Are you an "obsessive" parent?

[Tigger&Belle]

I did't read the other thread, but sometimes people vent on the DIS about something without ever saying something to the person they are venting about. I'm sure there are plenty of things that we notice about neighbors, friends, and relatives that we might vent about here that we'd never comment to the person about--just basically letting off steam.

Or did the poster in that thread actually confront the neighbor about what they were feeding their child?

 

[arminnie]

My brother and sister-in-law both worked in the natural food industry and owned a small natural food store.

My nephew ate absolutely nothing but "clean" food - i.e. even the catsup was the natural kind. Not even regular grocery store food much less junk food. If he had a hot dog, it was a tofu dog.

When he was about 4 his mother wrote a wonderful cookbook featuring recipes for children using all natural food. They were on a book tour, and one of the reporters asked him what his favorite foods were.

His answer - "STEAK AND CANDY". He'd probably never had either, but it sounded good to him.

He's now 24 and actually does eat pretty healthy food although not nearly as restrictive as his first few years.

 

[Captain Brain]

My mother lets my brother and I have soda around once or twice a week. All the rest of the week we drink Kool-Aid or Milk. Our mother is very protective which can prove to be a good thing.

 

[katerkat]

I remember when I had my first child. She didn't get any sweets until her first birthday when I let her have a piece of cake. I was just so against it.

At 14, she's the biggest junkfood-aholic, going. Somewhere along the line, I relaxed my standards.

I'm not totally against sweets - Russ had some of his Dad's chocolate pudding today, and heck, he had TWO birthday parties with a piece of cake at each! I just don't see the point in giving a 14-month old chocolate on a regular basis. I always have to watch at my neighbor's house because Russ knows where his friend hides his M&Ms and chocolate covered Craisins.

(Plus, he's not really the one I'm worried about eating sweets if they're in the house!!)

 

[VSL]

I didn't realise so many kids in the US drink milk so often.

Mind you, when my BF and I were in WDW Dec 2005 we were stunned at all the 'Got Milk?' ads.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I'm not obsessive about what my kids eat/drink, but I don't let them fill themselves up with crap every day, either. I think we've struck a happy medium, eating mostly healthy foods, sweets and salty snacks in moderation.

There is just one thing that some might consider obsessive. My kids' dentist told us that Gatorade/Powerade is worse for their teeth than soda. The combo of salt and sugar in those drinks rots their teeth faster than sugar alone. Since dd has weak tooth enamel, I don't keep it in the house anymore and the kids only drink it occasionally when we're out.

On the other hand, some probably think I'm a terrible parent because I let my kids have McDonald's on a regular basis.

See? Happy medium.

 

[Planogirl]

Mine has also had McD's on a regular basis over the years and when I say regular, I mean once every 2 or 3 weeks. Personally I prefer Wendy's.

DS drinks a lot of milk and water, dislikes most sweets and eats plenty of lean meat, pasta and fruit. I'm not worried about his diet at all.

 

[pearlieq]

Why do you need to judge her as "obessive"?

It reflects more poorly on you than her.

 

[Angel0]

Why do you need to judge her as "obessive"?

It reflects more poorly on you than her.

Oh ok. So when you were calling a lady "tacky" a few months back for having a shower for her SECOND baby, that barb really reflected badly on you?!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I'm pretty laid back, but I do put limits on things. My dd is only allowed two sodas a week, and she only likes diet Coke. They hardly ever get candy. I try to make their Happy Meals healthy by substituting apples and milk instead of fries and a soda. I'm very fortunate that my kids love water and real fruits. They do eat non-healthy stuff like puddings, chips and cookies from time to time, but they get plenty of healthy food too so I don't stress about it. It's all about moderation and keeping my kids active!

 

[noodleknitter]

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.

OMy! We had the same thing happen with a mocha. People just need to get a life sometimes, and mind their own business!

Why on earth people have such a need to keep tabs on others, is beyond me!

 

[VSL]

I belive the women who inspired this thread was talking about pooring it into the bottle and feeding todlers iced tea and coke. I think that is a lot different then letting kids have sips of it.

Well that changes things - ITA.

