Parents!!!!! Growing with younger children... Do you explain?

So I'm just curious how you guys appeoach gardening along with parenting. I've got four kids myself ranging from 18 months to 10yrs, legally grow for medical reasons in Maine. It's been kind of muddy waters for my wife and I in figuring out who gets what information, and how closely to connect the actual gardening and time with the family. My kids are around everything, and they desperately just want to garden with me and help and learn because that's what kids do... But that's where I've drawn my line. Absolutely no touching or helping, and they know its serious.

Do you explain what it is and what you are doing, or do you do your best to avoid and hide it?

There's nothing wrong with educating your child on the medical purposes, what it does and how it helps. If your kids are smart they will understand and then you can explain that your state and what not legally allows you to grow your own medicine that's natural Because you are old enough. I'd do it with the oldest and wait for the others. It's just like when a child asks for alcohol etc, we explain why and what it does. But my opinion is pots better for you anyway. But back to the point. I'd just keep doing what your doing. No touch etc. if your doing everything legally then it's cool. Last thing you want is for a child to touch and then go to school and talk about it, legal or not, I'm sure you will get some kind of stupid visit from the state or some bs.

Thanks for your input passdadutch. Much appreciated. I completely agree with you, and I also, very strongly, tout it as less harmful than alcohol. But you nailed my biggest problem with it. What they say to friends/school. I don't want their parents feeling uncomfortable sending their kids over, and I don't want teachers to start worrying about 'what is going on at home'. I have explained to my two oldest, and I think that they understand that it's not bad, but something that I'd like to keep private. I can see my 5 year old proudly talk about dads 'tomato' plants in the basement on his first day of school. I'm really thinking I'll need to just explain to the teacher before it gets there. Ahh.. I dunno..

i don't think there's anything wrong with asking your children to respect your wishes in keeping the fact you grow a family secret.

You'd be surprised your child on the first day of school , will forget everything at home and be overwhelmed by the kids , teachers, and school itself. Ive been there stressing the he'll out of it.

upinthesticks said:

Thanks for your input passdadutch. Much appreciated. I completely agree with you, and I also, very strongly, tout it as less harmful than alcohol. But you nailed my biggest problem with it. What they say to friends/school. I don't want their parents feeling uncomfortable sending their kids over, and I don't want teachers to start worrying about 'what is going on at home'. I have explained to my two oldest, and I think that they understand that it's not bad, but something that I'd like to keep private. I can see my 5 year old proudly talk about dads 'tomato' plants in the basement on his first day of school. I'm really thinking I'll need to just explain to the teacher before it gets there. Ahh.. I dunno..

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No problem man and I totally see your concern with teachers, friends, kids parents etc. it's gonna be up to us now in this day of age with legal growing to educate our younger children as times are finally making a change before the schools and what not start cramming it into their heads that it's still bad. It's not going to be easy and prob won't be for years to come. The problems you are worried about are going to come up, be around, and those ones aren't going anywhere anytime soon. To stay private would be to be completely private between just you and the wife. But I feel like it's better for parents etc that are growing to explain. Your child will be exposed to it even earlier at a young age now a days. As a parent it's your responsibility to teach our kids right. I'd rather teach my kids the value of pot than have some kids at school, the government, or the school itself make it seem like all its there to do is just get high and do nothing cause that's what teens do. Oh and to your response to the kids parents reacting. Maybe they are narrow and small minded and maybe your kids shouldn't hang with theirs, I don't need my kid going to some kids house where they may hear about how bad of a person I am or something along those lines.

240sxing said:

You'd be surprised your child on the first day of school , will forget everything at home and be overwhelmed by the kids , teachers, and school itself. Ive been there stressing the he'll out of it.

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Yes but all it takes is that one kid in the class to talk about theirs to make a child feel comfortable and be like oh my mommy and daddy do the same or take the same meds

Yes!! I completely agree. My wife wanted to do the duck and dodge and not say anything.. But I didn't want their first mention of it to have a negative tone, and then always trying to come back from that.

I agree that he will probably be excited and overwhelmed day number #1.. But he has taken a pretty keen interest in it, and thinks they are pretty cool. I see it as highly likely it will come up soon if not on the first day.

Thanks undercovergrow.. The way I explained it is that people just don't usually talk about what medicine they are on with people, and that it's more of a private matter. Not that people cannot know, and not that they should be dishonest if asked directly, but just that they don't bring it up themselves.

Thanks for your kind words 240sxing, by the way. I hope you are right about him forgetting .

I've one question.

Do you grow for GENUINE medical purposes (to relieve cancer pain etc), or are you just another stoner looking for an excuse?

I'm not sure whether I should even dignify that with a response? If I was a stoner, I'd tell you I'm just a stoner? No harm no foul there as far as I'm concerned. I wouldn't be legal to use it if there wasn't a qualifying condition..... So yes it's for a legitimate use and I've found a lot of relief. Thanks.

Hahaha... Yes, I'm sure it's 'dicks like me' is why your kid is violent... And not you......

I do understand what your saying to a point. I've had a difficult time finding what I'm comfortable with myself. My kids would never see the dried, prepared product, or be around its use in any way shape or form. But we done gardens the past couple years, and my kids were a big part of that. So they already have an interest. Thanks for your input.

and by gardens I mean vegetable gardens...

Grandmah said:

Yeah. Don't let those kids get around basil or lettuce. I just don't feel the way you do. Maybe your attitude is why your son is the way he is. Just a thought

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Was thinking the same thing with that kind of attitude. Let me blame other people for the way my son acts lmao. Problems that like come rooted from the household they are in. Sounds like a typical parent that's against pot. But you know kids are around drugs all day in the medicine cabinet, alcohol in the household, on all the meds our governments put us and our kids on but you know it's the guy down the road growing pot that fucked my kid up and made him want to stab people. Great argument that guy has lmao

don't know about you guys, but 2farts gets my vote for parent of the year!

ever hear the saying the apple doesn't fall far from the tree?

I'm not advocating one way or the other but it's a very valid question. For someone to come in and call this person a stupid ass stoner is in itself stupid. We're on this site for a reason, medical or not.

Haha I'd second that one rkymtnman!

Don't be surprised if some of the teachers at your kids school clandestinely imbibe in the herb. You sound like a good and caring parent, good luck with whatever choice you make.

I hear you grandmah, on not advocating either. I'm still not sure what is right or wrong myself. I just know that's what my wife and I chose for our family, but I figured other people gotta be battling the same questions? I can't be the only parent that grows. I will say though... I feel a lot more uneasy about it now that I have some going into flower. Just feels like a different ballgame over having them around plants that are vegging. If I had unlimited funds it would be a different story for me I think (although I have REALLY enjoyed growing). I simply cannot afford as much as I need through a dispensary. I just want to produce my own that I know is safe.