Think our oldest is drinking cough syrup...

[SarahBeth9394]

Chicks another simple suggestion that probably shouldn't need to be made is get back into a good bedtime routine. Bath, brush teeth, get a book and read or whatever. Just so that for the last 30 to 45 minutes of the evening is spent doing things to relax her. With this just being the first few weeks of school her whole body clock is off. Without that relaxing time if she's having trouble at school she will lay down and all of it will just run through her head and she'll have trouble getting to sleep.

Now I say this in general and not to chicks directly... I too would not want to risk dosing someone else's child even with food coloring. I know that I would be through the roof if someone did it to mine. Now that's not saying that I wouldn't deal with the issue at hand but the adult does assume responsibility for the kids who stay at their home and God forbid anything to happen but the adult would definitely be liable for any incidents. I know that if my 16 year old spent the night at a friends house and took some over the counter medicine (like say she had an allergy attack and needed some dayquil or benedyl for bug bites) late at night only to become ill and find out that the medicine had been spiked there would be heck to pay for sure. Now I don't anticipate that happening because I keep a firm eye on the medicines here but teens make bad decisions sometimes. Just this weekend my daughter went for the dayquil and we had to tell her no because it hadn't been long enough since her last dose and no tylenol because it's in the dayquil.

 

[CHIC]

Mid week sleepover anyone?... You also have to be very careful because friends can be very influential. They may both be doing it together. It may be a sort of social thing.

 

[PortageGirl]

If it was my kid, I'd thank someone who spiked it with something as innocuous as food coloring. Even if they didn't ask me ahead of time because they weren't sure how I was going to react. I think it would be unlikely they wouldn't know, cause I'd be very careful that we all knew each other well before any kid of mine spent a night someplace. chicks4 would probably know that I'd be right there helping her do this! It sounds like this child is unsupervised quite a bit, and chicks4 is doing what's best for her daughter, which just might be a lifesaver for her DDs friend.

She said she has had this girl over often, she's no doubt eaten cooking or baking or fun things kids do with food coloring at the house. It sounds like the mother has left her there a LOT so she doesn't have to deal with her, well, chicks4 is dealing with her, so I'd shake her hand if I met chicks! ...nah, I'd give her a big hug!

 

[Holly O]

Big Topic!

My kids friends call me MUM, and I am very open and honest with them all!
Maybe an open discussion about drug abuse and other things (no Accusing of anyone) while the friend is over, could help.
You could also talk with your daughter about, all that is involved with being a friend. What she would hope from a friend and what a friend would do for another if they are in trouble.

I have 5 kids one that would try anything! (which Scares me!) I try to keep very open and not judgmental. Fortunately it is working well so far. He is no ANGEL ...lol He gets concerned with his friends activities and tells me so I'm able to talk with them.
I may not like the fact he will have a beer, But I do know it's not from my house. And he will tell me, when he does.

We can only do what we can. Kids did not come with instruction manuals ... Wish they did.

Your in my prayer. All kids are prayed for by me in this day and age.

 

[rainplace]

Thank you, chicks4kids, for sharing this with us. I've found the entire thread informative. I've always been the sort of parent where everything is out in the open, asking direct questions. I would have balked at doing what you are doing, but you know what? I wish I had read this thread about 4 years ago, it might have saved me a lot of grief. I've always found it difficult to talk about family problems with people... the things I could have learned.

 

[AmyRey]

I am so glad to read that you've gotten good news so far from your experiment. I'm hoping - even further - that somehow NO ONE has been drinking the cold medicine because I cannot imagine how uncomfortable a conversation it would be to talk with the friend's parents should she be the one consuming it.

 

[Fudgie]

any news? Hope everything is going great still!!!

 

[chicks4kids]

Nothing new as of yet. Also no consumption, so that's a plus!!

However, she just got hit with the flu and is down for the count right now....

I'll keep you all posted!! Definitely!! You all have been a great help in this-so as soon as she gets to feeling better...it'll be sleepover time!!

 

[insiderart]

Didn't you say it was cough medicine of which you found a lot of empty bottles. She had been asking for the nyquil. Perhaps you need to plant some bottles of cough medicine instead of the nyquil.

But glad of nothing so far. Hope she feels better soon.

 

[redhen]

Glad nothing so far!!

Sorry shes down with the flu... poor kiddo!

I really think this may be a case of the friends being a BIG influence on her...Let us know what happens with the sleep over!