Mr. Asthma » Asthma Children » Yes you can!
Yes you can!
Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > I’ve always told my son to do what he wants, > >and if an attack happens then we will deal with it. Shoot for the moon, even if > >you miss, you will end up in the stars! > Which is exactly where that little airplane-flying girl ended up years ago when she > was allowed to play Amelia Earhart by her megalomaniac, narcissistic mother. > No personal reflection on you, Ms. Parrish. As the father of a now adult asthmatic, I > understand you only too well. But I’m afraid that this kind of "Jonathan Living > Seagull" rhetoric has contributed and still is contributing to the kind of > hyper-individualistic, superhero-oriented, I-believe-I can- fly mentality that more > often than not can lead to crushing disappointments for kids. Sometimes to the point > that they pick up a gun and mow down their schoolmates. > I think re-reading the story of the mythical Icarus and his father Daedalus is always > instructive. > Respectully, > mojo > I feel your point is valid in other arenas, but not for this situation. I am relaying >not my son’s attitude about life in general, but his attitude about over-coming what can >be a debilitating disease. He has been through hell and back with his asthma. And >despite of it all he is not afraid to expect a normal life pysically. My son is not >flying an airplane, nor does he have the" hyper individualistic, superhero-oriented, >I-believe-I can- fly mentality that more often than not can lead to crushing >disappointments for kids. Sometimes to the point that they pick up a gun and mow down >their schoolmates", that you mentioned. >My son is not unrealistic in his desire to achieve physically. He is closely monitored >by his doctor, who by the way, is very encouraging of all his sport activities, and has >never discouraged him. He keeps a scrap book of my son’s achievements. He has lectured >my son on the importance of his peak flow monitoring, and has made it clear that if he is >in the red zone, he can’t play. We follow that advice, whether my son agrees or not. >Karen
I specifically said "no personal reflection on you", meaning that I had absolutely no doubt that you know exactly what you’re doing in raising your son and dealing with his asthma. As I said, I’ve been there too. There was no need to recount his uncommon qualities and achievements, for which I wholeheartedly congratulate you both. I was speaking about the RHETORIC (please excuse the use of caps), which characterizes our pseudo-culture today — a culture no longer shaped by the fine minds of the Western and American tradition, but by copywriters, TV hacks and psychobabblers. This is, after, the Oprah nation. You and I have not created this culture, but we are so conditioned by its slogans that we tend to repeat them automatically, thus strenghtening and perpetuating the dangers implicit in its "I’m the king of the world" messages and its social Darwinism — only heroes count, woe to the vanquished. In other words, an insidious form of brainwashing designed to eradicate all political, social, and even civic consciousness. In the case of children (in general, not necessarily your son or mine), unfortunately they tend to take things literally. Once again, respectfully, mojo
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > I’ve always told my son to do what he wants, > >and if an attack happens then we will deal with it. Shoot for the moon, even if > >you miss, you will end up in the stars! > I feel your point is valid in other arenas, but not for this situation. I am relaying >not my son’s attitude about life in general, but his attitude about over-coming what can >be a debilitating disease. He has been through hell and back with his asthma. And >despite of it all he is not afraid to expect a normal life pysically. My son is not >flying an airplane, nor does he have the" hyper individualistic, superhero-oriented, >I-believe-I can- fly mentality that more often than not can lead to crushing >disappointments for kids. Sometimes to the point that they pick up a gun and mow down >their schoolmates", that you mentioned. >My son is not unrealistic in his desire to achieve physically. He is closely monitored >by his doctor, who by the way, is very encouraging of all his sport activities, and has >never discouraged him. He keeps a scrap book of my son’s achievements. He has lectured >my son on the importance of his peak flow monitoring, and has made it clear that if he is >in the red zone, he can’t play. We follow that advice, whether my son agrees or not. >Karen
