disturbing article in New York magazine...

I read this in my doctor's office, not sure how current the issue is...

The jist of it was how obsessed with the weight of their children Manhattan parents are. They are so taken over by their own fear of fat, that they pass it on to their children. Some are so crazy, they purposely under-breastfeed the child, put young kids on a 'baby Atkins' diet, send toddlers to 'pre-pilates' and yoga classes! There was one story of how a mother deprived her child of sugar completely, and the child was found at the school playground eating cookie pieces she found on the ground!

I was really shocked and quite appauled!! How could anyone do such things to their own child?

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I just read this over breakfast. It's totally despicable.

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That is quite disturbing. Children need balance not rigid guidlines. The more you deprive them of something, the more they want it. I agree though that parents do pass on their own fears onto their children if they are not careful. Maybe not to this extreme but we send out children messages every single day, the little sponges just absorb it all. No one will be the perfect parent but self awareness is crucial to raising well-adjusted children IMO. Having a child has put my own issues (and we all have our own to contend with) under the magnifying glass, I think that part of parenting is very challenging, to say the very very least. I feel sorry for the children in that article not because they are not having a cookie but because of the long term effects of such parenting.

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FH is on Atkins. Because of this I dont bring anything 'carby' into the house. I make seperate meals for him and I then make Emma a 'balanced' meal. I think its WRONG!

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people are nuts- plain and simple. Same is true for parents who insist that their 3 year old take 2 languages, 2 instruments and become near perfect athletes. Morons!!

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Here's an idea to all those crazy parents :...turn off the TV, unplug the X-box, turn off the computer and teach your kids about healthy exercise and activities. Then they can eat all the Oreos they want and be well adjusted NORMAL heathly kids.

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Sounds borderline (at least) abusive to me. It's so sad that these parents are passing on their neuroses to their children. Whatever happened to letting kids be kids?

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Posted by ddunne23

Here's an idea to all those crazy parents :...turn off the TV, unplug the X-box, turn off the computer and teach your kids about healthy exercise and activities. Then they can eat all the Oreos they want and be well adjusted NORMAL heathly kids.

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Now that's what I call a fantastic parent in the making! I totally agree with you, Doreen!

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Posted by jannshari

It's so sad that these parents are passing on their neuroses to their children.

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I had a chuckle over this sentence PURELY b/c I know I have already passed my 'neat freak' neuroses onto my baby Paul. Can there be such a thing as a positive neuroses?
Paul is 21 months old and he already knows how to wash his own face and hands, and often 'cleans' his activity table with a paper towel. His newest kick is to be the 'trash police' around our house...if anything is lying around, he grabs it, and says 'trash!' and throws it away!

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Absolutely there are positive neuroses. Being a neat freak will certainly not give your cutie a warped sense of self and self-esteem issues!


ETA: Can you pass that on to me, as well?

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just to add to this...there was a big problem in the early 90's with parents putting their children on low fat diets


human brains are not fully developed until 2 years old...hence the soft spot...the skull is not fully formed, but birth would be impossible if it was fully formed in gestation...ahh the trials and tribulations for being an adbanced species....

brain connections (neurons) need to be insulated wih fat...it is extremely important...

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Posted by Claud2001

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Posted by ddunne23

Here's an idea to all those crazy parents :...turn off the TV, unplug the X-box, turn off the computer and teach your kids about healthy exercise and activities. Then they can eat all the Oreos they want and be well adjusted NORMAL heathly kids.

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Now that's what I call a fantastic parent in the making! I totally agree with you, Doreen!

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Thanks Claud! IMO, all of this hypersensitivity to certain foods lately is ridiculous. Everything in moderation will help you have a heathly happy child. It drives me nuts all these diet fads! Carbs are now seen as unhealthy by all the extreme low carb followers. I mean what next, your poor kid is going to have to eat a peanut butter and jelly Adkins wrap?! And forget the juice boxes and Capri Sun drinks...way too much sugar and net carbs. I just think that everyone worries to much and jumps on the fad band wagons without really thinking through it logically and just altering their childs lifestyle to teach healthy moderation.

What the heck is with KFC now calling themselves Kitchen Fresh Chicken! So next week when 'the experts' decide that fried foods actually clear your arteries and don't clog then, they will revert to Kentucky Fried Chicken! Sell outs!

Steps off soapbox....

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Posted by ddunne23

What the heck is with KFC now calling themselves Kitchen Fresh Chicken! So next week when 'the experts' decide that fried foods actually clear your arteries and don't clog then, they will revert to Kentucky Fried Chicken! Sell outs!

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ROTFLMAO!!!! Too funny and very well put (we need a clapping emoticon) But I'm sure those BBQ boneless buffalo wings are really healthy.

I crack up at all the Atkins this and Atkins that EVERYWHERE!! Ugh! It's the 'in' thing to do.

I do agree with the unnecessary sugar in juice though - it's empty calories - so I don't bother with it for Luke. He likes his 'Wata' anyway which I'm very happy about.

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Posted by Elizabeth


I do agree with the unnecessary sugar in juice though - it's empty calories - so I don't bother with it for Luke. He likes his 'Wata' anyway which I'm very happy about.

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Good point there. For me, I think it is not really the fun of the juice inside the Capri Sun, but the fun when you poke the straw in and it goes everywhere. Those are the moments to cherish!

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We do juices in moderation, too....diluted 50/50 with water....nothing is off limits. Paul even enjoys a 'bop' (his word for lollipop) a couple of times a week!

I don't fully agree with Atkins or the extreme carb-cutting plans. But, for someone like me [who is insulin resistant], it does help to cut some of the sugar carbs out of my diet. However, I can still have whole grain, unbrominated breads and granola without sugar, so I don't feel deprived.