Sensitive Subject: Overweight Kids at Disney and in USA in General

[Kelsie]

Originally posted by pirateofthecarolinas
My only hope is that this thread doesn't discourage someone from going to Disney World due to their weight. I won't be looking at you because you're overweight, I will be smiling at you because you are having fun with your family at the happiest place on earth.

Lori

My thoughts exactly, Lori!

 

[ripleysmom]

pnelson, I received the PM, I sent a reply...


Just wanted to address the meaning of banish......

1 : to require by authority to leave a country
2 : to drive out or remove from a home or place of usual resort or continuance
3 : to clear away

I'm afraid I do.

 

[immalemon]

Obesity runs in my family. Every single woman on my moms side of the family has had to have that gastro surgery from health problems. I am the only one left and I wish I could have it, except I am healthy, so they wont give it to me. Anyway, my daughter, age 4, is very active. She is a skiier, rides her bike all summer, and we go hiking and even backpacking together. Very very active and loves the outdoors (we live in the mountains). She is very thin and muscular, but she gets tired, and I am definately getting her a stroller at WDW. She is short and has little legs, I definately would not hold it against her getting tired in that hot weather!!! I just feel if that her and I stay active together and she grows up eating right and stuff, maybe, just maybe, she wont have it as bad as me. By her age, I was already overweight, so she's already got me on that one....and I am so happy for that. Anyway, I do think children grow up too inactive and eating poorly, I know I did. Well, regardless, they are children, and that is all that matters.

Amanda

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by ripleysmom

Just wanted to address the meaning of banish......

1 : to require by authority to leave a country
2 : to drive out or remove from a home or place of usual resort or continuance
3 : to clear away

I'm afraid I do.

I remember that story. It made me so sad that she had that poor baby removed from her home because her "natural" child didn't like him. Or maybe it was the possibility of developmental problems. In any case, I hope the child found loving parents.

 

[Rutt and Tuke]

I think the fact that someone would chose being mean over being fat shows how "off" their values are.

(tried to make this not a personal attack)

 

[caitycaity]

Originally posted by pirateofthecarolinas
My only hope is that this thread doesn't discourage someone from going to Disney World due to their weight. I won't be looking at you because you're overweight, I will be smiling at you because you are having fun with your family at the happiest place on earth.

Lori

won't stop me from going to wdw but it sure will make me think about what people are thinking about me and dh the next time i'm there. i'll admit pnelson's post really upset me.

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by caitycaity
won't stop me from going to wdw but it sure will make me think about what people are thinking about me and dh the next time i'm there. i'll admit pnelson's post really upset me.

Over 99% of the people at WDW will be too busy to think anything about you and dh. Don't let a tiny minority spoil things for you.

Peggy

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by Bojangles
I remember that story. It made me so sad that she had that poor baby removed from her home because her "natural" child didn't like him. Or maybe it was the possibility of developmental problems. In any case, I hope the child found loving parents.

I think about that child often too, Bojangles, and I hope so too.

 

[disneydragon]

Originally posted by caitycaity
won't stop me from going to wdw but it sure will make me think about what people are thinking about me and dh the next time i'm there. i'll admit pnelson's post really upset me.

Don't worry about what other people are thinking and just have fun.

 

[immalemon]

I finally read all the posts to this thread, and I am actually embarrassed I posted anything in the first place. I now look like I was making excuses, but I am not. I know most of it is my fault, and yes, I am not very happy with myself, and untill I can find that happiness within, I know I wont change. That is my thing. But the hatred I read in this thread is what has taken me by surprise. I am so ashamed for you that had hate words to say. Whether people can help being overweight or not, they are still human being and that is all that matters. People who wear too much makeup, dress funky, have wrotting teeth, etc all are from personal reasons too, and no one pounds on them. Its just not right. People should be judged by their personality and just because one person wouldn't be able to look in the mirror if they were overweight doesnt mean that person is better in any way from the person who can look at themself in the mirror being overweight. I know from being overweight and how people can be that I want my daughter to grow up with a better chance, and I think she has one. I am not bragging about my child or anything, I am just saying that I want her to be healthy. If she was active like she is now and overweight, my heart would still melt everytime I looked at my baby. She would be my life regardless of what she looked like. I have met good and bad people of all shapes and sizes. What ever happened to "it's whats on the inside that counts?" People who had mean things to say only made themselves look ugly. Just plain ugly and I do not think they will ever see that, and that is the saddest part about the whole thing.

 

[baseballmom94]

I really didn't mean to start an all-out war when I started this topic...thought it was the Community Board and just a place to talk about different topics.

I'm sorry that it took a turn for the worse and hurt people's feelings. I think everyone should be able to be themselves and go anywhere they want to. I have nothing against overweight people, but I do feel sorry for children that are learning extremely bad eating habits. Our neighbors have two grade school girls, ages 8 and 10. They eat at fast food restaurants every night for dinner and for lunch and dinner on the weekends. They hardly ever cook at home. The younger girl has been heavy since she was 2 and is now very overweight. It's very sad because she's never learned what proper nutrition is.

I really don't know why the controversy about the kids in the strollers erupted. If kids need to ride in a stroller, so what? My kids are 6 and 10 and we were happy not to have a stroller this time, but I was nervous about keeping my 6 year old nearby at all times. It would be so easy to lose a child in a crowd .