Hmmm, If I were a coach that kid would start regardless of what his playing skills may happen to be. ( For all I know he may be an excellent player – wouldn’t doubt it) Why ? Skills can be taught. But give me 11 or so folks with that kind of an attitude and there is an unstoppable team ! With all the people crying "I’m a victim !" out there it’s extremely pleasant to hear of a kid who says "Nuts to it ! I’m playing !" Is he risking his life to do so ? Somewhat. Within some control. But the alternative would be NO life for him at all. I wish you and him success on his goals. He’ll probably realize them. As had been said before… Some of that had to come from you. As for the negative responses … Yeah maybe everyone can’t do what he can… But they’d live a heck of a lot better life if more of them tried. … Whether it be asthma, allergies, ADD/ADHD, disabilities, broken homes, whatever… Harold Spatz Independent Alpine Air Dealer corporate Web Site http://www.alpineindustries.com
Response:
Sounds like a cool kid, Jaren. Usually a sign of a cool parent. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My son will be 14 in July and has had severe persistent asthma since he > was born. Exercise induced asthma is a problem for him too. Before he > begins any kind of physical activity he uses Combivent (in addition to > vanceril, intal, accolate, and zyrteck). He has his ventolin inhaler on > standby. He says "Asthma doesn’t control me, I control It." He has no > patience for kids in school that play up their asthma, and use it as an > excuse to get out of P.E. He thinks it gives the rest of people with > asthma a bad name. > He is very active. He plays on 3 different competitive (6 days a week) > soccer teams. He is also involved in basketball, baseball, track, > karate, and wrestling throughout the year. He has never let asthma > dictate what he could do or not do. There have been a couple of times > where he has had bad attacks on the soccer field. When that happens we > give him a treatment with the nebulizer (we don’t travel without it), > and then he’s back out on the field. > This coming weekend he will be trying out for the Soccer Olympic > Development Team. His goal is to play on the United States Olympic Team > someday. And this weekend is the first step. He’s good, really good. > "You can do anything anyone else can do, and you can do it better", or > so my 13 year old says. > Karen
Response:
>standby. He says "Asthma doesn’t control me, I control It." He has no >patience for kids in school that play up their asthma, and use it as an >excuse to get out of P.E. He thinks it gives the rest of people with >asthma a bad name.
Asthma is a very individual disease. Some people can control thier asthma very well and for others it is an actual handicap. Just because I can run 3 miles on a regular basis does not mean that I should expect others to.
Response:
> >standby. He says "Asthma doesn’t control me, I control It." He has no >patience for kids in school that play up their asthma, and use it as an >excuse to get out of P.E. He thinks it gives the rest of people with >asthma a bad name. > Asthma is a very individual disease. Some people can control thier asthma > very well and for others it is an actual handicap. Just because I can run 3 > miles on a regular basis does not mean that I should expect others to.
I agree that my son needs to learn tolerance for others with asthma that can’t be controlled. At 13 he thinks that he knows it all and can do it all. Not all people are as driven as my son to overcome, or in his case ignore his asthma. He will play soccer even when his peak flow is 50% below normal. He no longer panics when he can’t breath. Which his doctor says is dangerous, because if he waits to long he’ll end up in the hospital again. I refuse to hold him back. Only he can decide how far to push his body. He will be out in the world in just 4 years. I won’t be there to step in, so I’d rather he discover his limits now, when I’m there to rescue him. As an adult I know and understand that asthma is a horrible condition, and for some no matter what they take, it’s not possible to get any amount of control. I shared my son’s story to show that it is possible to achieve despite it all. I’ve seen so many parents that treat their kids like invalids. They hold there children back by saying don’t run, don’t play on the lawn etc…, because they are afraid an attack might happen. I’ve always told my son to do what he wants, and if an attack happens then we will deal with it. Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you will end up in the stars! Karen
Response:
> I’ve always told my son to do what he wants, >and if an attack happens then we will deal with it. Shoot for the moon, even if >you miss, you will end up in the stars!
