So I usually don't dive into to worldly topics here..even though I have immersed myself into politics over the last couple years and have alot to say and several opinions about the direction of the country...that is neither here nor there. Furthermore, I have been educating myself on nutrition and health and made it my priority to make sure my kids are healthy and we are giving them everything their bodies need to stay that way...we don't watch TV during the day(or at least not a lot on really hot days) so my kids can constantly stay moving, exploring and develop their imaginations...and then driving and listening to talk radio (yes, I listen to talk radio unless we are listening to the Alvin and The Chipmunks soundtrack or the Curious George soundtrack...very entertaining) and heard the most unnerving thing...that children as young as 8 could receive cholesterol medicine...seriously???
Let me give you a little back story...I had my 1 year old at the pediatrician for her 1 year check about 2 months ago and the you have seen pictures of her here...she is a healthy baby in my opinion...the doctor told me that she is to thin and needs to gain weight...She weighs 20 pounds, I think that is normal for a one year old, that is what Griffin weighed when he was one. As a matter of speaking, that is what I weighed when I was one. I asked the doctor if she was serious and she said "Yes, we will look at her weight at her next check up and decide if we need to put her on a high fat diet to increase her weight. How often are you feeding her?" This doctor has seen us more than we have seen most of our relatives due to all of Griffin's problems and this has never come up before. In my mind I am just spinning circles and angry...as the doctor asks me if McKenna can say any words...I tell her yes she can say about 7 or 8. The doctor says...she can't say that many...so I start to say out loud the words that kenna can say and in perfect little form kenna repeats the words. "Mama, dada, dog, duck, ball, no, yes, stop, what's that"...the doctor has a somewhat impressed look on her face...so in some what rude but deserved form I told her "Well apparently I don't feed my children, but I do educate them." But at the end of this checkup after we were told she is the 95th percentile for height but in the 12th for weight, I am thinking who are children getting compared too, why don't we compare them to themselves and make sure that they are growing and making progress...
Which brings me to this outrageous topic of giving cholesterol medicine to children as young as 8. What happened to playing outside and being active, what happened to eating healthy nutritious meals together as a family, what happened to taking the time to invest in the things that will teach your children how to be healthy, happy adults. Why do we have to result to medicine, why can't we alter our behavior and lifestyles to make the correct steps for our children's future. I am not saying that I am a saint, I have been through my fair share of drive thru's...our lifestyle is due in large part to Griffin, we don't have anything that is processed in our house, we eat mainly fresh foods especially fruits and veggies, and I refuse to give my kids anything with high fructose corn syrup in it. We don't spend money on frivolous stuff, but I do make sure to spend money on organic and healthy food, I know it is more expensive but my children will thank me when they are older ( I hope) and Tim and I are in good health. They do get treats and "exciting" food every once in a while...but I am happy to say that both my kids prefer broccoli to most things including ice cream...yes Griffin has asked for broccoli instead of ice cream on several of occasion after dinner and we always give it to him.
Now that I have gone on for a ridiculously long time...my point is that instead of shoving pills down the throats of our children for a band aid over the problem, maybe we should take a step back and reevaluate the way in which they are being raised and change their diet and get them away from the tv and video games...
Thursday, July 10, 2008
What is this country coming to?
Posted by Sara at 12:01 PM
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8 thoughts from you:
I totally agree with you. It is so horrible that they would give you a hard time about Mckenna's weight. I had the opposite problem with Heidi. The nurse actually weighed her 3 times and took her height 3 times and kept saying "she doesn't look fat"... she actually said that. And I kept thinking because she isn't, she is just SOOO strong and to be that strong you have muscle which weighs more then baby fat!!! It's ridiculous. Then on the other hand they tell me both my boys are too skinny. They all eat the same things and play the same games so what do they want me to change ?!?! Maybe the are just who they are and we need to keep giving them good food choices and lots of run around fun and let their bodies decide how big they are going to be!!!
It's about time someone said it!
Seriously, Sara you can't let the doctors facilitate what you know to be right for your kids. Noah is in the 10th percentile for both height and weight. Obviously we don't feed our kids! :) Your doing a fine job with your two!
Hey Angie, I sent you guys a little package a couple weeks after we got home for GA, did you guys get it???
Soundly put! Presley is tiny too and ya know what... we know what's better for them. We are around them and raising them... so it sounds like your kids are getting what they need and not what the American Pediatric Counsel says.. isn't the major problem with American kids obesity anyway... maybe they need to look at that!
Well, in my personal opinion, McKenna needs to go on an all lard diet. I am sure that we can put her on a liquefied lard IV to pump the fat right into her system! While we are at it, we can schedule her for a triple bypass. Then she can be just like every other child in the US with a lazy mom who gets their kid two donuts and a soda in the morning before a 12 hour stint in daycare, picks them up and feeds them McDonald's, and lets them watch HBO as they are falling asleep. (Okay...so HBO really has nothing to do with overweight kids, but I have come in contact with way too many kids who have seen Dawn of the Dead and Apocalypto to pass that subject up.) Now, I know that I am no spring chicken, nor do I have any kids to base my own opinion on, but I have seen enough bad parenting at the daycares to last me a lifetime and I know you have too. You are a good parent who has raised healthy kids (even though one started out not so healthy...he has come a long way). Your baby is normal, and looks normal, and is smarter than that doctor. And she is a total food monster. That doctor is dumb.
Sorry...it was Rant O'Clock.
Yes, we got the scrap book. It's adorable! Thank you so much for it. We really enjoyed having you guys over and just watching the kids play and run around in the back yard. That's one of my favorite things - to have a bunch of kids playing in the backyard and watch them have a blast!
I am definitely going to have to agree with you on this. Caden is 2 1/2 and he only weighs 26 lbs. The dr has never told me anything about him gaining weight. It's called being active and healthy. He loves fruits and veggies better than treats too. Just go with your instincts and keep doing what you are doing. McKenna certainly doesn't look like you are depriving her one bit! They both look perfect and healthy!
Hey Jen...you blog is locked and miss reading it...my email is saraj1221@hotmail.com...
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