Parents Please Wake Up

You get into dangerous territory when you try to put your views onto other's parenting.... U.N. Convention on the Rights of a Child, which thank God the U.S. has not yet ratified....calls it abuse to circumcise your infant male children. It would be against the law to "indoctrinate" your children into your faith.

Someone mentioned "verbal abuse." What's verbal abuse? What I call verbal abuse, you may not. Spanking a child is physical abuse to some-- to others it's proper, biblical discipline.

No, I don't know the OP but I agree with much of what she said. I have personally known children whose lives were made miserable and lonely due to obesity. And I have a special needs grandson born with congenital GI problems. He is frequently hospitalized at a promient east coast (US) children's hospital. Since he is often on the GI surgery ward I have seen the children in the bariatric surgery ward and it is hearbreaking. Food can definitely be an instrument of abuse for children.

Have you read every one of their chart notes? Are you fully aware that the reasons those children could be in the hospital because of gentics and not because their parents are force feeding them McDonalds? Or other reasons unknown to you? How easily you judge that situation.

Just because you went into one hospital doesnt make it true for the rest of the world.

If it were genetics what would be the point of the surgery? Bariatric surgery is to force less food to be eaten and would only be a remedy if the cause was too much food.

If you want to believe it's impossible to abuse children with food, or that parents have a right to do so, then I find that unfortunate.

I find the way your trying to get your point across annoying.

I am a parent. And think that word abuse should not be taken lightly.

Like I previously stated because you went into one hospital that does not mean its every where.

And like i stated previously its a lack of education not abuse. These parents dont know how to be parents because their parents probably didnt know how to be parents.

If a child is so obese and has be taken to a hopsital I would hope someone to step in and educate them.


You and I are the same side here. Its your wording.

Abuse and lack of education= two different things.

Does hitting your child and over feeding them balance out the same way?

I do agree that to a certain point parents are responsible for what their kids eat. I have an incredibly active four year old, and if he were obese I would definitely be the one to blame because HE IS FOUR YEARS OLD! After a certain point, though, parents cannot control what their kids eat all the time. The best we can do is lead by example. That's why when I take my son to the park in the afternoons I don't bring a book and park my butt on a bench and watch him play. I get out there and play with him! We play hide and seek, tag, we race, I even bring my basketball so I can shoot some hoops. My son sees me eating the healthy food I am telling him to eat, and he sees me working out everyday. I am doing the best I can with the knowledge I have, and I think most parents are doing the same.:happy:

Looove this! I agree. Except sometimes I DO park my butt on the bench, lol. Trying to change that, though.

I take breaks too Trying to keep up with a kid on a playground is a workout in itself...lol

Thanks. I didn't think it was either. I just don't think that someone who isn't a parent, or anyone for that matter, should judge the way other parents raise their children.

Never?

Never.

totally agree-- but this should be interesting........

Never judge a parent for how they raise their children? Never ever? What if the child is being raised in a harmful environment? Just curious.

You're taking what I said too literally. If the child is really being abused verbally or physically, of course you have that right to call his or her parent a bad parent. However, when it comes to what a child eats or how the child is raised, that is not anyone's place to judge.

Those statements are contradictory.

How so?

If a child is being abused then how they are being raise is reason to be judged. How a child is raised is not anyone's place to judge. How are those not contradictory?

Thanks. I didn't think it was either. I just don't think that someone who isn't a parent, or anyone for that matter, should judge the way other parents raise their children.

Never?

Never.

totally agree-- but this should be interesting........

Never judge a parent for how they raise their children? Never ever? What if the child is being raised in a harmful environment? Just curious.

You're taking what I said too literally. If the child is really being abused verbally or physically, of course you have that right to call his or her parent a bad parent. However, when it comes to what a child eats or how the child is raised, that is not anyone's place to judge.

Those statements are contradictory.

How so?

If a child is being abused then how they are being raise is reason to be judged. How a child is raised is not anyone's place to judge. How are those not contradictory?

You're just being arrogant. You can certainly tell what I meant by what I said. A child isn't being raised at all if they are being abused on a daily basis. Abuse and the way a child is being raised are not the same thing.

agreed X's 25!!! I totally understand this which is why when my kids get chips, candy, or fast food, it is in moderation and when they do get it, I give them "kid portions". I grew up eating whatever, not necessarily fast food all the time, but a lot of food several times a day. I was 150 lbs in 5th grade, and although I stayed between 170-185 in high school, I should have been around 150 then. I am now working on not accepting being obese and blaming genetics, but am taking control of the obesity problem in my family and setting the example that we do not HAVE to be fat. I believe that leading by example really is the only way. Now don't get me wrong, we will always be a thick family, but 200 lbs + is excessive, and they need to know this.

No, I don't know the OP but I agree with much of what she said. I have personally known children whose lives were made miserable and lonely due to obesity. And I have a special needs grandson born with congenital GI problems. He is frequently hospitalized at a promient east coast (US) children's hospital. Since he is often on the GI surgery ward I have seen the children in the bariatric surgery ward and it is hearbreaking. Food can definitely be an instrument of abuse for children.

