Harming children to make yourself feel good?

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Replies

  • stumblinthrulife
    stumblinthrulife Posts: 2,558 Member
    I'm not someone who fears sugar, but I moderate it in my children's diets just as I do my own. I'm not a grinch about it though - they certainly aren't eating lettuce wraps around the campfire.

    When it comes to excess, it's as much about short term sickness as anything else. My in-laws kept feeding the kids candy on a visit once. We kept asking them to dial it back a bit or the kids would get sick. They did not. Sure enough, by the evening both kids were vomiting everywhere.

    Now they listen to us when we say it's time to back off the candy.
  • wardances
    wardances Posts: 42
    I agree. A lot of people food is harmful to animals. Chocolate for example can kill dogs.

    Yes. If a chihuahua ate a pound of chocolate it would die. Heck I'd get sick if I ate a pound of chocolate! :laugh: '

    If a dog accidentally eats some and it's not in a huge quantity they're not going to die from it.

    My mother-in-law has two large German shepherd dogs. They once managed to eat a medium sized pan of brownies to themselves. Yep, they're still alive. Then again they also eat through Tupperware, a manual breast pump, and pretty much anything else they can get their teeth on. Her dogs are resilient! :laugh:
  • icyeyes317
    icyeyes317 Posts: 226 Member
    Instead of focusing on the 'omg one more cookie is going to kill them', make them GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY. If it's cold, come up with fun, indoor moving activities. I grew up in Ohio. When it was bitter cold, and we got antsy, we played 'baseball' in the living room, and roller-skated in the kitchen. Our parents would have us do silly things like jumping jack competitions, or 'how many times can you run up and down the stairs before you feel silly'. It worked to keep us not only healthy, but from being bored to tears.
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    I agree. A lot of people food is harmful to animals. Chocolate for example can kill dogs.

    Yes. If a chihuahua ate a pound of chocolate it would die. Heck I'd get sick if I ate a pound of chocolate! :laugh: '

    If a dog accidentally eats some and it's not in a huge quantity they're not going to die from it.

    My mother-in-law has two large German shepherd dogs. They once managed to eat a medium sized pan of brownies to themselves. Yep, they're still alive. Then again they also eat through Tupperware, a manual breast pump, and pretty much anything else they can get their teeth on. Her dogs are resilient! :laugh:

    That's my dad's dog. She's eaten a tray of chocolate fudge, purses, shoes, toys, lipstick, sunglasses ($150 pair that was ON TOP of the fridge), drywall, furniture, carpet and her favorite, paper products. I joke that she is like a billygoat, lives off garbage.
  • Escloflowne
    Escloflowne Posts: 2,038 Member
    Strong title. Curious where this thread goes.

    The derp is strong with this one.

    Rude!
  • FindingMyPerfection
    FindingMyPerfection Posts: 702 Member
    I agree. A lot of people food is harmful to animals. Chocolate for example can kill dogs.

    Yes. If a chihuahua ate a pound of chocolate it would die. Heck I'd get sick if I ate a pound of chocolate! :laugh: '

    If a dog accidentally eats some and it's not in a huge quantity they're not going to die from it.
    It takes less dark chocolate to be harmful, but most people aren't keeping real dark chocolate around as holiday treats, so the danger is pretty low.

    I know moe than one dog that ate entire Easter baskets full of chocolate and didn't even get the sniffles.
    Keep the turkey out of reach!

    I was letting my turkey rest before I carved it and my dog ate the whole thing, bones and all! He licked the platter clean without making a sound. He had diarrhea for two days. Luckily the bones didn't cause any medical problems but the mess was gross!
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I agree. A lot of people food is harmful to animals. Chocolate for example can kill dogs.

    Yes. If a chihuahua ate a pound of chocolate it would die. Heck I'd get sick if I ate a pound of chocolate! :laugh: '

    If a dog accidentally eats some and it's not in a huge quantity they're not going to die from it.

    My mother-in-law has two large German shepherd dogs. They once managed to eat a medium sized pan of brownies to themselves. Yep, they're still alive. Then again they also eat through Tupperware, a manual breast pump, and pretty much anything else they can get their teeth on. Her dogs are resilient! :laugh:
    Our shepherd/husky mix puppy when I was a kid ate a lightbulb. He was fine.

    Little stinkers, they are.
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
    Your self-righteousness is harming my eyeballs to make you feel superior to everyone else.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    The holidays come once a year. All the playing with family and friends is sure to burn significant calories.

    However, I will agree that no one should be giving your kids anything behind your back. If you have specifically said not to, then that's just rude, but not necessarily harm-inducing. My mom did that to me on more than one occassion. But you know what, my kids are perfectly healthy in spite of it. And you know what else, I probably spoil my kids worse than anyone.

    So lighten up a little! The holidays are meant to be a time of joy and celebration. You can feed your kids carrot sticks and wheat germ all of the rest of the year.
  • WhiteGirlWasted13
    WhiteGirlWasted13 Posts: 178 Member
    ::shudder::

    I get where you're coming from, sort of, but like someone else said, you can't control everything in your kid's life. If your holidays are that busy that you are going to six different places in one day, maybe you need to re-evaluate your priorities.

    Why not compromise? Tell the kid or host/hostess that little Suzy can choose one treat while visiting. And make sure you're allowing little Suzy to run around and just be a kid. As long as she's getting plenty of fresh air and exercise, and doesn't have any food allergies, I don't see the harm.