Which is exactly where that little airplane-flying girl ended up years ago when she was allowed to play Amelia Earhart by her megalomaniac, narcissistic mother. No personal reflection on you, Ms. Parrish. As the father of a now adult asthmatic, I understand you only too well. But I’m afraid that this kind of "Jonathan Living Seagull" rhetoric has contributed and still is contributing to the kind of hyper-individualistic, superhero-oriented, I-believe-I can- fly mentality that more often than not can lead to crushing disappointments for kids. Sometimes to the point that they pick up a gun and mow down their schoolmates. I think re-reading the story of the mythical Icarus and his father Daedalus is always instructive. Respectully, mojo
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve always told my son to do what he wants, >and if an attack happens then we will deal with it. Shoot for the moon, even if >you miss, you will end up in the stars! > Which is exactly where that little airplane-flying girl ended up years ago when she > was allowed to play Amelia Earhart by her megalomaniac, narcissistic mother. > No personal reflection on you, Ms. Parrish. As the father of a now adult asthmatic, I > understand you only too well. But I’m afraid that this kind of "Jonathan Living > Seagull" rhetoric has contributed and still is contributing to the kind of > hyper-individualistic, superhero-oriented, I-believe-I can- fly mentality that more > often than not can lead to crushing disappointments for kids. Sometimes to the point > that they pick up a gun and mow down their schoolmates. > I think re-reading the story of the mythical Icarus and his father Daedalus is always > instructive. > Respectully, > mojo
I feel your point is valid in other arenas, but not for this situation. I am relaying not my son’s attitude about life in general, but his attitude about over-coming what can be a debilitating disease. He has been through hell and back with his asthma. And despite of it all he is not afraid to expect a normal life pysically. My son is not flying an airplane, nor does he have the" hyper individualistic, superhero-oriented, I-believe-I can- fly mentality that more often than not can lead to crushing disappointments for kids. Sometimes to the point that they pick up a gun and mow down their schoolmates", that you mentioned. My son is not unrealistic in his desire to achieve physically. He is closely monitored by his doctor, who by the way, is very encouraging of all his sport activities, and has never discouraged him. He keeps a scrap book of my son’s achievements. He has lectured my son on the importance of his peak flow monitoring, and has made it clear that if he is in the red zone, he can’t play. We follow that advice, whether my son agrees or not. Karen
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Which is exactly where that little airplane-flying girl ended up years ago when she > was allowed to play Amelia Earhart by her megalomaniac, narcissistic mother. > No personal reflection on you, Ms. Parrish. As the father of a now adult asthmatic, I > understand you only too well. But I’m afraid that this kind of "Jonathan Living > Seagull" rhetoric has contributed and still is contributing to the kind of > hyper-individualistic, superhero-oriented, I-believe-I can- fly mentality that more > often than not can lead to crushing disappointments for kids. Sometimes to the point > that they pick up a gun and mow down their schoolmates. > I think re-reading the story of the mythical Icarus and his father Daedalus is always > instructive. > Respectully, > mojo
By the way my son has his day to day life headed in the right direction. He was just accepted into a four year Space and Engineering Academy. He will start that in the fall as a freshman in high school. He also is a member of a Graffiti Removal Task Force in our city, and he is involved in a very active christian youth group. He gets good grades in school and has not wrote any reports on "How to make a bomb." Nor has he been voted "Most likely to start world war 3." Believing you can succeed in life is not a negative attitude to have. Karen
Response:
> My son will be 14 in July and has had severe persistent asthma since he > was born. Exercise induced asthma is a problem for him too. Before he > begins any kind of physical activity he uses Combivent (in addition to > vanceril, intal, accolate, and zyrteck). He has his ventolin inhaler on > standby. He says "Asthma doesn’t control me, I control It." He has no > patience for kids in school that play up their asthma, and use it as an > excuse to get out of P.E. He thinks it gives the rest of people with > asthma a bad name.
You might want to teach him some tolerance. Not every person is capable of overcoming asthma to the point of being able to engage in P.E. I know that when we lived in LA, there was NO level of medication that made exercise of the ‘run around the field’ type possible for me. Chris Owens
Response:
My son will be 14 in July and has had severe persistent asthma since he was born. Exercise induced asthma is a problem for him too. Before he begins any kind of physical activity he uses Combivent (in addition to vanceril, intal, accolate, and zyrteck). He has his ventolin inhaler on standby. He says "Asthma doesn’t control me, I control It." He has no patience for kids in school that play up their asthma, and use it as an excuse to get out of P.E. He thinks it gives the rest of people with asthma a bad name. He is very active. He plays on 3 different competitive (6 days a week) soccer teams. He is also involved in basketball, baseball, track, karate, and wrestling throughout the year. He has never let asthma dictate what he could do or not do. There have been a couple of times where he has had bad attacks on the soccer field. When that happens we give him a treatment with the nebulizer (we don’t travel without it), and then he’s back out on the field. This coming weekend he will be trying out for the Soccer Olympic Development Team. His goal is to play on the United States Olympic Team someday. And this weekend is the first step. He’s good, really good. "You can do anything anyone else can do, and you can do it better", or so my 13 year old says. Karen