posted 09-20-2002 06:15 AM               

excerpt:

Martin: Along these lines, I want to talk to you about the misdiagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and (ADHD), and the use of Ritalin to drug these children. Have you encountered a lot of Indigos who have been drugged, and, in your opinion, misdiagnosed?

Tober: Again, I work as an intuitive counselor. I do not work out in the area where a lot of my clients would put their children on Ritalin. They would go to alternatives, innately. However, in some of our audiences, which have a broader cross-section, we are experiencing instances where maybe our audience member wouldn't go that route themselves, but they would say my sister-in-law's child, my niece, my nephew . . . , where the audience members are not the primary child caretaker. But they certainly know other Indigo parents or primary caretakers and teachers, etc.

I want to quote the percentages we shared in the book about the increase in the production of Ritalin: Ritalin production has increased sevenfold in the last eight years, and 90 percent of it is consumed in the U.S.

The trend over the past few years has been clear: The percentage of children with an ADHD or ADD diagnosis walking out of a doctor's office with a prescription jumped from 55 percent in 1989, to 75 percent in 1996. And, if the truth be known, it's higher than that.

What's happening? What's happening is, we have a new paradigm of souls, of beings, coming into the Earth. We have them being shoved into a left-brained society, where to be left-brained is to be honored; to be right-brained -- that is, the artist, the musician, dancer, painter, writer, or creative thinker -- is not to be honored. The Indigos are integrated and will help us as we move into brain-hemisphere balance.

So, they're coming into a left-brained world. To get their kudos, to get their strokes, to be really honored and respected, they have to try to fit into that old system. These souls, as Masters, know the truth and know that we are now moving into honoring the right-brain mode, and they are a significant part of that.

So, they're not going to fit in, even if they choose to. They're here on a mission lifetime and that's a very important statement. They're here on a mission lifetime! They're not here to fit in. We are here to understand them, to learn from them, and to allow them to teach us a new way of being.

Back to your question. Because the children are new and different, where do doctors go? Where do parents go? Where do teachers go? They've got children who would appear to be hyperactive, who have a low attention span, who can't stand in line -- all of the symptoms that fit into something like the chicken or the egg.

I mean, which came first: ADD or the child of ADD? It's fitting into a type of pattern. They don't know what to do with it.

Now, if Ritalin healed the process, it would be different. I don't want to get into an AMA discussion, but there are so many incredible alternatives that take, maybe, a little bit more work -- but my goodness, isn't your child worth it?

If the drug Ritalin healed, then fine. But it doesn't. It's just a coping mechanism or a Band-Aid. Inevitably, they will need to discontinue the drug and deal with life experiences they were meant to have. And what about the lost drugged time?

I recommend a book on ADD and ADHD: It's The A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. Diet!, written by Rachel Bell and Dr. Howard Peiper. I want to include this quote from the book. Although your audience is very savvy, it's a good idea for us all to stop and take a deep breath and think.

"People with ADD/ADHD lack sufficient supplies of neurotransmitters, especially seratonin. Seratonin is manufactured in the brain in the presence of B6 and tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid. If tryptophan and B6 are in short supply, the body cannot make seratonin.

"Therefore, people with ADD/ADHD may require supplements of tryptophan and/or B6. Protein supplies amino acids to the body. If the body contains sufficient protein and tryptophan-rich foods, the supply of amino acids will not usually be a problem. The calcium/magnesium ratio is a key factor, also. Insufficient magnesium can result in high insulin levels, which reduce seratonin. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure an adequate supply of magnesium, in addition to B6 and amino acids."[5]

It goes on. This is one of several books we recommend. The book is short, sweet, and concise.

First, we've got the Indigo constitution. We've got Indigo Masters coming in on a mission, saying: We're going to help this planet shift into the Divine Feminine, one way or another. We're going to do it by coming in and being an example of love. You're going to learn how to treat us, and as you learn how to treat us, you're going to learn how to treat each other with love. I mean, that's the bottom line to all of this. When we learn how to love, be with, and parent the Indigo Child, we're learning how to operate at the highest level with each other. That's what they're teaching us.

So, we've got ADD/ADHD, okay. We've got a new paradigm coming in. They carry a lot of what has been labeled Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It doesn't mean it is. What we're saying to parents is this: Please look at alternatives. We know it's challenging. That's why the book is out, so you can pick it up and look at the list of traits, and you can see that maybe there's not something wrong with your child; that your child is part of this new paradigm.

Now, how do we work with that? That's what the book is filled with healthy alternatives, from diet to techniques.

There are all kinds of choices that parents can look at. Does your child respond to food allergies or environmental poisonings? We all have to get very, very savvy about all of this, and these children are going to force us into doing it for ourselves, as well.

Martin: Because I'm aware of the time restraints we have here, let me ask you: You have a fantastic list on your Website of Montessori and Waldorf schools. And you talk about those as being excellent places for Indigos. What about those Indigos born into families that are economically disadvantaged? What do you say to people who just can't afford that kind of education?

