Friday, August 31, 2012

WELLNESS - OUR BEST DEAL

FWR:  One Child’s Wellness - The Costs and Benefits

Jimmy is eight – obese and doing poorly at school. There are two ways for him: our usual problem-solving way and the new family wellness way.

Jimmy is in a good school. For his school problems there are interviews with parents, Special Ed teacher and the school psychologist. Then there is a school team meeting which refers to a doctor for medication. Jimmy settles better in class.

There are several costs here. The family spends two months going to meetings and worrying about Jimmy’s learning problem. Jimmy ends up with two problems - he is fat and he now has a learning problem. The process costs the school over $1,000.

The other way is the new family wellness way. It is a series of normal family things. Jimmy gets up, makes his bed and goes down for breakfast.  He gets praise for doing his homework. He is coached on how to deal with the bully. He gets a hug and then he’s off to get the bus.

After school, he can play with kids and work on his computer (no videos).  Before dinner he has chores including setting the table. After dinner it’s homework, playing with friends and getting ready for bed before 9:00 pm.   Using teacher advice, parents read with Jimmy for a half hour before bed.   They join him in his prayers.

After two months of the wellness way, Jimmy has lost weight and is doing better at school (research backs this up). The medicine eases the problem, the wellness way gets at the sources.

The one big wellness cost to the family is extra time and attention with Jimmy. That’s a win/win.

FWR: Why are we attending to problems instead of attending to kids?

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