My twelve-year old is currently taking health class in middle school. I must tell you that the dinnertime conversations this week have been peppered with some fascinating tidbits. I nearly choked on my chicken the other day when I got questions pertaining to menopause. Really? As if they don’t have enough to worry about in their young, hormonal, over programmed and pressured lives? This week they are currently learning about infectious diseases. Now we are in fear of Diphtheria, Lockjaw, Tuberculosis, and Rubella. Seriously, did the teacher forget to tell them about disease control and oh, I don’t know, IMMUNIZATIONS? Today’s disease du jour is HIV/AIDS. Hmmm, I’m thinking pasta would be an appropriate side dish to accompany a serving of sexually transmitted disease table talk. Last week, they studied addictions, which is what brought this jewel of a conversation to the forefront. “Mom, are you addicted to coffee?” “Yes,“said my husband. “No, I’m not ad