So I need some advice. Again. For I am unable to do anything on my own.

I have a situation with a few of the girls in my Daisy troop - they do not listen to me or my co-leader. They wander around the room and disrupt other girls and don't seem interested in what we are doing. A couple of the girls are your basic non-payer attention 5 year olds. They frustrate the hell out of me, but usually their parents are there and I can get them to come hang with their daughter and that works. But I have another girl. And she's very sweet and very caring and I adore her. When her mother bothers to give her her medication. She has one of the worst cases of ADHD I've ever seen. When she's not medicated, she's impossible. A lot of our energy is spent trying to keep her under control. And her mom is very young. And doesn't have control of her child, either. I need to have a conversation with Mom about Daughter being disruptive. I don't want to mention medication or get that personal or even go near where it could be construed as me telling someone how to parent, because I don't know their family outside of Daisies. But I don't know how to start the conversation. And I don't want to lose the girl from my troop - I really do like her. I just need her to be a little more chill. If this was your kid, what would be the most effective way for me to bring this issue to you?

Aimee, what about something like asking the mother what she does to control the daughter, or if she has any suggestions for what you should do.

Aims, that is a tough situation. I don't know that I have anything constructive to say, but I sure hope someone can help.

Glad that things are looking up, Anne.

As for me, it is time for me to step away from the Yahoo!answers pets section. Someone just asked what do since their cat drank oven cleaner and now cannot walk, and I could not stop myself from saying, "When in confusion, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.... Or, you know, take the cat to the veterinarian."

Cashmere, that is absolutely ridiculous. Can you sit down with him, go over what's left, and split it up? I think you've shown real restraint in not beaning him with last year's fruitcake.

Aims, I'm sorry, I don't know what to tell you. I hope one of the teachers here has some good advice.

Myers-Briggs

Dear dog, one of the few things that pleased me from the last round of layoffs (and we lost a LOT of people I wish they'd kept) was the manager who was so obsessed with the Myers-Briggs. Those semi-regular department meetings were a horror.

Aims, my mom weighs in...

My idea: "First let me say I adore Suzy, although I do have some concerns about her. I'm hoping you can help me figure out what to do. Of course you know the troop is for all the girls and when we have to spend too much time helping just one of the girls, that takes away from our ability to care for all. So what would you suggest I/we do when Suzy takes up so much attention? NOTE: Mom may say "I have absolutely no idea."

well, here are a few thoughts I've come up with. See what you think: 1. You could remove Suzy from the room when she's unable to concentrate. 2. You could intervene to stop Suzy's behavior. 3. We could ask the troop to do some problem solving. It would go like this:

Girls we have a problem. Sometimes we have to spend so much time taking care of Suzy that I am not able to do the activities that are planned for the day. So, I have a blackboard (or whatever they're calling it these days), and I'm going to write down all the possible solutions for the problem that you all give me. So, what's one thing we could do to help keep our schedule running smoothly?

NOTE: You write down everything they say, good ideas, not so good ideas, no judgement, this is brainstorming. When you've written down everything they've said, you say something along the lines of "Good, you've come up with 10 different ideas. Let's go back to idea #1. If we do this, what might happen next? And then what might happen?, etc." So, is this a good idea or not a good idea? #2 etc.

After you've evaluated all the ideas (you may be surprised at how the girls are tuned into this, cuz it's their exact words on the board), let's see which idea we would like to try first. Sometimes kids come up with ideas grown-ups would never have thought of, but they can also say "hit her," etc. Everything is valuable and words must be written as the kids say them. This all comes from a book by Myrna Shure, I Can Problem Solve.

I like everything Laga said. But I don't think I would want to label Suzy as a problem to be fixed by the group. But maybe the suggestions could be presented as rules/ways of dealing for all the girls.

[link] another cat vs. bathroom fixtures vid.

Cashmere, that is absolutely ridiculous. Can you sit down with him, go over what's left, and split it up? I think you've shown real restraint in not beaning him with last year's fruitcake.

He's agreed to step up. I'm just so damned tired and we still have a week to go! I feel like I've plowed through so much that I'm in a better head space and less cut-a-bitch phase.

Aims, since Owen often has issues that teachers have to broach with me, I think the best way is to be honest, but kind. Just explain that you want to make sure that her daughter is included in everything and want to work on strategies to help her enjoy more of the Daisy experience. I have worked with O's teachers to solve problems like this several times and we've always managed to come up with something that makes everyone happy.

I think the best way is to be honest, but kind. Just explain that you want to make sure that her daughter is included in everything and want to work on strategies to help her enjoy more of the Daisy experience.

This. Cash is wise.

I are tired. Show went...well....the second show was terrific. The first show? They got through it! Which is enough for middle school, I suppose.