We're Connected/ ADHD Stressors / Institute Orlando Schedule - 10/2008

Mon Oct 20 13:26:44 EDT 2008

- MONDAY MORNING: REASON FOR OPTIMISM
- ADHD KIDS STRESS MARRIAGE
- CONFERENCE INSTITUTES

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- MONDAY MORNING: REASON FOR OPTIMISM

Who knew?  Very encouraging survey

Internet, Cellphones May Strengthen Family Unit, Study Finds
By Donna St. George
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 20, 2008

> "There had been some fears that the Internet had been taking people away from
> each other," said Barry Wellman, a sociology professor at the University of
> Toronto and one of the authors of the report, published by the Pew Internet
> and American Life Project. "WE FOUND JUST THE OPPOSITE." . . .

> Wellman said families appreciated the innovations because "they know what each
> other is doing during the day."

Married couples in the survey:

> Both parents rely on BlackBerrys not just for work but for the stuff of daily
> life. They let each other know about schedule changes, dinner plans, sick
> children. "I think it brings us closer, because we're able to communicate
> throughout the day," said Randy, 38. "I don't know what we did without it."

Parents and children might rush through their days in different directions,
but the American family is as tight-knit as in the last generation -- or
more so -- because of the widespread use of cellphones and the Internet,
according to a new poll.

In what was described as the first detailed survey of its kind, released
yesterday, researchers reported that family life has not been weakened, as
many had feared, by new technology. Rather, families have compensated for
the stress and hurry of modern life with cellphone calls, e-mail and text
messages and other new forms of communication.

For complete article:
http://tinyurl.com/6zk5dn

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- ADHD KIDS STRESS MARRIAGE

Children who have ADHD can strain marriages
Study: Extra stress is fuel for divorce

By Marilyn Elias
October 20, 2008
USA TODAY 

Parents of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are almost
twice as likely as other parents to divorce by the time their child is 8
years old, a new study suggests. . . .

In their study, 23% of parents had divorced by their child's eighth birthday
if he had been diagnosed with ADHD, compared with 13% of similar parents in
such factors as age, education and income whose child didn't have the
disorder. . . .

 "ADHD creates the greatest difficulty for parents in early childhood. If
your marriage survives that, the rate of divorce doesn't continue to be
higher after they're 8," Pelham says. . . .

Because ADHD can be inherited, parents often have it too, and that may
hinder marriage, says Andrea Chronis-Tuscano, a psychologist at the
University of Maryland. If children have ADHD, their mothers are 24 times
more likely than other mothers to have it, and fathers are five times more
likely, her studies find. Adults with ADHD may be impulsive and find it hard
to concentrate or solve problems.

"That can lead to conflict in marriage," she says, "and a child with ADHD
only adds to the stress."

Full story: http://tinyurl.com/5fggkd

THE GOOD NEWS: Susan Blumberg will present a 90-minute workshop at the
Orlando Smart Marriages Conference on  working with these marriages:
> Special Families, Special Needs
> Susan Blumberg, PhD
> Help high-risk couples learn to balance the intense challenges of having a
> child with special needs with the needs of their relationship using PREP
> communication and problem-solving skills.

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- CONFERENCE INSTITUTES
Many have asked about the training institutes schedule so you can make
travel/vacation plans, etc.  So I'm sending this early notice to the list
about the Pre and Post Conference Institutes.  I don't like to announce the
Institutes until I'm sure the schedule is final, and I can't say it's set in
stone, but we're very close.  Those listed are firm, only thing that could
change is we might add one or two more.  So, for those who like to plan
ahead, see: http://www.smartmarriages.com/institutes.html

Please realize that these are only the Pre and Post conference Institutes.
The KEYNOTES and BANQUETS  and  WORKSHOPS are not scheduled.  I've left the
San Francisco Keynotes and Workshops posted to give those who are new to the
conference an idea of what to expect in Orlando.  Keynotes and Workshops
won't be scheduled until December.  - diane

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13th Annual Smart Marriages® Conference, Shingle Creek Resort,
Orlando, Florida, July 6-12, 2009 (General Conference July 8-11)
Pre-Conference Training Institutes July 6-8
Post-Conference Training Institutes July 12

Shingle Creek Resort: http://www.rosenshinglecreek.com/

Conference schedule, registration, & exhibit information will be posted as
it becomes available at:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/conferencedetails.html

List your program and resources on the Directory of Classes at
http://www.smartmarriages.com/directory_browse.html

Order conference audio & video CD/DVD/MP3s: 800-241-7785 or
http://www.iPlaybackSmartMarriages.com

Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couples Education, LLC (CMFCE)
Diane Sollee, Director
5310 Belt Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015-1961
http://www.smartmarriages.com
202-362-3332