Yep, it got strange, but then again, isn't life? Read on to see the goings on. Shock and awe.
Scary, isn't he? Imagine taking your kid to this library's storytime.
I know that likely none of you believed the lightning round item about Houston's Public (funded by taxpayer dollars) Library's Drag Queen Storytime for children whereby men, dressed as women, read to young children.
The adults who put together this storytime, which, incidentally, has been going on since 2017, did so to "promote love and acceptance". Now, mind you, it's your job as a parent to protect your kids from the things that will harm them.
Perhaps Drag Queen Storytime might not permanently damage your kids, but if a convicted pedophile has the chance to get this close to your kid, the story, as it were, just might change.
I know that likely none of you believed the lightning round item about Houston's Public (funded by taxpayer dollars) Library's Drag Queen Storytime for children whereby men, dressed as women, read to young children.
The adults who put together this storytime, which, incidentally, has been going on since 2017, did so to "promote love and acceptance". Now, mind you, it's your job as a parent to protect your kids from the things that will harm them.
Perhaps Drag Queen Storytime might not permanently damage your kids, but if a convicted pedophile has the chance to get this close to your kid, the story, as it were, just might change.
This storytime "character" is Tatiana Mala Nina, a 6-foot, 200 pound convicted pedophile who sexually assaulted an 8 year old in 2008. His name is Alberto Garza and somehow, his crimes went undetected by the Houston Public Library's screening program and he is a storytime reader. Bet he's on Megan's Law List.
If you want to read about how the Houston Mass Resistance group has conducted its own investigation and produced a 163-page report outlining the very disturbing behavior and histories of some of the readers, check it out here.
Apparently, the library violated it's own rules and, actually, did not conduct investigations of those who would be working with young children in the library setting.
Here's another look at Mr. Garza. It's a YouTube video of Mr. Garza advertising his "talents", so don't look at this with your kids around.
Now, don't get me wrong. The drag queen cabaret of the movie The Bird Cage with Robin Williams was entertaining. And if that entertainment scratches your itch, I'm confident you'll know where to go to find it and it won't involve kids.
I consistently talk about the two things you should not tell your kids about or expose them to (pardon the phrasing): things they cannot understand and things they can't control. And this situation meets both of those factors.
If you want to read about how the Houston Mass Resistance group has conducted its own investigation and produced a 163-page report outlining the very disturbing behavior and histories of some of the readers, check it out here.
Apparently, the library violated it's own rules and, actually, did not conduct investigations of those who would be working with young children in the library setting.
Here's another look at Mr. Garza. It's a YouTube video of Mr. Garza advertising his "talents", so don't look at this with your kids around.
Now, don't get me wrong. The drag queen cabaret of the movie The Bird Cage with Robin Williams was entertaining. And if that entertainment scratches your itch, I'm confident you'll know where to go to find it and it won't involve kids.
I consistently talk about the two things you should not tell your kids about or expose them to (pardon the phrasing): things they cannot understand and things they can't control. And this situation meets both of those factors.
photo credit to CommonSenseMedia.org
HiHo Kids is a YouTube channel with over 2.4 million subscribers that offers videos of kids doing fun things like trying new foods and meeting people they want to know more about.
One of those videos is about kids meeting a drag queen who explains his performance art from the "HiHo Kids Meet..." The kids meet many different kinds of people, the very elderly, service people (UPS driver) and people with unique experiences.
Check it out. Very interesting. I wonder how these young kids knew about drag queens. That's just me. Maybe from dress up? What do you think?
If you think this experience is one you want your kids to have, go for it. I think it's confusing and, likely, frightening for most little ones.
One of those videos is about kids meeting a drag queen who explains his performance art from the "HiHo Kids Meet..." The kids meet many different kinds of people, the very elderly, service people (UPS driver) and people with unique experiences.
Check it out. Very interesting. I wonder how these young kids knew about drag queens. That's just me. Maybe from dress up? What do you think?
If you think this experience is one you want your kids to have, go for it. I think it's confusing and, likely, frightening for most little ones.
Duke University is on a beautiful campus, isn't it?
At first, I thought the article that I read about the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's classes called Adulting 101 was more of this snowflake stuff. Turns out, it's really great stuff.
They're filling in the gaps or maybe covering all of the lessons we parents just didn't get around to teaching our kids. What? Didn't we parents think they'd just "pick up" how to create a budget, track their spending and how to build and maintain a decent credit score? We're a giant fail on these things.
Here's the article on what's being taught and it's great. Other colleges are getting on board, too, including Pacific Lutheran University that is offering 10 workshops with topics related to "Finance and Budgeting", "Transitioning into a New Job" and how to manage taxes.
Maybe they'll be more responsible than we were! We can only hope.
At first, I thought the article that I read about the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's classes called Adulting 101 was more of this snowflake stuff. Turns out, it's really great stuff.
They're filling in the gaps or maybe covering all of the lessons we parents just didn't get around to teaching our kids. What? Didn't we parents think they'd just "pick up" how to create a budget, track their spending and how to build and maintain a decent credit score? We're a giant fail on these things.
Here's the article on what's being taught and it's great. Other colleges are getting on board, too, including Pacific Lutheran University that is offering 10 workshops with topics related to "Finance and Budgeting", "Transitioning into a New Job" and how to manage taxes.
