The Safety Mom Chronicles

My kids' first trip without me!

This was a challenging week for me.  I'm in the process of a divorce and my children's father decided to take them away for a four-day vacation.  My first reaction when he mentioned this to me was surprise and then mild annoyance.   But then I quickly remembered my reaction when my divorced girlfriend's would tell me about their ex's taking their kids away.  I would tell them to enjoy the time alone.  Boy, until you're part of "the club" you really don't know what it's like.   When they left on Monday I was heartbroken.  I travel a great deal when I'm on media tours but it's different when I'm on the road away from them -I know they're home in their routine.  When they're away I have no idea what's happening.  But I knew I had to put on a happy face for them and be excited.  It was a good bit of acting on my part! 

This is a brave new world for me - single mom.  I'm figuring my way through it and I'm sure I'm going to make mistakes along the way and I know there are going to be some hard moments.  It's not a club I ever thought I would be a part of but here I am.   I'd love to hear your stories about your experience with divorce.  I'm learning that we all need to stick together and support each other!

Do You Know The Signs of Steroid Use?

With the renewed media attention of steroids following the admission by New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez of using performance-enhancing drugs, I thought it was time to make mom's aware of the signs of potential steroid use in their children. (I'll leave my posting on my profound disappointment that our kids are seeing yet another sports legend fall for another time).

 

Unfortunately, steroids are being used by kids as young as 13 and 14.  According to statistics released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in 2004, 7.3% of ninth grade girls and 6.9% of ninth grade boys had already used performance-enhancing drugs.  When they see sports legends such as Marion Jones, Alex Rodriguez and Roger Clemens using steroids it seems not only acceptable but the path to a promising professional sports career.  It’s critical that parents, teachers and coaches work together to educate teens on the physical dangers of steroids as well as the ethical concerns. 

 

While steroids do have the short term benefit of building muscle and giving them more of a sculpted body, many teens aren’t aware of the long term damage associated with the drugs that might not show up until much later.  This can include:

• stunted growth in teens (by causing bones to mature too fast and stop growing at an early age)
• liver tumors
• abnormal enlargement of the heart muscles
• violent, aggressive behavior and mood swings
• acne (or a worsening of acne)
• increased breast growth in males, especially teens
• a heightened tendency for hair loss and male-pattern baldness

 

Teen girls and women risk these additional side effects:

• male-type facial and body hair growth and male-pattern baldness
• deepening of the voice
• enlargement of the clitoris

So how do you know if your child is taking steroids? Here are some of the symptoms to be aware of:

• Rapid weight gain
• Sudden increase in muscle size
• Acne flare up
• Aggressive behavior and/or mood swings

Immediately consult with your pediatrician if you suspect that your child is taking steroids and enlist the support of your child’s coaches and teachers.  As always, be aware of conversations they’re having with their friends, both on and off-line.  Some street names for steroids include Arnies, A's, anabolics, balls or bulls, gym candy, juice, pumpers, roids, stackers, and weight trainers. 

Most importantly, keep talking to your teen about the positive ways to compete in sports such as maintaining a healthy diet and getting enough sleep.  Be aware of what messages they’re receiving from their coaches about competition as well. 

 

Don't Forget to Safeguard Your Washer and Dryer

I hate when I have to blog about the death of a child.  Hopefully, by writing about the situation and offering safeguards, other families won’t experience this type of nightmare. 

 

A 4-year-old girl died after she climbed into a washing machine.  The machine was front-loading and the controls were only 20 inches from the floor with a simple start push button.  Her 15-month old brother was able to push the start button.

 

We may forget that the appliances in our homes can be deadly.  If you have a laundry room with a door, think about installing a surface bolt high enough on the door, so a child cannot reach it.  If your washer and dryer are not in a separate part of the home, there are safety straps that can be self installed to keep the appliance doors locked.  These straps can also be used on ovens and dishwashers.

 

When purchasing new appliance, think about your children:

 

Can they reach the buttons? 

Can they open the unit themselves? 

Can they crawl or climb inside the unit?

Does the appliance come with any type of child safety features?

One Year Stay on Toy Testing Is Causing Even More Confusion

While the government  might be trying to protect our kids from dangerous toys, what they're succeeding in doing is causing even greater confusion for parents. 

As I wrote several weeks ago, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act would require manufacturers of all children's products to certify and test for numerous hazards including lead content and phthalates.  The problem is that this testing is so stringent and broad that it would essentially force many small manufacturers out of business and seriously hurt the larger companies.

So now, in order to provide more guidance to manufacturers as to when testing is required and how it is to be conducted along with redefining rules that could excuse certain materials from testing, the Consumer Products Safety Commission has issued a one-year stay of enforcement for this testing.  The Catch-22 is that, while they don't need to test, they are still required to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.  Basically what this means is that the government is saying that they're not going to make manufacturers prove they're meeting the standards, they're just going to take their word for it. 

Needless to say, this makes me extremely nervous.   As moms, how are we supposed to know what to believe and what is safe?  I agree that revised guidelines must be crafted so that we are protecting our children but not putting companies out of business.  But ultimately we as consumers need to be assured that the toys we are buying for our children are safe. 

Fortunately, while the government might not be requiring the testing, large retailers such as Walmart and Toys R Us are requiring suppliers to test their products and provide proof that they meet the new lead and phthalate limits.    Unfortunately for now moms, I still say buyer beware.