    It's Christmastime. If you can't relax a little bit right now, I truly feel sorry for you and your children.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    NO.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Does anyone else want to go find the OP's kids and give them entire packages of cookies?
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    People I don't want to be around during the holidays (or any other time): sugar Nazis.

    It's one thing to not let your kids eat candy every day. It's entirely another to tell your kids' grandparents and aunts and uncle not to give them a freaking cookie at Christmas. Unless your kid has an allergy, I think you should get over it.
  • wardances
    wardances Posts: 42
    Does anyone else want to go find the OP's kids and give them entire packages of cookies?

    I have 6 bags of chocolate chips and I can make some mean chocolate chip cookies. So, yeah, I'm with ya. :bigsmile:
  • AmykinsCatfood
    AmykinsCatfood Posts: 599 Member
    I have a dog (not exactly the same thing) but you would be amazed how many people think it's ok to give an animal people food. Anytime I go to a social gather I make it clear to everyone that it is not OK to feed my dog anything. I think it's a parent's responsibility (or pet owner) to have that talk with family/friends. Don't just assume that everyone should know.

    I agree. A lot of people food is harmful to animals. Chocolate for example can kill dogs.

    Macadamia nuts and a lot of seeds and pits of fruit can as well. There's a list a mile long.
  • pwittek10
    pwittek10 Posts: 723 Member
    We never allow our dogs people food, it is not good for them
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    Jeez..
  • metaphoria
    metaphoria Posts: 1,432 Member
    I think a good rule with children is to ask parents, first. If you don't know about allergies, or the child has already been given treats, or their parents said no to something already, just a quick check can avoid problems, later.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    We never allow our dogs people food, it is not good for them
    True. A piece of steak is TERRIBLE for a dog. I mean, why would you feed a dog meat? It's not as though that's what they're built to eat or anything.
  • Fullsterkur_woman
    Fullsterkur_woman Posts: 2,712 Member
    It's almost as if people who want to control what goes into their kids' faceholes should watch them themselves, or at least pre-emptively make their wishes clear to the people they're leaving them in the care/custody of... :huh:
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    Wow, this post makes me want to give my son a hug and a big cookie.
  • Escloflowne
    Escloflowne Posts: 2,038 Member
    We never allow our dogs people food, it is not good for them
    True. A piece of steak is TERRIBLE for a dog. I mean, why would you feed a dog meat? It's not as though that's what they're built to eat or anything.

    That doesn't make sense, dogs are carnivores!
  • melham
    melham Posts: 233 Member
    Wow, this post makes me want to give my son a big and a cookie.
    If your son isn't immediately available, I'll take the big cookie. :happy:
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    In for the comments
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    We never allow our dogs people food, it is not good for them
    True. A piece of steak is TERRIBLE for a dog. I mean, why would you feed a dog meat? It's not as though that's what they're built to eat or anything.

    That doesn't make sense, dogs are carnivores!
    But it's people food. People food is bad for dogs. They must only eat dog food.
  • KombuchaCat
    KombuchaCat Posts: 834 Member
    Depends on the child...if they have a weight problem and the parents are trying to get a handle on it then yes, I would say don't offer sweets. However if the child is in good health and it's a rare occasion thing like the holidays live a little...what are grandparents supposed to do if not spoil thier grandchildren. Just be sure that food is not the only way love is shown.
  • icyeyes317
    icyeyes317 Posts: 226 Member
    Does anyone else want to go find the OP's kids and give them entire packages of cookies?

    Yep. Sure do.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    We never allow our dogs people food, it is not good for them
    True. A piece of steak is TERRIBLE for a dog. I mean, why would you feed a dog meat? It's not as though that's what they're built to eat or anything.

    That doesn't make sense, dogs are carnivores!
    Actually, they're omnivores. Cats are carnivores. One of my dogs get super excited for frozen mixed vegetables. The other much prefers cheese.
  • Escloflowne
    Escloflowne Posts: 2,038 Member
    We never allow our dogs people food, it is not good for them
    True. A piece of steak is TERRIBLE for a dog. I mean, why would you feed a dog meat? It's not as though that's what they're built to eat or anything.

    That doesn't make sense, dogs are carnivores!
    But it's people food. People food is bad for dogs. They must only eat dog food.

    How is it people food? cows aren't only for humans!
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    Grandparents and aunties especially, and friends and relatives everywhere - please, please, please, please, please ask parents first BEFORE offering children sweets and treats!!!!! And NEVER sneak them treats when parents say no.

    Of course you're not harming them on purpose, but a diet with too many cookies, cakes, candy and sweets is never good for anyone, especially children, especially when they are busy - and there are a lot of "special visits" during the holidays, so your offer might be a child's sixth cookie for the day.

    Kids don't yet have the ability to make considered choices about their nutrition; their parents do. If you're going around Mom and Dad to feed them high calorie, nutritionally void food - you're getting your own, warm, fuzzy, heart warming smile, "thank you," and, "I love you," AT THEIR EXPENSE - in straight, harsh terms: YOU ARE HARMING THEM TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL GOOD. STOP.

    If you feed your kids a healthy diet all year long and ensure they are active, a few instances of indulgence isn't going to have negative effects on their health. Perhaps you need to re-evaluate the food you are offering as a parent instead of blaming extended family members for giving them sweets a few times a year, or you need to put on your big girl pants and set limits with your family members instead of lecturing other people on the internet. In straight, harsh terms: YOU ARE PROJECTING AND BLAMING OTHERS TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER. STOP.

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