B2 The Emery County Review, Tuesday, August 12, 2008 The FAMILY PAGE Horoscope Focus On The Family Crossword Figuratively Speaking FOCUS ON THE FAMILY Child’s Attention Deficit Disorder can be Hard to Manage Dr. James Dobson Q Our pediatrician told us he believes our son may have attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. Can you tell us what is known about this problem? ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, appears to be an inherited neurological syndrome that affects approximately 5 percent of children in the United States. It refers to individuals who are easily distracted, have a low tolerance for boredom or frustration, and tend to be impulsive and flighty. Some of them are also hyperactive. These children have a pattern of behavior that sets them up for failure in school and conflict with their parents. They have difficulty finishing tasks, remembering details, focusing on a book or assignment, or even remaining seated for more than a few minutes. Some appear to be driven from within as they race wildly from one thing to another. They are often very bright and creative, yet they’re seen as lazy, disruptive and terribly disorganized. ADHD children often suffer from low A self-esteem because they have been berated as goof-offs and anarchists who refuse to follow the rules. They sometimes have few friends because they can drive everyone crazy -- even those their own age. I’m a single mom who’s labored, sweated, prayed, cried, scrimped, saved, cooked, cleaned, taught, and shepherded my children through numerous crises without the help of a husband or father for my kids. I’m having a very difficult time of letting go now that they are grown. Do you have any words of wisdom for me? My office at Focus on the Family sits across the valley from the United States Air Force Academy. From there I can see the cadets as they train to be pilots and officers. I particularly enjoy watching the gliders soaring through the heavens. The only way those graceful yellow crafts Q A can fly is to be tethered to a powered plane that takes them up to where they can catch a wind current. Then they disengage and sail free and alone until returning to land. While watching that beautiful spectacle one day, I recognized an analogy between flying and child rearing as a single parent. There is a time when your children need to be towed by the “mother plane.” If that assistance were not available, or if it were not accepted, the “glider” would never get off the ground. But, inevitably, there comes an appropriate moment for a young pilot to disengage and soar free and alone in the blue heavens. Both operations are necessary for successful flight. If you as a parent are not there for your kids when they are young, they are likely to remain “grounded” for life. On the other hand, if they stay tethered to you as young adults, they will never experience the thrill of independent flight. Letting go not only gives freedom to your grown son or daughter but allows you to soar as well. It’s all part of the divine plan. You have advised women in domestic violence situations to “get out” immediately. Are you suggesting that Q When your mind’s eye glimpses new understanding -- “Hmm, that could work...” -- endeavor to believe in your vision. At least that’s what this week’s full moon eclipse in Aquarius suggests. So what if it’s crazy, outrageous, never been done before? That’s what Thomas Edison said about the light bulb! If you’re not feeling inspired yet, dip into the cosmic consciousness, where imagination and intuition circulate. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Just as the pain you sometimes feel isn’t all for you, the success you are experiencing is not entirely yours, either. Give your support system credit for the role they play in your fulfillment. Don’t wait for a reason to make loved ones feel cherished and important. TAURUS (April 20May 20). You’ve figured out that it’s not your job to reprimand anyone. You accomplish more by just being happy for your own reasons. Your good mood lifts spirits and makes others aware of how they are behaving. You not only make room for someone moody and self-indulgent, you do so graciously. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). No matter how convinced you are that you’re speaking the truth, there will always be another point of view. Furthermore, it’s quite often you who presents it. What can you say? You’re twins! Listening to that voice inside doesn’t make you crazy -- it makes you powerful. This weekend you’ll make your legendary move. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You were given your psychic gifts for a reason. Use them. Even if you don’t think you’re psychic, you must admit that sometimes you know what’s going to happen before it does. This week you could win huge points by being the only one who can gain control of an unpredictable situation. