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mackinaw
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Michigan |
| Posts: | 786 |
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Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2006 01:05 pm |
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Her mother called it a negotiable proposition. But to Jean Lynch-Thomason, a 17-year-old with bipolar disorder who started college this fall, her mom’s notion to fly from their home in Nashville to her campus in Olympia, Wash., every few weeks to monitor Jean’s illness felt needlessly intrusive.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/08/health/08Kids.htm
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scoop
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 574 |
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Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2006 02:15 pm |
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| A very thought provoking article. I liked those two kids!
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3316 |
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Posted: Fri Dec 8th, 2006 10:53 pm |
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| Excellent article Mack. I am working with a young man with similar issues, and will pass this article along to him and his parents. Thanks!
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PrimetimeMom
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Los Angeles |
| Posts: | 157 |
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Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2006 02:22 am |
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I liked the article and appreciated the honesty of the students. I think it's important for students with mental illnesses to be honest with those around them about their challenges.
I think the figure I've seen is that mental illness affects one in four people over their lifetime.
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HImom
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 20th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 269 |
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Posted: Sun Dec 10th, 2006 07:53 pm |
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In some ways, I think those of us who are aware of some "special needs" of our kids may be more prepared for the jolts & challenges of college than families whose kids are "healthy." As families, we have had to learn to prioritize and pace and often our kids have had to learn to study independently, since their conditions may cause frequent & prolonged absences.
I have been delighted that every time I speak with our S, he sounds happy and healthy. He says he has not missed ANY school as a freshman, which is a marked contrast to the 60+ absences/year that have characterized several of his HS years. In some ways, the flexibility colleges offer can be a great blessing for overcoming some of the health challenges, increasing options for our kids.
Good article!
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3316 |
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Posted: Sun Dec 10th, 2006 08:20 pm |
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HiMom,
That is such terrific news about your son. Maybe southern California weather agrees with him. 
Carolyn
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HImom
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 20th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 269 |
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Posted: Sun Dec 10th, 2006 08:29 pm |
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Thanks, Carolyn! I think it's a combo of things that have really helped him. For one thing, I think being mostly done with the huge hormone changes of puberty has helped.
For another, I think living on campus & being able to wake as late as 8:45-9:45 to get to his 1st class of the day at 9 or 10 has been a HUGE plus for him (instead of having to wake by 6:30 to get to school by 7:40 for HS.
Another thing that has helped is that he only has a few classes/day instead of solid classes from 7:45-3pm every day, 5 days/week as he did in HS, with maybe one study hall/day. Being able to have breaks during the day & more relaxed pace has been restful for him, I'm sure. The HS coursework also prepared him well, so much of this year will likely be review, which will allow him to devote more energy to the HS/college transition
I do think it has been easier for him also that the climate is fairly comparable to HI's & he hasn't had to deal with the VERY HOT or dark, overcast weather that seems to make things worse for him (which would have been the case if he had chosen many other regions of the country). He's also made many very nice friends that I believe he will remain friends with -- many live in HI & others in SoCal. It is honestly the healthiest & happiest I can recall him sounding or being in memory (or at least in the past 7 years). We are delighted for him! He has certainly earned all the happiness he can get after his years of lonely challlenges.
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scoop
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 574 |
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Posted: Mon Dec 11th, 2006 11:00 am |
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| Himom, I'm so glad to hear that your son is doing well. Sometimes I think that a college schedule may be easier on my daughter than getting up at 5:30 and going all day with little break. You must be very relieved and he sounds like his is having a wonderful experience.
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HImom
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 20th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 269 |
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Posted: Mon Dec 11th, 2006 03:32 pm |
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| Yea, we couldn't be happier--even think he's doing great academically, but don't have anything concrete to base it on (academics has NEVER been an issue for S).
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