First, thanks for all the wonderful comments. It is never easy to share something that you aren’t proud of, but having hands go up immediately as people rapidly tap their feet and squeal, “Ooh, ooh, me too. Me too!” certainly makes it easier. All that said, please understand, I am not beating myself up about a bit of moodiness. I was just taking the opportunity to own up to something that I figured was actually pretty common. Alls well that ends well, no?
On to the next thing…I was just checking my email and in one of the 6 or 7 headlines that Yahoo feeds me, I had something catch my eye and then light my Mama-fire.
We are killing our children. I’ll go ahead and let you know, the link is about the calorie count in “kids meals” at national chains. I am too angry right now to share a well thought out opinion on the state of children’s fitness in our country. I can say this, one of my favorite pictures from my childhood is one of me running across a gymnasium, my classmates in front, behind and alongside me. Our arms are in various positions of pumping, our legs bent, feet digging for the next stride. Our faces are alive; joyous and determined. This photo, which my mom had beautifully framed, sits on Sean’s desk.
The thing that makes me angriest about what is happening to kids now is that they do not know this joy. I used to wait, squirming in my seat, for P.E. I would get so excited at the prospect of running, of shouting to my classmates and participating wholeheartedly in whatever activity our teacher, Mrs. Bendix (don’t even get me started on the fun we had with that name), had planned. My proudest moment was the day I finally made it all the way up the rope and pounded the index card with my name onto the ceiling. Triumph.
There is no triumph now. Kids don’t get the chance to love physical activity. They are either not exposed to it, or by the time they are there is already a burden they carry, excess weight holding them back, the provenance of which can be directly traced to their parents’ poor choices.
Can we all just work a little harder at giving them a fair shot? Can we sit down at the dinner table together? Can we walk to the park? Can we start giving a shit? We are talking about their whole lives, it starts now. Be fair.
One of the things that I really, really strive for is to maintain a healthy balance for my kids. I want them to have healthy, nutritious meals – but I also don't want them idealizing junk and snack foods, like I did as a child. My parents had banned outright all unhealthy foods, and as a result, my brothers and I have trouble striking a healthy balance in our own diets, even NOW.
We went to a family reunion on the weekend, and almost EVERY KID THERE was fat. Good grief, people.
amen, Amanda. I remember growing up, my mom always tried so hard to keep us healthy, only to have my Dad undo it all.
Amen sister! I, too, felt the accomplishment of reaching the top of the rope in gym class, and the competition of "play days" (i.e. track and field day with a bunch of other activities). The easy way out for my family would be to allow The Boy to sit in front of the "t" all day long– especially when it is 100 degrees outside– but each day, I find an activity outdoors or take him someplace to PLAY instead of veg. Top that with healthy eating, and I really believe i am giving him a headstart!
One more think (in this LONG comment). We were at the doctor's office for a check on The Boy's tubes, and my husband commented on all of the overweight kids in the waiting room. The sad part… each overweight child had an overweight parent accompanying them. I feel badly for the kids.
Amen, Mama.
I'm ashamed to say that we frequent fast food restaurants and sometimes chain restaurants about one lunch and one dinner per week. It's a treat for me to not cook and it's a treat for the kids. I do, however, insist on milk and they choose veggies and/or fruit in lieu of fries (which Daddy usually gets and shares with all of us so we each get a taste). Lately I've been picking a meal big enough to split with one or both of my kids to decrease the caloric count for all of us… sometimes, though, that doesn't work as they aren't always up for expanding their horizons where different foods are concerned.
We also indulge in healthier versions of things like cheetos and oreos ~ so the kids don't feel deprived but also don't reap the consequences of bad food choices.
I have one super skinny boy (like see his ribs when he's not even sucking in skinny) and one boy that is more average weight but built like me and will have to always be conscientious of his diet.
