I am being a horrible play date mom.

One of the girls that is over is on some pretty heavy duty meds (she's EI) that kind of make her chunky. Her parents, who are trying the very best that they can, are setting her up for eating disorders the way that they are with her and food. Very strict calories, almost no carbs, lock on the refrigerator door at home, poster board chart of her meals.

She's SIX.

So far, under my care today, she's had Oreo's, homemade pizza, ice cream, and lemonade.

They're never gonna let me have her again, but I swear - I've NEVER seen her this happy. No fits, no pouting, no crying, nothing.

one was just the perfect glittery green that will be awesome for Mardi Gras.

t makes note for manicure party next February

NEIGHBOR!

Dude, that's what playdates are FOR.

It's like the lite version of Trip to Grandparents.

(she's EI)

Environmental illness? Except after C?

She's such an awesome kid. Wicked smaht. But she's got some fiercely over-protective parents that are so freaked out by the EI stuff (and I can't blame them - she can be a handful and a half when she's having herself a 'sode) but so much of her stuff is just being 6. Lighten up, folks.

EI - emotionally impaired. In this case, Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

You mean she's a kid?

Is there anyone in the world who hasn't been diagnosed with something yet?

You know, if someone put a lock on the refrigerator and doled out carb-free food to me, I'd probably have Acquired Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

The "and stuff" part of my darkness was fairly sucky, but has been resolved with a bit of counseling and a lot of medication.

Well, I'm very glad the proper cocktail of meds was put together, topped with a brandied serotonin reuptake cherry.

EI - emotionally impaired. In this case, Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

Clearly she just needed Oreos and Lemonade.

You mean she's a kid?

ODD is really, *really* way more than "she's a kid."

Is there anyone in the world who hasn't been diagnosed with something yet?

I agree it seems that way. But I think that being able to recognize legitimate conditions that were overlooked in the past as being "just a kid" or "she's moody" or "he just wants attention" can be helpful.

t edit I say that from a POV of being told that my depression isn't "real" and I should just "get over it" and "decide to be happy." It certainly is real, and I'm not going to be the one to decide that someone else's condition isn't real, either.