Have you read every one of their chart notes? Are you fully aware that the reasons those children could be in the hospital because of gentics and not because their parents are force feeding them McDonalds? Or other reasons unknown to you? How easily you judge that situation.

Just because you went into one hospital doesnt make it true for the rest of the world.

If it were genetics what would be the point of the surgery? Bariatric surgery is to force less food to be eaten and would only be a remedy if the cause was too much food.

If you want to believe it's impossible to abuse children with food, or that parents have a right to do so, then I find that unfortunate.

I find the way your trying to get your point across annoying.

I am a parent. And think that word abuse should not be taken lightly.

Like I previously stated because you went into one hospital that does not mean its every where.

And like i stated previously its a lack of education not abuse. These parents dont know how to be parents because their parents probably didnt know how to be parents.

If a child is so obese and has be taken to a hopsital I would hope someone to step in and educate them.


You and I are the same side here. Its your wording.

Abuse and lack of education= two different things.

Does hitting your child and over feeding them balance out the same way?

Sorry you find my way of speaking annoying but I'm too old to care to change that now.
I too am a parent and believe abuse should not be taken lightly or for granted, and I DON"T.
A lack of education on nutrition to the point of making a child obese and sick is abusive. If you are parent and doing this it is your responsibility to educate yourself and get your child well.
Hitting your child and over feeding them can both be abusive and can both not be abusive, and both can have just as negative affects on the child's life.

Oh my I had no idea there would be such nastiness in this thread.
Can't you see this poster has been abused and wants to prevent it from happening to other unsuspecting children? Even though her parents did not intentionaly do it, they did it. Awareness is half the battle.
Her life could have been very different. But her life is hers now and she is obviously ,fiercely, taking control and doing something about it!!
You GO Girl!!
Pay no attention to the jerky ones.
Deb

Great observation.
You can clearly see in these sniveling excuses why America has an epidemic of child obesity.

silly comment to make--

I'd be tempted to draw another conclusion-- but again, my views are controversial and I'd no doubt be called a flamer because I haven't the time to sit here and argue about stuff-- 'specially when it wouldn't change minds.

Suffice it to say that a parent has every right to feed the kid as he sees fit. The original poster certainly has a right to bemoan what she sees as bad choices made by parents-- but, it's really bad form form for people to throw parents under the bus-- you know, back the heck off people-- you don't like how people feed their kids? Don't feed yours that way.

I do agree with the point that the parents influence the kids eating habits. I also agree that it is not so simple as saying 'Feed your kids better food'.

I'd suggest Googling the term 'food desert' and reading up on this concept. There are people who end up eating junk daily not necessarily because the food is cheaper (which ounce for ounce it's not) but when you factor in transportation, some people do not have ACCESS to grocery stores when all they have within walking distance (because some people do not own cars, or have the storage space to store a lot of groceries) are fast-food places and convenience stores.

I also agree that lack of activity is a big issue, and part of it is our culture of fear. I do NOT think that the world is much more dangerous than it ever was (although I have the privilege of living in a small town on a not-so-busy street.. others are not that lucky) but that we are so saturated with messages of kids getting kidnapped and molested that we are hyper-aware of the risks that have frankly, always been there.

Get to know your neighbors. I think we need to foster the 'village to raise a child mentality' so that we can go back to the days when we COULD let kids out for hours at a time. And turn off the TV, cause not only does it make the kids fat, it makes the parents paranoid.

I agree 100%! I read somewhere that child abductions are actually lower now than back in the 70's when I was running around my neighborhood without a care in the world. Still doesn't mean that I don't have the same fears, I think it is a knee-jerk reaction to the constant barrage of information we have streaming into our lives, thanks to technology.

Sorry you find my way of speaking annoying but I'm too old to care to change that now.
I too am a parent and believe abuse should not be taken lightly or for granted, and I DON"T.
A lack of education on nutrition to the point of making a child obese and sick is abusive. If you are parent and doing this it is your responsibility to educate yourself and get your child well.
Hitting your child and over feeding them can both be abusive and can both not be abusive, and both can have just as negative affects on the child's life.
[/quote]


I'd rather see a chunky healthy child than a bruised one.

How can someone who doesnt know that they are doing anything wrong educate themselves?

Like someone eles stated they need to be judged but only to educate and be positive change in the world.

I see your point of view but I disagree with you once again.

"Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child.[1] In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Children And Families (DCF) define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.[2] Child abuse can occur in a child's home, or in the organizations, schools or communities the child interacts with. There are four major categories of child abuse: neglect, physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, and child sexual abuse.

Different jurisdictions have developed their own definitions of what constitutes child abuse for the purposes of removing a child from his/her family and/or prosecuting a criminal charge. According to the Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect, child abuse is "any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm".[3] A person who feels the need to abuse or neglect a child may be described as a "pedopath".[4]

I dont see anything in there about how if you feed your child McDonalds its abuse.