But play outside, we do. In fact, I can't remember the last time the TV was on during the day or even evening for that matter. We're too busy riding bikes, walking to the park, playing baseball in the back yard, jumping on the trampoline, going swimming and even hitting golf balls in the park. The older they get, the more active they are. I love it!
It breaks my heart to see overweight kids everywhere. I imagine them spending most of their time playing video games and watching cartoons when they could be having fun with kids outdoors.
Sorry for the long ass comment~ this one hit close to home aparently. 😉
We were just talking about this yesterday; the ratio of heavy children now, in Big A's class, compared to when HRH and I were kids, and it is because they aren't encouraged to go outside and play anymore…at least that's what we thought.
We decided to have an "outdoor" day once a week–a day, where, no matter what, we get them outside doing something athletic and energetic.
Hi – new to your blog – found it from a friends site – anyway – i'm not a mom but I totally agree with you that we are literally killing our kids with junk food and lack of exercise. I had dinner with my 2 year old great niece a few weeks ago and watched in horror as my sister in law gave her a PESPSI!! She's 2!!! As a pop addict (and the bad teeth to prove it) I couldn't help but say something – but her response? Her mom gives it to her all the time. Well, then – I guess that makes it ok! Uggghhh.. I know in or crazed world it's often easier just to say yes to the soft drinks and fast food – but my parents managed to have dinner on the table every night – come on people . . .
I tickled my girl last night and was surprised that her legs are all muscle. And of course they are. All she does is run and swim and ride her bike this time of year.
I can be such a slug, but I am earnestly trying to be a good example, suggesting hikes and taking them to jazzercise with me – nothing like watching mom sweat – because I am so alarmed the trends we just accept as the norm. Like there's nothing we can do…Ack.
(We are lagging on the reading front this summer. I guess I can't do it all, all the time.)
Great post.
Amen. I carry that provenance and my goal as a parent is too break the chain. I may be all hormonal and pregnant, but I so feel you on this and of course you made me tear up again.
well said!
I love your last question. Can we start giving a shit? I sure hope so. Bad habits start EARLY and that means we do have to take responsibility.
Amen, friend.
I clicked over to the article first. One line really stood out to me:
…good eating habits and healthy living must be established in the home.
It's actually really easy to avoid the high-calorie Happy Meals and such: don't eat there. Or make it a very rare, sometimes treat.
I know there are larger problems, that our society is plying our kids with sugar, salt and calorie overload at home. One of the best tricks I have found for getting my kids enthusiastic about trying new (and healthy) foods is to get them helping out in the kitchen. If they make it, they will try it. And, perhaps, they will even like it.
Hi there…I read you all of the time but don't often comment. While I am not a mom, I do know exactly what you mean when it comes to kids and food. I work in a children's hospital and the number of overweight kids is staggering. So much so that there is a Lifestyles Clinic now dedicated to obese kids. They learn to do outdoor activities, read food labels, etc. They also have blood work and other tests run to make sure there's nothing out of the ordinary going on.
On the other end of the spectrum, I work with eating disorder adolescents. It's a hard world to navigate isn't it?
I agree with you and this post however. Good eating habits begin at home.
Oh I so agree with you on this one. I feel so sad – and angry – at the poor choices people make for their kids. It's so disheartening to read and hear about kids' poor health and lack of activity.
We have vowed from the beginning to teach healthy living to our girls. To this day, neither has had soda or even one bite of fast food. Extreme? Maybe, but at ages 3 and 5 they don't need it and don't miss it. My hope is by the time they do have it, it won't taste good to them (too salty, too oily, too sweet). That doesn't mean we're perfect by any means. They get a "treat" after dinner every night,but we hope they're learning that some foods are "anytime" foods and others are only "sometimes" foods.
I am way too lax when it comes to allowing the junk food to permeate in our household. I won't defend it. However, we're big on moving around here. During the summer, the kids are swimming three times a day. And I enforce "forced marches" (i.e., hiking) several times a week. I'm always sad and troubled to see the overweight kids with zero energy. I don't remember many from my childhood.