Maybe they'll be more responsible than we were! We can only hope.
Image by engin akyurt from Pixabay
It's a scourge and has the power to destroy one of the most exhilarating times for a family...postpartum depression. And, the thing is, it's biological in nature. We all know it, but for the 400,000 women who suffer each and every year from postpartum depression in the US, we still don't want to admit it. Such a stigma. So completely unnecessary, but sure, try to tell us THAT.
It's the most frequent complication of childbirth. Yes, it's considered to be a complication.
The only treatment was anti-depressants and those took weeks, maybe months, to start producing results. The delay in effectiveness compromised Momma's ability to bond with baby, care for herself and other children. In the more severe forms, psychosis and self-harm are possible.
Now, the FDA approved the first drug specifically designed to treat moderate-to-severe postpartum depression. It's called Zulresso. It's also effective for the milder forms of the condition, but the cost is prohibitive at this time.
At this time, the medication alone costs $34,000 to administer because Momma needs to be treated in the hospital or other in-patient facility for a 60-hour intravenous fusion process. But, it works in 3 days. The hospitalization is, of course, for the IV infusion. The side effects, which include dizziness,drowsiness, sedation and fainting, also require Momma to be supervised.
The push is on to get insurance companies to offset the cost AND, the company who makes the medication, Sage Therapeutics, is working night and day to make a pill form. In the early talks, the insurance companies are "in".
Hospital staff need to be trained about how to use the medication and the possible complications when administering it.
For you brain geeks, the medication works on GABA receptors which is the brain's main inhibition system.
If postpartum depression is a concern, check out this medication and talk to your ob/gyn before you get to the delivery room.
It's the most frequent complication of childbirth. Yes, it's considered to be a complication.
The only treatment was anti-depressants and those took weeks, maybe months, to start producing results. The delay in effectiveness compromised Momma's ability to bond with baby, care for herself and other children. In the more severe forms, psychosis and self-harm are possible.
Now, the FDA approved the first drug specifically designed to treat moderate-to-severe postpartum depression. It's called Zulresso. It's also effective for the milder forms of the condition, but the cost is prohibitive at this time.
At this time, the medication alone costs $34,000 to administer because Momma needs to be treated in the hospital or other in-patient facility for a 60-hour intravenous fusion process. But, it works in 3 days. The hospitalization is, of course, for the IV infusion. The side effects, which include dizziness,drowsiness, sedation and fainting, also require Momma to be supervised.
The push is on to get insurance companies to offset the cost AND, the company who makes the medication, Sage Therapeutics, is working night and day to make a pill form. In the early talks, the insurance companies are "in".
Hospital staff need to be trained about how to use the medication and the possible complications when administering it.
For you brain geeks, the medication works on GABA receptors which is the brain's main inhibition system.
If postpartum depression is a concern, check out this medication and talk to your ob/gyn before you get to the delivery room.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Alexa sent a question over DrClaudia.net's "Ask Me" button about headache. Her doctor told her to get more sleep. Yeah, that's not possible right now.
I asked her to consider the following potential causes to see if she could get a handle on them herself.
Get busy and good luck!
I asked her to consider the following potential causes to see if she could get a handle on them herself.
- Observe her daily routines for a common thread to determine possible triggers.
- Obviously, stress is a culprit and stress is related to muscle tension. Are you holding your shoulders up under your ears? Get therapeutic massages and learn "good form" stretching exercises. Your tense muscles may be causing the headaches. And, you can stretch at work without others noticing.
- Pay attention to your muscle groups. Which ones are sore?
- If you're taking over-the-counter meds for muscle stiffness or your headaches 2 times a week or more, you could be experiencing rebound headaches.
- OTC pain meds actually sensitive your body so that you feel pain more acutely.
- I'm sure your doctor covered this, but check your coffee intake. Caffeine routine changed? Could be a withdrawal headache.
- Coffee is a diuretic which means it makes you pee. Drink extra water to avoid dehydration. Just 2%-3% dehydration can cause confused thinking, so get on it. You don't have to drink tons of water, just more.
- If you're mid-30's/early 40's, see your ob/gyn to determine if you're entering menopause which is a period called "peri-menopause". Hormonal imbalances can cause headaches.
- Yeah, sleep more if you can, but if you could, you would, right?
- Not getting the 7-9 hours recommended for adults? Then, pay more attention to your diet. Cut back on the sugar (also sugar withdrawal can contribute to headaches) and focus on protein. Go nuts! Seriously, eat more nuts!!
- See an allergist. If you don't have the typical symptoms of allergy, your headaches just might be those atypical symptoms.
- Do your headaches happen right before a storm? Could be a "barometric pressure" headache. You know that pregnant women, who are close to their due date, are asked to go to the hospital when a hurricane approaches. This is because the extremely low barometric pressure can induce labor. Yeah, powerful stuff.
- Get your vision checked. As we age, subtle changes could cause you to strain without realizing it.
Get busy and good luck!
Well, that's it! TTFN. See you next week on the radio!
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch. Sign up for the newsletter and get all of the week's goodies delivered to your digital door.
Claudia