Now, all that being said, I do think that extremely heavy people should be required to purchase two plane seats.....I was seated away from my family and next to two very plus-size women on my plane ride back from Disney....it was very uncomfortable and I felt very squished the entire time. This is not being prejudiced....it is requiring people to pay for the space they use.

 

[disneydragon]

Originally posted by baseballmom94
Now, all that being said, I do think that extremely heavy people should be required to purchase two plane seats.....I was seated away from my family and next to two very plus-size women on my plane ride back from Disney....it was very uncomfortable and I felt very squished the entire time. This is not being prejudiced....it is requiring people to pay for the space they use.

I started a thread about this on the debate board a while back. Let's just say, it's a good thing I'm a dragon because if I wasn't, my hair would still be on fire from the flames!

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by baseballmom94


Now, all that being said, I do think that extremely heavy people should be required to purchase two plane seats.....I was seated away from my family and next to two very plus-size women on my plane ride back from Disney....it was very uncomfortable and I felt very squished the entire time. This is not being prejudiced....it is requiring people to pay for the space they use.

Heck I am overwieght but I feel the same way, if we take up part of another seat that is not ours we should have to pay extra for more seat....BUT.... I also feel that because I am going with my daughter and she takes up 1/2 of a seat that since I can raise the handrest and use her half then I shouldn't have to pay for a seat...she takes half the seat and I still pay for a whole one so I should be able to use the remaining part of her seat. I also try to get a window seat and put her in the middle so that I am not "overflowing" onto anyone elses seat.

 

[Brer_Papa]

"People can be like presents....no matter how shiny the wrappings...or with ribbons or not....the gift inside is still the gift inside..."

He told me that ...or other kids...grandkids....whoever....the whole time I was growing up.

what it means is tall or short..thin or heavy....what's inside is what matters most.....

so...one day he busts me being mean to another kid.....and says to me..."you better take a look inside young man and tell me if you like what you see...cuz if <u>you</u> don't like what you see....nobody else will either..."...then he laid one upside my melon...

so...take a look inside people....it only takes a second...

Grampa passed in 1977....I miss him..

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by baseballmom94
I really didn't mean to start an all-out war when I started this topic...thought it was the Community Board and just a place to talk about different topics.

Sorry your post went sour, basballmom94, but this Community, like ones in real life, can have some bad apples.


Brer_Papa, your grandpa sounds like a wonderful man. Yes, you can be a beautiful size 4/6 on the outside, and have a stone cold heart on the inside.

 

[Disney Doll]

Brer_Papa-your grandpa was a very smart man!

pnelson-if you'd "rather be mean than fat"...Congratulations!!!! You've achieved your goal!!!

"Beauty is skin deep. Ugly goes right to the bone".

Don't much care what the folks in France think about me.

Do care that I feel good about myself and my body, whatever its size.

Do like my friends for who they are, not what they look like. Do have a lot of good, caring, kind friends.

Not a bad life, for a fat girl.

 

[Sandy V.]

Disney Doll - ITA!!!

Wonderful post - you summed it up well.

 

[Planogirl]

Just like any community, you take the good with the bad. I see more nice people on this thread than mean ones.

Brer_Papa, I keep running into wonderful posts that you've made. Thanks for doing so!

 

[twinmomplus2new]

To be honest, I found the first post by the OP was offensive. Would you say You could not believe the amount of aisan people, Short people, Canadians, Etcc...etc...
Why are the size of other people your bussiness?
Why would you be so presumtious to think you copuld post somthing of this nature and not expect people to be insulted.
This topic seems like a debate issue not a community issue.
Sorry but genetics has alot to do with it. Some people are built bigger.
A little ditty for you... I have 2 cousins, One of whom was adopted(at Birth) She was termed grossly overweight when we were children, When we went together for our pre-K physical she was 102 lbs I was 49. Same height mind you. She later sought out her Biological parents, The entire family was large, 300 plus and short 5'2. Now you tell me was this a case of my Aunt being neglectful or Genetics? We had another cousin who's mom was downright Hostile to her when we were children, as a result her own 2 girls made many, many nasty comments over the years.
anyone care to guess what happened next? My sweet cousin and best friend reached puberty lost all the weight and today she is 34 years old, 5-2 and barely 100 lbs. The nasty, cousins???? Well when they hit puberty they each gained about a 150 lbs. And the shoe is on the other foot. Is it horrible they are large? No, But I have to tell you. Somewhere upstairs somebody said, Ya Know what Pay back is a *****. You just never know what side of the fence you may end up on and you had better be sure you are comfortable enough in your own skin to enjoy your life. No matter what narrow minded lunatics think.

As for the meaness, The referance to the prior thread... When I realized the correlation, I have to say, I was not surprised. I worried many a night after I read the original, about that poor little pumpkin and thought about him waking up in another new crib, new faces, and it broke my heart. I am sorry to say after listening to all this, Lets hope it all worked out for the best. I think maybe it did.

 

[baseballmom94]

TwinMom, you're right -- I should have posted this on the debate board because it has turned into a debate!!! Unfortunately, I suspect that the people who are most heated up about it are those who realize maybe their own kids are headed down the path toward obesity.

Regarding your comment on if I would post about how many people of Asian or Canadian descent, short, tall people etc. were there......no and .....uhhh, those aren't health-related conditions or issues. I was speaking about a serious health issue in our country which has received a lot of news coverage in recent years.