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your sign realizes that the spirit of play is not to be un- dervalued. But occasionally, like at the start of this week, you forget to invite your inner child along for the ride. So in the name of creativity, dare to be silly, annoying, outrageous, awkward and totally unrealistic. You’ll bring back your mojo in the process. THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS: This year the stars emphasize your natural intellectual gifts, which you’ll use to charm everyone around you. You’re offered more help and support than you need. Put yourself in the right environment for finding and building love in September. In October you home in on the most important aspects of your work and maximize your profits. Someone bends over backward, or gets down on bended knee, to please you in November. New additions to family happen in June. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You wisely see that there are many versions of a story that could be true. Continued on Page B4. A FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY Holiday Mathis any woman who is being beaten should take the same course of action? My husband has only hit me once in a big fight we had. Should I separate from him? Your situation may represent another category of behavior. A man can become so enraged on a given occasion that he does something he is immediately sorry for and would never do again. That is very different from a repetitive, pathological situation. You will have to decide how you will deal with that exceptional situation, but I would recommend that it become a point of serious discussion between you two. If he hit you once, he can hit you again. You need to set some ground rules that will prevent a similar situation from recurring. (Dr. Dobson is founder and chairman of the board of the nonprofit organization Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995(www.family. org). Questions and answers are excerpted from “Solid Answers” and “Bringing Up Boys,” both published by Tyndale House. Copyright 2008 James Dobson Inc. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate) John MacIntyre 40: Percentage of 18-year- olds to 29-year-olds who see themselves as a career hourly worker, according to a survey for SnagAJob.com. $44 billion: Value of the coffee market (inclusive of both retail and food-service sales) in 2007, according to an updated study from Packaged Facts. they are paying only their minimum monthly amount on their credit card. Source: Qvisory. 42: Percentage of U.S. sider themselves a career salaried worker. sales in 2007 that were accounted for by food-service venues. drinkers who cited beer as their preferred beverage, according to the results of Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits Poll. 59: Percentage of working 30: Percentage of the retail 31: Percentage who said 41: Percentage who con- Americans who are now paid by the hour, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source: SnagAJob.com. 1: When Americans were asked if they could choose a vacation in any country in the world outside the United States without having to worry about the cost, the rank of Italy as the most popular choice. 2, 3, 4, 5: Ranks of Aus- tralia, Great Britain, France and Ireland on the list. 6: Percentage who say they would not go anywhere outside the United States. Source: Harris Interactive. 87: Percentage of coffee market commanded by premium packaged versions of recognizable food-service brands, such as Seattle’s Best, Starbucks and Peet’s, according to indications thus far for 2008. Source: Packaged Facts. 55: Percentage of young Americans 18 years old to 34 years old who say they are facing growing financial stress, according to research conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner for the Qvisory 2008 Greenberg survey. 73: Percentage of young wine is their preference. 23: Percentage who preferred liquor. Source: Gallup. 17: Percentage increase in the number of “microborrowers” (people involved in the field of “microfinance,” which serves those with very low incomes) worldwide in 2006, according to the latest Vital Signs Update released by the Worldwatch Institute. $1,026: Average microloan size worldwide. people who report having gone deeper in debt over the past year. $13.5 billion: Estimated 51: Percentage who say 5: Percentage of the people value of the portfolio. who lived on $2 or less per day in 2001 that today’s 133 million microborrowers represent. Source: WorldWatch Institute. 56: Percentage of international business travelers who say they are allowed to fly business class for longhaul flights. 10: Of the 44 percent who are not, percentage who say their company policy has changed in the past year. 32: Percentage of compa- nies that say the area in which they are most limiting or keeping an eye on spending is air travel. Source: Orbitz. 50 million: Number of the approximately 87 million Americans living in rental housing who do not have insurance to cover their belongings in case of loss, according to a survey by Allstate. 43: Percentage of renters who say the reason for not having purchased rental insurance is that they haven’t made time to look into it. Source: Allstate Insurance Company. Idle Thought “Nothing interferes with my concentration. You could put on an orgy in my office and I wouldn’t look up. Well, maybe once.” -- Isaac Asimov (Copyright 2008 John MacIntyre Inc. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate.) Puzzle answers on Page B4.