"Spud" means potato in the UK too. "Sprog" is a slang term for kids of all varieties, upto and including teens (if you want to put their hackles up, that is  ).

Thanks for the clarification re "mother". *Takes thinking cap off, and rubs head.* Must be going senile.

All the people who have been affected by Katrina please know that my thoughts are with them in the wake of this terrible event, and through the following days when they will need great fortitude and courage to rebuild their homes/lives. I can only imagine the devastation on a personal level this has/will cause. Blessed be.

On a different note, of all the controversy that is surrounding the subsequent (poor) response to the disaster, I feel the most terrifying is the anarchy that appears to have broken out. I wonder if this is a testement to our failure as a society that those whose motives are less than pure seek to take over? Is this evolution in progress and evidence of our opportunistic abilites as a species to survive? Scary... Watching the news today, a survivor in New Orleans pointed out that many of those at the thick of the lawlessness are youngsters, poor before, but now homeless and without anyone to assist them as families are dead. I grieve for those young people who had little chance before but are now likely to end their lives even more ignominiously, if that is possible, by being on the receiving end of a bullet. Tragic and wasteful.

Ah, I see. Thanks.

I had no idea that Maxis put that in to the game. What a bunch of hypocrites. It also shows you just how little I actually play university.

Although I know that adults are able to meditate and thus reduce their need to pee, I was not aware that the same could be said of infants. Is this something that the mother needs to do prior to birth, or is it something she can do when sprog born and in her arms? I have just allowed the babies to be cared for as any normal infant is, so this is quite intrigueing.

"Greening him up"? At the risk of being an ignorant old hag, pardone?

Children must have boundaries, and they need to feel secure. Loving them is not enough. So many well meaning parents have demon spawn as children because they can't bring themselves to give discipline. I'm not an advocate of the good thrashing but I do believe that an occasional slap when a child is very young and places itself in a DANGEROUS situation is useful, as is shouting their name crisply. It attracts attention, shocks, and stops them from proceeding with whatever they are about to do. Then you can intervene. Always reward good behaviour with attention and bad by withdrawing it. As a society we are too keen to give outrageous behaviour attention when all it needs is a child to be placed in a room for a few minutes, be IGNORED then have an explanation given as to why they should not behave that way. How many of us hold memories of being lavished with affection for something we did that was good, or of our parents joining us when we were well behaved, but recall the shouting, screaming and rows following a misdemenour?

This sounds a lot like training your dog, but it does work and is a very powerful tool.

Yes, indeed. We have Shakespeare and Chaucer, Keats, and many other literary giants, yet no-one can quite coin a phrase like the Brits can... Common, blunt and with excellent imagery.

Pish, I'm certain under that gruff ol' exterior is an out and out bastard with a swinging brick for a heart. And that's just J.M.'s gentler side. Doncha just love the cuddly, grouchy old bear?

Yes, it is linked to autism, but I have seen it being diagnosed in mainstream kids too. Hence the "kick the backside and get a grip comment". I loathe diagnosis that is just waved at child's general direction and does not take into account its socialisation.

That one's obvious and cheating...Even I can manage to precog something when I've got a large gun shoved up my nostril.


Ok, I take your point about phone calls, and would agree that people want to hear certain things. I just feel, personally, awkward about feeding them a line.

I'm a Tarot reader too and a pretty good one. I don't use it when I'm counselling as the two are not really compatible though my skills as a clairsentient do give me a good feel for what is happening to my client. If they want me to read for them, I will, but only at a seperate appointment.

J.M. master of the put down and general kicking... you gotta hand it to him (maybe a grenade?).

My sims come running when another is about to drop a sprog, cheer a bit, then go and sit down. No communal passing around. In fact, no care at all!

I have to wonder, J.M., if the defenses you describe are to keep out the massing hoardes of forum users that have tracked you down and want to use torture implements on you? I'm certain there are folk out there who have pretty inventive minds and could think of lots of alternative uses for a blunt spoon, some rubber bands and nice nail gun? 

Ah, to medicate or not to? A lot of the kids I see are heavily medicated and not just with good old speed (Ritalin), but heavy duty psychotropic drugs such as Haloperidol, Risperdol among others. Many anti-epileptics are good at sedation too, and see those used regularly. To be fair, Methylphenidate is not a regular drug of choice as it is controlled and the diagnosis has to be just right. It's effects on an immature body are astounding, and I have seen totally uncontrollable behaviour brought to manageable with its use. There does, however, remain the sicko parent who wants the child drugged so they can have a life, and because they're so inadequate they can't cope with what is within "normal" range (I hate the word "normal", cos I know I'm bloody well not!).

