What are "we" doing to our children in America?

[goofy's friends]

It's different for kids because the parents have so much input and control over what they do and what they eat. I was always a heavy kid, as far back as my memory spans. I agonized - AGONIZED - over it. When I was in 7th grade, my mother started forcing me to run the track. I mean it, she drove the entire family to the high school track and said she wasn't leaving until everyone in the family did 4 laps, but we all knew that this was for my benefit. She switched my dinnertime milk to water. She started hiding her M&M stash a heck of a lot better than she had been, and she left apples out in the kitchen. She forced me to go outside and move around. ALL I WANTED TO DO was stay in my room and read.

Was I peeved? SO ANGRY. It was embarrassing, humiliating, my sister and brother got to drink milk at dinner, what kind of screwed-up mother forces kids to run the track, etc ... but a year later, I was among the most athletic kids in my class. And 11 high school varsity letters later, I had grant $ to college. So - snapping me into shape was the best thing she could've done for me. It set off a chain reaction of events that set the course of my life.

If I have a kid who struggles with weight - and genetically, that will probably be a reality for me - guess where you will find us? The high school track, running in circles. There but for the grace of God go I.

Great story!!! You'll be the inspiration to your offspring

 

[TimeforMe]

And what are we as parents doing to our children by allowing them to be so out of shape at such a young age? Sorry if anyone takes offense to this, but I was truly saddened to see this. Get off the couch, stop playing video games and watching tv, eating junk food and go outside and PLAY. I truly think this is becoming an epidemic.

And this is the second part of that same post that you chose to leave off.

And for the record, I'm not being condescending. It's frustrating for me that people are only taking certain parts of what I'm saying to make it seem like I have something against overweight people. Just like you did.

Why are you still participating in this thread if you only care about your children then? Really, no need.

 

[tiggersmom2]

And this is the second part of that same post that you chose to leave off.

And for the record, I'm not being condescending. It's frustrating for me that people are only taking certain parts of what I'm saying to make it seem like I have something against overweight people. Just like you did.

Why are you still participating in this thread if you only care about your children then? Really, no need.

Thanks, but I didn't know you had become a mod. I haven't been rude to you in this thread just gave you my opinion. Oh.....I see.....don't post if I don't agree with YOU. I'll keep giving my opinion if I see fit, sorry it bothers you.

 

[TimeforMe]

Again, I will say - I do not care if someone is using the ECV for medical reasons or convienence, it is none of my business. I also don't care who is pool hopping, using a refillable mug, getting their 3 year old in for 2, smokers smoking in non-smoking areas, people cooking in their room.........

These are totally different issues than of which I speak. The title of my thread was "What are we doing to our children in America". OK? I got that you only care about YOUR kids. Point taken. No need to keep participating then, is there?

 

[Cool-Beans]

I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer here, but we just returned from a fabulous trip to WDW. I was very saddened, however, to see how many obese families driving around in those ECVs. By no means am I a beanpole, but there's now way in heck I would ever be so lazy as to drive around in one of those things. And before anyone can flame me, I am aware that some of these people may have been legitimately handicapped. I do believe, however, by the sheer number of overweight people (kids, too) in these things that they are just too darn lazy to walk.

And what are we as parents doing to our children by allowing them to be so out of shape at such a young age? Sorry if anyone takes offense to this, but I was truly saddened to see this. Get off the couch, stop playing video games and watching tv, eating junk food and go outside and PLAY. I truly think this is becoming an epidemic.

My bolding.

You know, you might drive around in one of those things if you couldn't walk.

And since you can't exercise, you might get fat in the chair. Maybe not - different people metabolize differently.

I KNOW that if I were in a chair the weight would pile on fast. I have to work at keeping my girlish (ok, womanish) figure. If I weren't able to walk, swim or exercise, I'd be a fat woman in a chair.

 

[TimeforMe]

Thanks, but I didn't know you had become a mod. I haven't been rude to you in this thread just gave you my opinion. Oh.....I see.....don't post if I don't agree with YOU. I'll keep giving my opinion if I see fit, sorry it bothers you.

Oh brother. Post away then. You're the one that seems bothered by it.

 

[JadenLayne]

Again, I will say - I do not care if someone is using the ECV for medical reasons or convienence, it is none of my business. I also don't care who is pool hopping, using a refillable mug, getting their 3 year old in for 2, smokers smoking in non-smoking areas, people cooking in their room.........

I agree with this 100% NOT MY BUSINESS!!!!

 

[I Love Pluto]

There is a new ruling in PA schools this year. In order for the school cafeterias to continue to receive the maximum state funding, all sugar must be cut from the menu. No soda, ice cream, cookies, candy, etc. can be sold.

