I seem to have come in on the middle of this kids & medicine discussion, so
please excuse me if I'm being absolutely obtuse here, but - "allowing" kids
to "refuse" a NECESSARY MEDICATION??? I don't think so! I always cringe when
I hear mothers talking about how kids "won't" take their meds, and I have to
say that in 21 years as a mother of 3, and many years of nursing on our
hosp. pediatric unit, I've never really known this to be a problem. I think
that's because, once I've determined that a prticular med really is
necessary and that the form, dosing schedule, etc. are the best we can
figure out, I'm not the least bit moved by any fussing around about it.
Yeah, maybe it's yucky - I'm sorry, we'll try some applesauce or whatever to
help take the taste away after it's down, but taking it in a businesslike
manner is no more open to squawking or hysterical carrying-on than is the
fact that we pee in the toilet rather than behind the couch. I swear to you,
NEVER a problem about it, even with some pretty crappy-tasting stuff. My
step-kids, whose parents didn't follow through with this matter-of-fact
approach, go through all kinds of ridiculous malarkey (and they're all over
10 now!) - I've noticed that they don't even bother starting up the whole
show if I'm the one in charge of seeing that they take something, but they
still get their (wonderful, sympathetic, sweet!) father to jump through all
kinds of hoops over this issue.

Maybe I'm just cruel and mean!

Cathy Bargar