US Leads Europe in Medicating Kids

Do you worry about your child drinking alcohol or taking illegal drugs? Most parents do. But alcohol and pot are no longer the drugs of choice for many teens and college students. Experts have warned that it's mom and dad's medicine cabinet that pose an even greater threat. Now a new study has revealed that American children are about three times more likely to be prescribed psychotropic medication as are children in Western Europe.
In this week's Family Matters Hot Topics, we'll revisit our conversation with investigative reporter Kelly O'Meara, author of Psyched Out about her findings and the dangerous use of psychotropic medications for children.

Homeschool Myths Busted

Most parents just sent their kids back to school, except for those who decided to homeschool their children. Parents who choose this path are often faced with perplexed concerns from family, friends and fellow community members. These concerns are often expressed with a lecture about the value of education and socialization or even a snide remark about their sanity.
But despite the general assumptions, parents usually choose homeschooling because of the value they place on education and their child's development. This is why a recent court ruling in California that bans homeschool choice has troubled so many people beyond the homeschool community.
This weekend on Family Matters, we'll talk with Greg and Martine Millman, parents of six home schooled children and authors of Homeschooling: A Family’s Journey, about the advantages of homeschooling and what it takes to teach your kids from the comfort of your own home. We'll expose some of the myths about homeschooling and why spelling bee champions, best selling child authors as well as geography experts are often kids from a homeschool environment. We want to hear from you. Have you ever considered homeschool? Or, are you a homeschooler and feel misjudged? What do you think of homeschool?

Moving Forward With Help From Dave Pelzer

Did you ever hear that old saying "If it doesn't kill you, it'll make you stronger..." or some variation? I grew up hearing those words and like most of my "momisms," I repeat them over and over often to the chagrin of my children. That particular saying came from my grandparents who had faced much more difficulty and challenges in their lives than I would ever know. But somehow those words did give me courage to face fears and persevere.
This weekend on Family Matters we'll talk with the inspirational Dave Pelzer. Fans may recall his first bestseller A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive. The book is a memoir of his childhood and the torture and horrors that were delivered by his own mother. Now he explains how you can overcome any obstacle in your past and use it as a springboard for success in his new book Moving Forward: Taking The Lead In Your Life.

Open House Week

This week millions of parents will walk into their child's school for the annual open house. Artwork will be displayed proudly and teachers will do their best to lay the groundwork for the year and hope that an overzealous Mom or Dad will resit the urge to give them a full background report on their child's specific educational needs. Not that these conversations are not important but the reality is that there is a time and place for everything and most teachers would prefer an individual appointment to discuss an individual issue. Success at school depends on so many factors but according to educational expert Rick Lavoie, motivation may be the key to developing that love of learning we all want our children to find and embrace at every level.
This week on Family Matters we'll talk with psychologist Rick Lavoie, author of The Motivation Breakthrough: 6 Secrets for Turning On the Tuned-Out Child. We'll find out how parents can discover what motivates their child and how to use this information to encourage and support your child to succeed. You may want to tune in before that one on one meeting with the teacher. We want to hear from you! What do you like or dread about open house? Do you go just because you are obligated or does it provide you with information?

Moms Keep the Conversation in the News

Listening to morning radio on the first full work day after the announcement of vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin it was clear that her role as a mother was central to the chatter. Callers offered various opinions but the tone was evident- the mommy wars have returned. The debate never disappeared and we know that it's a conversation that takes place every day at bus stops, water coolers and kitchen tables. But in this news cycle it shows up in the top three headlines. Whichever side you feel compelled to defend or promote, the fact that the dialogue is receiving this high level attention may be a good opportunity for working parents overall. Can it provide an opening to discuss flexibility in the workplace? Will it push the agenda on developing quality day care options? How should we support employees when their personal obligations collide with their careers? These are sidebar stories that may impact current and future generations- certainly a discussion worth repeating and expanding.
This week in Family Matters Hot Topics, we'll revisit our interview with Judith Warner about her buzz generating book Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety .