Are you an "obsessive" parent?

[Angel0]

Hi all! This is my first thread. I am a resort board regular and saw something there that inspired this.

There was a lady on the resort board that had a FIT because her neighbors kid's drank pop, crystal light and gatorade. She was quite passionate about it and thought her neighbors were bad parents.

My kids drink the occasional pop as well as tons of gatorade and powerade. Just wondering if everyone else is "obsessive" like this lady or more laid back like myself.

I hope this is the right forum to post on.

 

[Marseeya]

I was obsessive about things like that when they were wee little -- like from infancy to pre-school, then I lightened up and relaxed. I felt pretty adamantly about giving them a good nutritional start, but once they started school it became more and more difficult to control the types of food they'd get.

 

[Angel0]

Yes, when my kids were very little, I too made sure they didn't just drink junk. Now they are 2, 5 and 7 and the oldest love gatorade....oh well...I will go down in the annals as a "bad parent".

 

[poohandwendy]

Obsessive, no. Conscious of what types of foods I keep in the house, yes.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Most everything in moderation! I was never obsessive, even with my older kids, but it doesn't mean that I allowed unlimited sugary drinks and snacks, either. Our kids have always been encouraged to drink water when they are thirsty, but I don't forbid other drinks.

I am amazed at the way some kids drink Gatorade, etc in place of water. IE, at baseball games. Some kids bring the big bottles (64 ounce) and drink the whole thing.

 

[Aidensmom]

My son has to drink milk with every meal, can have juice (100% juice only) no more than once a day, and other than that he drinks water.

That is, on a normal day. However, if we go out to eat or go to WDW or to a birthday party, or anything else "special" we make exceptions. I do keep him away from caffienated sodas, but if it is a special ocassion, he is allowed soda or lemonade or gatorade/powerade.

Also, if he is sick, he gets Gatorade. He won't drink the pedialyte type stuff (have you ever tasted it? I wouldn't either), and his pediatrician has told us to give him the Gatorade instead so that he will drink something.

 

[jtnsami]

Obsessive with the first one. By the time the third one came along the motto became, "If you're not bleeding and you're breathing, you're fine" . As far as food goes, my three have never really been into junk food so it was never a concern. They have the occasional pop, but would rather have milk or water.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Careful about what we feed Bugsy? Yes. Obsessive...I try not to be. I make sure that he gets vegetables with both lunch and dinner, fruit at least twice a day. We don't give him a lot of sugary snacks or fruit drinks. We do have him on a high protein/high carb diet though because he is just so darn skinny. He turned 2 in April, but he's got some 12 mos pants that still fit him reasonably well.

TOV

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Obsessive, no. Conscious of what types of foods I keep in the house, yes.

 

[shortbun]

Sometimes my parenting is better than other times. My son drinks pop and powerade on occassion. I wish he didn't.

 

[dixipixi]

Our kids have to drink milk in the morning and at least one juice or something "healthy" during the day. They love powerade, but they only drink maybe two or three per week. We always have tea with our meals. We encourage them to drink water, but they do love cokes!!! I'm a Dr. Pepper addict myself!

We also drink a lot of lemonade around here. At the risk of sounding like a terrible mom...I also let my 13 y/o drink coffee. When I make it...it's mostly milk with just a little coffee for flavor.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

DD is only 2.75, but I control what she has. I was a heavy child and so was DH, so we're trying to raise her to make smarter choices WITHOUT being militant. Whereas I had boxes of Little Debbie cakes and full sugar Kool-Aid, she has graham crackers or green peppers and hummus (I know, but she LOVES it), milk, watered-down juice and Crystal Light.

Bottom line -- how other people raise their kids is not my business unless it's abuse. If Crystal Light and Gatorade fits that, then you better lock me up in that glass house, too.

BTW: Welcome to the CB!

 

[tiggersmom2]

Where is my "sister in crime"....Planogirl?! We both give our kids "sunkist"....we are damned...

 

[Aidensmom]

We also drink a lot of lemonade around here. At the risk of sounding like a terrible mom...I also let my 13 y/o drink coffee. When I make it...it's mostly milk with just a little coffee for flavor.

My 4 year old LOVES frappucinos from Starbucks. He got his first taste taking a sip of one I got for myself. We don't go to Starbucks all that often, but when we do I do let him get a decaf one. The number of dirty looks I get for that are amazing, but I know it is a treat for my child, its only ocassionally, and it is decaf. I don't care that those people think I am a terrible mom.

 

[poohandwendy]

My 4 year old LOVES frappucinos from Starbucks. He got his first taste taking a sip of one I got for myself. We don't go to Starbucks all that often, but when we do I do let him get a decaf one. The number of dirty looks I get for that are amazing, but I know it is a treat for my child, its only ocassionally, and it is decaf. I don't care that those people think I am a terrible mom.

OMG, I love frappucinos and I do not generally like coffee. People should mind their own business...but I think I would play with them a little bit..."Hey Aiden, next we can go to the liquor store and you can pick out your favorite mixer...how about strawberry margarita mix this time?"

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

OMG, I love frappucinos and I do not generally like coffee. People should mind their own business...but I think I would play with them a little bit..."Hey Aiden, next we can go to the liquor store and you can pick out your favorite mixer...how about strawberry margarita mix this time?"

AIDENSMOM: I think I could hang with your four-year-old. Send him over here!! Sounds like he's more fun than DH!

 

[lbgraves]

Neither of my kids drink cola drinks. DD gets sprite if we go out occasionally and DS will get orange drink (yes, I found out that it has caffiene in it last year but he has already been drinking it for a while and will point out that CFA is the only place he can have soda.) LOL! They know my rule & will ask for sprite if there is no juice or milk available. On the other hand, I don't really care what anyone else lets their child drink or eat. It is my business how I raise my kids & the same for them.

 

[Aidensmom]

OMG, I love frappucinos and I do not generally like coffee. People should mind their own business...but I think I would play with them a little bit..."Hey Aiden, next we can go to the liquor store and you can pick out your favorite mixer...how about strawberry margarita mix this time?"

We already have a beer joke going at the Busch Gardens Hospitality House. We get to the front of the line where I ask for the beer I want, and then turn to Aiden and ask him what he wants. He says "I don't feel like beer today" and then he bursts out laughing.

 

[darrose]

Not only do my kids drink soda sometimes-I have been known to send them to a filed trip with LUNCHABLES

 

[dixipixi]

Ooooh....I LOVE those frappucinos too!!! They are my favorite. Of course I live way out in the woods...so they really are an occasional treat!

DS just asked me today if I would stop on our way to WDW next week and get him one. He heard me bragging about them to someone and wants to try it. Of course, I'm really a bad mom...he'll get the full blown version (full of sugar and caffeine). He's just like me, though. He could drink a pot of coffee and lay down and go to sleep. Caffeine just doesn't affect us at all.

Keep in mind he's 13. Not 4. I wouldn't have given it to him when he was younger.