Some of us can be harshly critical to slash and slander the pediatrician in this article. Not every "body" type are created equal. To be faced with the fear that your own children might be overweight is concerning. 2 of my five children have faced this very issue. What does a parent do. Michelle is merely coming at it from a parents point of view and sharing to the world. Yes her daughters private lives and issues are now out. For people to say, that by Michelle telling this, might some how cause her daughters to have future eating disorders is a bit concerning. Why must we point blame again and again. The lady is merely trying to help. How does Sasha and Malia feel about it? Who knows. I am not one to tell someone else how to raise their child, but when asked I will try to give sound advice from my learning experience's.
"Even with one-third of American children classified as overweight or obese, several critics are far more concerned with Michelle Obama’s anecdotal use of her daughters."I think we need to realize who the one's are that are passing judgment, the so called "critics".
I feel the First lady's concern. You want to teach your children the correct ways to live so they can grow up to be happy, healthy, stable adults. Teaching them that different choices have different outcomes. I have been ridiculed from peers, for teaching my children that they don't have to eat out of boredom. It is an unhealthy habit to start. But that is just one very simple example.
Why is it scandalous to get it out in the open, to talk, to invent new ways, to get the family involved? Being unhealthy, is that America's dirty little secret? That we should all keep behind close doors and live with our health problems. Whether it be inherited or caused from disease or just bad choices. I stand to say, that all of us could make better choices in the way we treat our bodies, skinny, overweight, or obese. Let's become more aware of these issues and see what we need to do or illuminate, to make a better self and then implement those things. Perfect health and wellness is there ever such a thing? Maybe not, but there is always room for improvement.
I agree with a lot of what your saying, i do not have any children but as a child i would want someone to talk to me before telling the world about my problems. Maybe the children do not mind, but they should be first on her list of people to talk to. As a mother she is worried about her children, telling the public will show that the Obama family is as normal as the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteI know, as a parent, how my daughter would feel if I were to tell one of my friends that my daughter was overweight. (She is not, by the way, and in fact could gain a few pounds...) If she were to find out that I told someone that, there would be some serious 'splain-in to do! I cannot imagine how the Obama's daughters must feel now that the whole freakin' world knows.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, if they are over-weight, the whole world already knows.
But this about more than weight. My daughter was a bit heavier when she was younger, but she grew out of it. The Obama's may do that as well. Or maybe, as you mention, they can make different choices that have more positive results. And you're right, eating out of boredom is never a good idea, and not just because you'll gain weight!
Us Americans are so insecure with who we appear to be on the outside. It's just always about appearance, isn't it? Am I saying that we should back off of the people who weigh a bit more than they should? Yes, and no. yes because it's their decision. No, because we want people to be healthy. But when it's our own kids, we need to help them make the right decisions by looking ahead for them. That's why they are kids and we are parents.
P.S. The Obama's aren't normal.