Stop feeding kids junk! Couldn't agree more. What's happened to good homely skills like giving a kid a decent meal instead of some crap from a poison manufacturer like McDee's?

Regarding diet, I work with this lad who is autistic, hyperactive (I mean, hanging off the ceiling by his toes stuff and wall of death!),learning disability and also on a restrictive diet: no gluten, no dairy (casein intolerant). Some bright spark let him have a bag of doughnuts...I swear to all that's holy if I find out who I will put their organs in a vice.

J.M. I've spent a lifetime ignoring and repressing, and still the f**ckers bite me on the arse every now and again. Perhaps I need drugs?

A flamingo, eh? Curiouser and curiouser. Think I'm just gonna have to try that.

Well, I hope Reg is is fine and the pc has survived. Sounds like it was a real bitch.

We did have a hurricane in Birmingham (UK) about a month ago which was pretty awesome and left a lot of damage in its wake. Apparently, Blighty has a lot of hurricanes but they don't amount to more than a damp fizzing, and something with more destructive power is rarer than rocking horse shit.

I do not talk to meteorolgists unless necessary as too much time in their company makes me lose the will to live...

Semantic Pragmatic Disorder is something I've seen diagnosed recently in kids. I'm uncertain as to what it is but believe that it may boil down to "...your teenager is an awkward little get with a smart mouth that needs his/her arse kicking..." Maybe...  Give the kid some decent boundaries and work at respect, for god's sake!

Must admit that it's really tempting work for a woman on her own, the sex line, and it earns you a few quid. During periods of having absolutely no money at all it was something I considered finding out about, but wussed at the last minute.

Rohina: May I ask if you would consider yourself genuine or not? I tend to agree that there are indeed some sad buggers out there who just need to interact with someone, but to behave as you did seems a little harsh. After all, if there's nowt to say, then don't say anything and tell 'em they're wasting their hardearned. Just my view, is all.

Clinical depression is an illness and a very serious one to boot!

Don't wanna hear that it's all about being lazy and disinclined to try harder, not unless that someone wants a nice hard slap...

Absolutely. Many moons ago it was de rigour to grab your wife while she was a mere babe, and this happens still in some developing countries, somewhere around the age of 13. Consequently, many babies were stillborn and/or their mother died also as a complication of the pregnancy. Nubility does not mean a teen is developed enough to bear children. The other injuries that a young female of this age may receive such as fistulas between vagina and bladder don't bear thinking about.

As for genetics, well, while it is true that older women are more likely to have a child with Down's there is no other evidence to suppose that the younger you are when you breed the less likely there are to be any defects. I remain, therefore, unconvinced.

I fully advocate an education that spells out the responsibilities of bringing a life into this world. NO holds barred, as too often teens see a child as a lovely toy that can be played with then put away somewhere in a cupboard. Sex education needs extending as merely having the mechanics does not necessarily go with responsibility/understanding of the issues. What about love? Indeed, what about it?

Weyhey...! Fifty six posts to get my lips ripped off... I'm so happy, I'm so happy. Lord knows how the hell I'll manage my cake now. 

I would so love a retreat somewhere. By the sea, with a few beautiful mountains thrown in to look at. Maybe I could even crack on with some real art and finish that painting I've got stacked in my room.

It's true, but someone needs to get back on the bandwagon again!

How about the censorship of sex in the Sims as being corny, and that young people are less likely to engage in sexual activity if they are well informed? C'mon, surely someone'll bite...?

I prefer raw vodka...

Oh yes, but they don't crawl into ears. Not unless you lie on the ground outside in damp leaf litter regularly... 

Other eco rant due to severe pissy mood. Sigh. Too much info caused rage and frustration. 

"Curious Incident..." is absolutely brilliant and if you don't understand something about ASD after reading it then you're probably too obtuse. Also good is "Freaks, Geeks and Asperger's Syndrome."

JM, get a plane over to Blighty and I'll introduce you to some of my more challenging young people. I'd like you working the floor with them especially when one of the transitions people with ASD can't cope with happen. I seriously advise body armour!