in using meds for
AD/HD/ODD with young children. And, I'm not sure on this, but I don't
think that it is a good idea to have such a small child on all of
those meds all at once. I would think that the long term side affects
would be horrible. I believe that doctors are way too quick to
diagnose AD/HD/ODD.

As far as depression goes, I have another nephew with it, and he does
just fine with no meds. His parents are lucky that his school works
with them, and they are always there for him.

I think you have a good handle on things to bring with you concerning
homeschooling, but I'm not sure if I would do anything spiteful
against the father for disagreeing. Homeschooling is legal in all 50
states, so I think that he would have to show proof that you are NOT
educating your son. It sounds to me like he doesn't have a chance.
Maybe if you offered him some, but not complete, say in what your son
learns. And let the judge know that you would like to have the
fathers input.

You could even call the father some time and say something
like, "Hey, I just wanted to get your input on (Son's name) school
subjects. He is doing very well and is getting good grades, and I was
wondering how you felt about..." Maybe he would like to feel more
involved. Make sure he knows about any programs that are available in
your area. Some examples are: Book clubs at the library, day sports
camps in the summer, church and Sunday school, craft classes, boy
scouts, YM/WCA programs, homeschooling 4-H programs, play groups.
That way he will know that you want your child to have some
experiences outside of the home. It might not be a bad idea to
mention these things to the judge, as well. If he is already
attending any of these, get letters from these sources as well. If
you go to church, a letter from the reverend/father, etc. would also
count.

As long as you are doing what you truly believe is the best thing for
your son, you should be okay. Who knows, if your husband is totally
against homeschooling and slips and says the wrong thing, you may
find that the judge will find it offensive because his daughter
homeschool her children. ;)

Hope i didn't offend anyone. JMHO

Shannon,
Love, hope, and happiness to all.




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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

pam sorooshian

On Jan 13, 2004, at 10:12 PM, joylyn wrote:

>> The hearing is the 20th. I have kept excellant records of
>> attendance, work samples, a journal and a goal agenda book. I will
>> be presenting several letters from friends, family, doctors and the
>> therapist. Please give me any suggestions for other helpful items
>> to have ready for court.

I have a friend who had a similar situation - the judge ended up being
extremely impressed with homeschooling for the son who had some special
issues, like yours, and, in fact, the father came around a bit after
what he saw mom present in court. The clincher, for the judge, was
photographs of the boy at park day activities. The judge picked up a
picture of the kids in our group all dressed in Halloween costumes and
asked if he could keep it because he wanted to show somebody else that
homeschooled kids had good socialization opportunities.

So I would definitely add photographs - a picture being worth a
thousand words, you know.

-am
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.

Taunya Lemon

Thank you for that ray of light. My attorney called this a frivolous case. Which state are you in? I have lot's of happy photos of the children but none with homeschooled buddies. I'm looking for a group in SC for us.

Thanks-Taunya
----- Original Message -----
From: pam sorooshian
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 10:35 AM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] Child Custody



On Jan 13, 2004, at 10:12 PM, joylyn wrote:

>> The hearing is the 20th. I have kept excellant records of
>> attendance, work samples, a journal and a goal agenda book. I will
>> be presenting several letters from friends, family, doctors and the
>> therapist. Please give me any suggestions for other helpful items
>> to have ready for court.

I have a friend who had a similar situation - the judge ended up being
extremely impressed with homeschooling for the son who had some special
issues, like yours, and, in fact, the father came around a bit after
what he saw mom present in court. The clincher, for the judge, was
photographs of the boy at park day activities. The judge picked up a
picture of the kids in our group all dressed in Halloween costumes and
asked if he could keep it because he wanted to show somebody else that
homeschooled kids had good socialization opportunities.

So I would definitely add photographs - a picture being worth a
thousand words, you know.

-am
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links

a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysLearning/

b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]

c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]