Calling All Parents!

[stregadelsol]

EDIT: I did NOT mean to say I thought this was the gospel. I mean to say, there is not enough emphasis on this particular topic, and if you find one of the 10 that speaks to you that you know you'd like to focus on, then it was worth posting this

Comments

[mhaithaca]

There are some valid thoughts here, but 7 and 9 are clearly contradictory, and I think she edges a little too far into the dangerous realm of over-inclusive political correctness. Certainly avoid negativity in describing people, but her cutesy "Someone who needs to try Turbo Jam" misses the point that you can admit you or someone else is overweight or out of shape without making the person the problem.

Kids aren't dumb; all but the youngest can cope with the idea that all foods are fine in moderation, but certain types of foods are just not good for you... and can, in fact, make you fat if you overindulge.

[stregadelsol]

I'm totally missing the contradiction somehow - *goes to get more caffeine to get brain jump started

[mhaithaca]

"All foods are fine in moderation" isn't compatible with "I don't want that food in the house." I suppose there's a difference between keeping it on the shelves, and splurging once in a while, but it's hard to see that distinction. If a kid says "Suzy's mom has rocky road ice cream at her house!" and you start talking about how you prefer food that keeps you healthy, your kid's going back to Suzy's house for more rocky road.

I worry that a kid who grows up with a parent pointing at Kate Moss or Lindsey Lohan and saying "Boy, she looks unhealthy," is just going to learn to tease skinny kids instead of fat kids, if not both... which doesn't solve the problem at all. It perpetuates the body image stereotypes and dangers, just in a new direction.

My point is that political correctness doesn't eliminate kids being horrible to each other, not by a long shot. It raises a real danger of masking the very real problems and pressures facing our kids.

[stregadelsol]

I'm not saying that kids should be brought up as delusional body image and health food psychos. I am saying that we need to be realistic and encouraging with them. If you want rocky road, here or at Suzy's, knock yourself out. Just ask yourself if you really want the whole pint in one sitting or not. Encourage to slow down the thought process and not mindlessly eat. Hell, there are places in time and space when an entire pint of rocky road in one sitting could be just the ticket

[mhaithaca]

This is why I kind of like the "cookie is a sometimes food" development on "Sesame Street" last year. I see it as cute and appropriate, rather than excessively PC, as long as they don't get carried away.

Your "Cassie Crack Addict" point helps, thanks. Kids can see people with a drug problem as people with a problem, rather than as bad people. The same is true for unhealthily thin or fat people, and none of the above makes it OK to tease or taunt them.

[stregadelsol]

Oh my god, I am way to PMS-y to go any further with this. What is interesting is that after I've read your responses, I've been like, "yeah, that's what I was saying!!" I've never been a big fan of communicating electronically for big involved discussions, they never seem to go very.....efficiently? effectively?

Either way, this is the most in-depth conversation I've had with an adult about an actual topic in like, a LONG time. Longer than I care to admit. I appreciated it. Even though sesame street snuck in there, it was for a good cause.