In fact, our school went a bit further. All parties - holiday or birthday - can contain no sugar. That means that if a parent wants to celebrate their child's birthday, they no longer will be sending cupcakes to school. Instead, they will be sending "birthday carrots" or "birthday broccoli".

I agree and disagree with this. Yes, many of our children are leaning toward obesity. But - a birthday just isn't a birthday without cake.

 

[TimeforMe]

smokers smoking in non-smoking areas,...

Actually, that REALLY bothers me.

 

[TimeforMe]

There is a new ruling in PA schools this year. In order for the school cafeterias to continue to receive the maximum state funding, all sugar must be cut from the menu. No soda, ice cream, cookies, candy, etc. can be sold.

In fact, our school went a bit further. All parties - holiday or birthday - can contain no sugar. That means that if a parent wants to celebrate their child's birthday, they no longer will be sending cupcakes to school. Instead, they will be sending "birthday carrots" or "birthday broccoli".

I agree and disagree with this. Yes, many of our children are leaning toward obesity. But - a birthday just isn't a birthday without cake.

LOL. Yes I agree with all of this. Another example of PCness run amok.

 

[mssocks]

Hello - invisible poster here

 

[MushyMushy]

I wondered what was missing from the DIS these past few weeks -- fat bashing!

OP, people like you are the reason I felt so uncomfortable renting a wheelchair or ECV after I sprained my ankle because I didn't want to face the judgments of, "Oh look, another lazy fat lady in a scooter! Oh joy, let's feel all morally superior to her because I exercise and I'm so wonderful."

 

[MosMom]

Man, I don't want to read 5 pages so this may have been mentioned BUT

Did you actually see children driving ECV's? Your post mentions seeing several families on ECV's. I just envision families of cart riders driving around like the shriners and I have NEVER seen that in Disney... I also know there are strict rules governing those ECV's and children aren't allowed on them. Really nothing to add to the debate of fat people are lame/no they aren't but I thought that part of the story was odd.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I wondered what was missing from the DIS these past few weeks -- fat bashing!

OP, people like you are the reason I felt so uncomfortable renting a wheelchair or ECV after I sprained my ankle because I didn't want to face the judgments of, "Oh look, another lazy fat lady in a scooter! Oh joy, let's feel all morally superior to her because I exercise and I'm so wonderful."

I don't think most people feel that way at all. I hope you wouldn't think twice about renting one again.

 

[Charade]

Did you ever consider that the reason the people on the ECV's are over weight is because they have mobility issues? No of course not. You just assume that they are just fat and lazy.

Umm... yes, they did. (from the 1st post)

And before anyone can flame me, I am aware that some of these people may have been legitimately handicapped

 

[TimeforMe]

I wondered what was missing from the DIS these past few weeks -- fat bashing!

OP, people like you are the reason I felt so uncomfortable renting a wheelchair or ECV after I sprained my ankle because I didn't want to face the judgments of, "Oh look, another lazy fat lady in a scooter! Oh joy, let's feel all morally superior to her because I exercise and I'm so wonderful."

Actually I don't feel morally superior in the least. If you sprained your ankle and needed an ECV then you needed it, right? You're not the kind of person of which I'm speaking. If I hurt myself and needed it, that would be the last thing I would be thinking.

And guess what? Besides walking, I don't really do a whole lot of exercise. I do what I can which includes walking when it's called for. I do think I'm pretty wonderful, though I think we all should think that about ourselves, don't you?

Why did this have to turn into a "fat bashing" thread? In other words, you feel that every single person that rents those things, NEEDS them? And how about all those overweight kids? All born that way, huh?

 

[MushyMushy]

I don't think most people feel that way at all. I hope you wouldn't think twice about renting one again.

I didn't rent it at all -- I suffered with the pain.

You know how it is. One negative remark or incident can set the tone for the entire trip, wiping out everything positive that happened. I wish it weren't that way, but that's just the way humans seem to be wired.

 

[Charade]

Man, I don't want to read 5 pages so this may have been mentioned BUT

Did you actually see children driving ECV's? Your post mentions seeing several families on ECV's. I just envision families of cart riders and I have NEVER seen that in Disney... I also know there are strict rules governing those ECV's and children aren't allowed on them. Really nothing to add to the debate of fat people are lame/no they aren't but I thought that part of the story was odd.

I haven't seen kids in ECVs but I have seen parents in them with kids in tow.

 

[TimeforMe]

Did you actually see children driving ECV's?

Yes, I did. And so did DD and her friend. In fact, they're the ones who mentioned it first.

 

[TimeforMe]

I didn't rent it at all -- I suffered with the pain.

You know how it is. One negative remark or incident can set the tone for the entire trip, wiping out everything positive that happened. I wish it weren't that way, but that's just the way humans seem to be wired.

Hmmm. Sad. I would never let a negative remark wipe out "everything positive". Especially if it was from a stranger. That's too bad.