Tober: There have been some wonderful results we've been hearing about with home schooling. There's a group in Houston -- I believe there are about forty families, maybe more, as of this interview -- and they are successfully working with home schooling. That might be an alternative. That certainly would be an inexpensive alternative. They're getting wonderful results, and the children are walking right into Ivy League colleges.

I also know, within my heart of hearts, that there will be other forms of schooling coming up that may be not as cost prohibitive to families who don't have a comfortable income. And I know there is such a huge interest in Indigos, and what we can do to help them, that there are a lot of educators now, who are also metaphysicians, who are joining forces and working on putting this schooling together.

I just worked with a client last week who asked me what I saw for her, and it was very, very clear that she was going to be working as part of this group. This was part of an intuitive counseling session that I did, and it turns out that she is ready to get her degree, and she does have people who are principals and vice principals who want to interface with her. So, where there's one, there's many.

I know that books are stirring. There's this book, and there will be many more. I'm in the process of about four more at this time: one with Lee, and three or four with other people in various areas of education, health, and Indigo-related subjects. We need to get these books out and get the attention of the people, because we must make enough of an inroad to create a wedge of light into the educational system and make space for these children. They are now arriving at such a high percentage that it can't be overlooked anymore.

Martin: Are there any foundations or clearinghouses for information, other than your website, for the Indigos? Is there a central place, or places, that are being established to study and work with these special children?

Tober: My information is that it will just be a matter of time before these are set up. It's too important and it's right in our face; and it's the next step in our evolution. So it will be done. And it is probably being done as we speak.

Martin: You've been around a lot. You've been traveling a lot. What do you think people need to know? What is the most useful information that you can pass on to our readers about this subject?

Tober: There are two words that, if we could say nothing more to you, we would say, in the parenting of the Indigo Child. In relating to the Indigo Child, the two words are: choices and negotiate. If you can remember nothing else, if you do not read our book, please just give them choices, and negotiate everything. I mean, certainly they're not to run rampant over you. But that is the parenting guide. If we can remember that they're here to teach us, that gives more of a balance to those words.

I want to share with your readers what parents can do to make a difference. In addition to giving them choices and negotiating with them, you can make a big difference by guiding them, rather than giving them explicit directions. Treat them and interact with them as your best friend, because in truth, they are. Treat them with respect. Honor their existence in your family. Help them create their own disciplinary solutions. You'll be amazed as a parent what they will come up with. And give them choices about everything. Never belittle them, ever. This is just good parenting advice. If we wanted to be the perfect parent, we would say: This is the list I will follow. So they are very simply saying now is the time, and you get to practice being the perfect parent. Now is the time on the planet to do this.

Always explain why you give them the instructions you do. Never say, Because I said so. Instead, say, Because this will help me today. I'm a bit tired today. I need some help from you. Knowing that honesty will always win out with them because they're intuitive. They know what's going on as you're thinking it.

Make them your partners in raising them. This is extremely important. This goes with choices and negotiation. Make them your partner. Let them know they always have a vote. Be present with them. And, of course, as a friend, as a grown-up family member, we ask always to be present when we're in a situation with people. I mean, that is, Be here now. That's being in the moment. Metaphysicians innately know a lot of this. And explain everything to your children. If you think they don't understand something, know that they do understand at the soul level. And we know we can talk to them before birth. Start early. How about even before conception!

If serious problems develop, and you feel you want to test them for ADD or ADHD, we do not say, Don't go to doctors. What we say in the book is: Look at some alternatives, for instance, diet, supplements, nutrition, homeopathy, chiropractic, and reverse polarity. Look at what's out there holistically. We offer a large list, and access to, alternative authors and alternative teachers to whom you can e-mail your questions and concerns.

Provide safety in your support. Avoid negative criticism. Encourage them in their endeavors. This is all stuff we know. An Indigo is not a follower. Let them decide what they are interested in, and what they want to do. Talk to them, not at them. That, basically, is the information we have found from therapists, from very conscientious parents, from Nancy's work, which seems to really help guide the Indigos.

They know who they are. They come in feeling and knowing. It does not serve us to try to mold them into a pattern that we possibly had to learn to break out of, the pattern of how our parents raised us.

There is a new way of being. There's a new way of parenting, and it's about moving into love. The bottom line is love. Being present, and loving and understanding. In the months and years ahead, we're going to see new school systems where parents and educators work together.

These souls are coming in from the tenth dimension. This dimension is about sound and color, and radiates an opalescent energy. As you think about this, doesn't it set up and paint an interesting lovescape? This says a lot about their amazing energy and going back to honoring the right brain, the arts, the intuitive process, and listening to the children.

Allow their knowledge to flow. Tell them you know who they are so they choose to stay. Create a sacred and harmonious home. This may be achieved by burning sage, burning alcohol and Epsom salts, and certain types of incense. Honor your home as a temple so that your child can come home to a loving parent or parents in clear, loving surroundings.

Even if you're tired, explain this to them. Set aside some special time just for them, when you can be fully present. Always make them feel safe, and let them come home to their best friend, you.