There is just one thing that some might consider obsessive. My kids' dentist told us that Gatorade/Powerade is worse for their teeth than soda. The combo of salt and sugar in those drinks rots their teeth faster than sugar alone. Since dd has weak tooth enamel, I don't keep it in the house anymore and the kids only drink it occasionally when we're out.

I don't think that you're being obsessive - I have poor tooth enamel (as well as a wonderful little condition where my teeth all have small stains - 'flouridois'?) and do everything to keep my teeth clean and strong. It's a real pain that I look after my teeth better than anyone I know yet I'm the one who has the most problems

Thing is, Gatorade/Powerade are really sports drinks. They're isotonic (special combo of salt/glucose) and are made specifically for endurance athletes who need to keep their glycogen stores as well topped-up as possible as well as avoiding dehydration and replacing lost electrolytes. And then, most runners stick to water only in training runs up to an hour (as there is no risk of hitting the wall - I refuse to say 'bonking' as it means something totally different here in the UK ).

 

[VSL]

OMy! We had the same thing happen with a mocha. People just need to get a life sometimes, and mind their own business!

Those same people seem to forget about the caffiene (I know Aidensmom said that she gets decaf for her son, but the other people watching probably just think it's regular) in the chocolate/cola/etc. that they're giving to their own kids though..

 

[poohandwendy]

I'm not totally against sweets - Russ had some of his Dad's chocolate pudding today, and heck, he had TWO birthday parties with a piece of cake at each! I just don't see the point in giving a 14-month old chocolate on a regular basis. I always have to watch at my neighbor's house because Russ knows where his friend hides his M&Ms and chocolate covered Craisins.

(Plus, he's not really the one I'm worried about eating sweets if they're in the house!!)

I don't see it as obsessive to be restricting junk food from a 14 month old. I did the same thing when the kids food intake was completely under my guidance.

 

[noodleknitter]

Those same people seem to forget about the caffiene (I know Aidensmom said that she gets decaf for her son, but the other people watching probably just think it's regular) in the chocolate/cola/etc. that they're giving to their own kids though..

So true!

BTW, you have the coolest (yeah, I know, I am dating myself!) avatar I have ever seen!

 

[hlbtimes2]

My kids are 4 and almost 8. I do watch what they eat, but am pretty liberal most of the time. When we go out to eat, they may order a soda if they want. The 4 year old will usually get milk or root beer. The almost 8 year old will almost always get lemonade.

We have a big bowl of candy on top our fridge. They know its there, and will sometimes have a peice or two. I believe they dont eat a ton of it, because I have not made candy a off limits/ special occasion food. My friends that only allow it now and then have much bigger problems with their kids sneaking candy and hiding it in there rooms. I do limit other sweets and snacks, but not really strictly. My dd will ask for a cookie at the store. I'll remind her that we are having birthday cake later in the day or ice cream after dinner. She is fine with that.

 

[kpk89]

I can't imagine offering my uninvited opinion to someone about what they allow their child to eat/drink. If they asked, I'd say that I'm more concerned with patterns than with events. i.e. I pay more attention to what we keep in the house on a regular basis and how the kids eat/snack most of them time than to a junky snack or drink they might have once in a while. Everybody needs a little fix now and then!

 

[VSL]

BTW, you have the coolest (yeah, I know, I am dating myself!) avatar I have ever seen!

Here it is in normal size:


It was on AOL UK's 'Scenes of Spring' yesterday. I fell in love so my old avatar (of Spongebob) had to go.

 

[pearlieq]

Oh ok. So when you were calling a lady "tacky" a few months back for having a shower for her SECOND baby, that barb really reflected badly on you?!

Did you honestly go through 9 pages of my former posts to try to find something to throw back at me?

Also, for what it's worth, I was giving an opinion on the IDEA of 2nd showers, not at a particular person/poster.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I believe they dont eat a ton of it, because I have not made candy a off limits/ special occasion food. My friends that only allow it now and then have much bigger problems with their kids sneaking candy and hiding it in there rooms.

This approach backfired for us. When dd was 4, I could come downstairs after a shower to find 6 or 8 empty "fruit snack" wrappers laying around the family room. She ate way too much candy that way, so we had to put some limits on it. Works well for our family now.

(Not saying there's anything wrong with your method, it's clearly worked for your family. Just saying that everyone is different.)