Again I think healthy eatting is the proper way to go. I just dont think its abuse.

just saying.

Sorry you find my way of speaking annoying but I'm too old to care to change that now.
I too am a parent and believe abuse should not be taken lightly or for granted, and I DON"T.
A lack of education on nutrition to the point of making a child obese and sick is abusive. If you are parent and doing this it is your responsibility to educate yourself and get your child well.
Hitting your child and over feeding them can both be abusive and can both not be abusive, and both can have just as negative affects on the child's life.

I'd rather see a chunky healthy child than a bruised one.

How can someone who doesnt know that they are doing anything wrong educate themselves?

Like someone eles stated they need to be judged but only to educate and be positive change in the world.

I see your point of view but I disagree with you once again.

"Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child.[1] In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Children And Families (DCF) define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.[2] Child abuse can occur in a child's home, or in the organizations, schools or communities the child interacts with. There are four major categories of child abuse: neglect, physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, and child sexual abuse.

Different jurisdictions have developed their own definitions of what constitutes child abuse for the purposes of removing a child from his/her family and/or prosecuting a criminal charge. According to the Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect, child abuse is "any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm".[3] A person who feels the need to abuse or neglect a child may be described as a "pedopath".[4]

I dont see anything in there about how if you feed your child McDonalds its abuse.

Again I think healthy eatting is the proper way to go. I just dont think its abuse.

just saying.
[/quote]

This.

If a child is being abused then how they are being raise is reason to be judged. How a child is raised is not anyone's place to judge. How are those not contradictory?

Never judge? That's ABSURD!
I judge, because it's this very attitude that has caused the nation, including out kids, to become a nation of obese, miserable people. We need to judge!
[/quote]

I hope you realize some of my posts in this thread were meant to be taken somewhat tounge-in- cheek. The fact is as parents it seems we're judged on every little thing. It's somewhat redic.

My weight loss journey actually started when I became a mother. I realized that my life, my physique,health issues were not ones I wanted my son to inherit. So I changed for him. Both my kids are happy, healthy and active. It's important for me to model proper habits for them... that includes eating certain foods in moderation. I see real abuse every day. Improper nutrition because of lack of education is not abuse.

Sorry you find my way of speaking annoying but I'm too old to care to change that now.
I too am a parent and believe abuse should not be taken lightly or for granted, and I DON"T.
A lack of education on nutrition to the point of making a child obese and sick is abusive. If you are parent and doing this it is your responsibility to educate yourself and get your child well.
Hitting your child and over feeding them can both be abusive and can both not be abusive, and both can have just as negative affects on the child's life.

I'd rather see a chunky healthy child than a bruised one.

How can someone who doesnt know that they are doing anything wrong educate themselves?

Like someone eles stated they need to be judged but only to educate and be positive change in the world.

I see your point of view but I disagree with you once again.

"Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child.[1] In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Children And Families (DCF) define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.[2] Child abuse can occur in a child's home, or in the organizations, schools or communities the child interacts with. There are four major categories of child abuse: neglect, physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, and child sexual abuse.

Different jurisdictions have developed their own definitions of what constitutes child abuse for the purposes of removing a child from his/her family and/or prosecuting a criminal charge. According to the Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect, child abuse is "any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm".[3] A person who feels the need to abuse or neglect a child may be described as a "pedopath".[4]

I dont see anything in there about how if you feed your child McDonalds its abuse.

Again I think healthy eatting is the proper way to go. I just dont think its abuse.

just saying.

[/quote]

A chunky healthy child would obviously not be a child fed to point of obesity and abuse, correct?
Though the OP may have mentioned McD, I never have said or implied anything about McD.
A bruise or broken bone is not the only way to abuse a child. This seems to be something we disagree on.

A chunky healthy child would obviously not be a child fed to point of obesity and abuse, correct?
Though the OP may have mentioned McD, I never have said or implied anything about McD.
A bruise or broken bone is not the only way to abuse a child. This seems to be something we disagree on.

Abuse is something that is done with malicious and cruel intent. Parents are not saying to themselves, "I'm going to feed my kids junkfood on purpose until they become obese!" It is unintentional. Therefore, this would not be considered abuse.

A chunky healthy child would obviously not be a child fed to point of obesity and abuse, correct?
Though the OP may have mentioned McD, I never have said or implied anything about McD.
A bruise or broken bone is not the only way to abuse a child. This seems to be something we disagree on.

Abuse is something that is done with malicious and cruel intent. Parents are not saying to themselves, "I'm going to feed my kids junkfood on purpose until they become obese!" It is unintentional. Therefore, this would not be considered abuse.

EXACTLY right on the nose.


I see what your sayin BC but ABUSE is done with cruel intent. These parents are NOT being cruel. Unless you know each one of them personally?