More on Fat Kids
Wow, I’ve gotten some great comments on the “fat kids” post! Thanks, everyone, for your support and input!
First, a clarification of that post, just so y’all don’t think I’m a horrible mom. (Or maybe to confirm it!) I do allow snacks if meals are going to be delayed or on special occasions. And if they complain that they are hungry, I will give them something to tide them over to the next meal. I used to let them snack freely, but then they wouldn’t eat their regular meals, so I cut back on the snacking. For some kids, especially those with blood sugar issues, snacks might be a necessity.
I agree 100 percent with those who said that today’s kids aren’t active enough. It is very true that there are parents and care-providers who use television, computers, and video games as a way to keep the kids occupied and out of their hair. I tend to forget about that aspect of the problem because my kids can’t sit still for long, and I don’t encourage them to watch a lot of television or videos. For rainy days, I have a couple of “movies” that encourage them to get up and move, like the Wiggles and Raffi. They love to dance along with those!
We have a playset in the back yard — one of those all-in-one playground things — slide, glider, swings, sandbox, hand-over-hand bars, rope wall, rock wall — so they get quite a workout there. They have bikes and balls to play with, too. Of course, it’s tougher on me because they have to be watched when they are out there, as opposed to plugging in a movie and going off to do my own thing.
Where we live, it’s really wet and cold during most of November through April, so I bought a thing called a Jumpolene that we can set up in the living room for the kids to jump away their energy. They love it and it’s great exercise for them. I recently bought some balls that you can put in it to make a ball pit, and I can’t wait for the next yucky day so I can pull that out and surprise them. And we love to walk down to the neighborhood park to play. We go to the zoo often in the spring and fall. (Visiting the exhibits there one day netted me 8 miles on my pedometer!)
It’s hard to find time to fit a lot of that kind of thing in, but I find that parenting is hard work, not a part-time endeavor. And maybe that’s part of the problem. There’s just not enough time for parents to be parents these days, and if being a parent is not your top priority, doing the less immediate things can slip to the bottom of your mountain of stuff to do. And single moms have it even harder because there’s no one to split the responsibility with. When I was married, I could ask that my husband take the boys to the park, or into the backyard to play while I cooked supper, cleaned the bathroom, or went to the doctor. I can’t do that now.
I know that a lot of parents can’t provide the physical equipment for their kids, for one reason or another, but I definitely believe that it is important to get the kids moving. Even if you can’t get the equipment, you can limit movies and video games, give them responsibilities that require them to move, and take them to the local park to walk, run, or play tag. Come to think of it, that’s probably a good prescription for me. I can’t remember the last time I played tag!
5 Comments
Please Forgive Me Editormum!
When I made the comment “what a horrible Mother,” that was directed at myself. I was just parroting what I heard during the 2 years that I kept my daughter from eating sugar. After the 2 years was up, I gave her sugar treats in small amounts, and now I don’t have to worry about her going overboard on sweets because she developed such a liking for the good stuff during her first 2 years.
I am so sorry you thought I was talking about you! I would never tell anyone they were a horrible Mother, even if I disagreed with their parenting styles. Hope I’ve cleared things up.
Oh gosh, no apology needed! I was just joining you! I’m definitely a “horrible mom,” if that means someone who cares what her kids put in their mouths. I can’t tell you how many ugly looks I’ve gotten from people when I said, “No, my son doesn’t need that cookie.” Not to mention the ugly looks my son gives me! And I did actually overhear one person, at church of all places, say “What a horrible mom” when I refused to bring a bag of candy for my son’s class treats.
So no apology needed at all. You and I, and who knows how many others, are proud members of the most important group of outcasts on earth: The Horrible Moms!
Our Creed: I am a horrible mom, and I’m proud of it! If being a horrible mom means that I’m doing all I can to see that my kids grow up healthy, intelligent, and of strong moral fiber, then I will be the horriblest horrible mom of them all!
Let’s keep on being horrible; I’m convinced that one day our kids will shout our praises from the rooftops.
Whew! Now I understand what you were saying … glad we are on the same page now!
Responsibilities. . .
Now that is an interesting topic and would gain you a whole new set of comments. I have met parents who believe children shouldn’t have any responsibilities beyond going to school and playing.
I had a neighbor once who would actually come over and pick up her kids soda cans/water bottles out of the yard because she knew I expected children playing at my house to pick up after themselves. That was awkward.
When I was a youngster, I was raised by my grandparents, their thoughts on responsibilities were the exact opposite. We had morning chores, evening chores, and at least half a day Saturday chores. None of them were beyond our capabilities, but at the time, we felt like slaves.
Did you have any idea you were opening such a can of worms?
No, I didn’t know I’d open such a big can of worms, but I sure am glad I did!
We had chores too, and we, too, felt like slaves. But, oh! the difference to us! I see people my own age in the work world who were never taught to work. They really struggle. I, on the other hand, tend to overdo.
I’ll never forget the time a friend of my mom’s was visiting our house. The phone rang, and I answered it. The friend’s 20-year-old son was calling around trying to find his mom because he was hungry! I was about 24 at the time, and I remember saying “You’re a big boy; you know where the fridge is, don’t you?” The silence on the phone was deafening, and his mother looked at me as if I were an alien! It was the funniest darn thing I’d ever seen!