I Would Just Like to Say …

What the fuck?!?!

I’m busting my ass to get said ass to the gym three to four times a week these days. I’m still in the ramping up phase of working out—it’s not exactly a habit yet. (Which means, I’m driving myself on sheer willpower, vanity, and the hopes that I’ll live long enough to see my kids grown up.) I’m running and lifting weights. Today I tried the stairmaster, which is clearly still the master as it was hard! (12 minutes, 42 flights, 55! calories) Then treadmill time, then weights.

Ian has been working out regularly (religiously) for 5 months now. It’s become part of his “lifestyle,” as has eating right. He looks and feels fantastic. Lucas loves joining daddy during his workouts, and even “works out” alongside him, lifting tiny dumbells, jumping around, riding his bike.

We try so hard to be good examples for our kids. We try to model good habits: exercise, healthy foods (organic, locally grown, high protein, low sugar, whole grains, etc.). We do active things with them, like riding bikes and taking walks and swimming.

So, how come today when I take my kids to the gym childcare, the childcare people give Lucas FUCKING CANDY?!

It’s bad enough that the older kids (Lucas’s age group) are allowed to play video games instead of engaging in active play if they want to. There is nothing quite so disturbing as looking through the window and seeing seven or so slack-jawed, staring fat kids under 8 with game controllers in their hands.

This morning, I said to Lucas, “I would be very happy if you spent your time here playing ball and being active instead of watching video games.” He did as I asked. He played basketball. 

But when I arrived to pick him up, he and five other kids were sitting in a circle on the floor around Perky Childcare Worker sucking on lollipops. She proudly explained, “Well, the court was a mess with balls everywhere, and the children helped me clean them up, so I gave them candy.”

Um … Manager? May I have a word with you?

6 Responses to “I Would Just Like to Say …”

  • mickibean
    July 28, 2008 at 4:44 pm

    OMG…you know my big mouth would have fucked some peeps up. Why is it that people think its ok to just shove refined SUGAR into small kids mouths? arg. I just spent my time in Ohio trying to convince my mother that cheese from a CAN does not count as a good dairy product for a 6 year old. Good god, is it just me or is this world twisted?

    Reply

  • samayam
    July 28, 2008 at 7:14 pm

    No doubt. We had a hell of a time convincing them that it was not OK to just leave on random Disney cartoons in the infant/toddler room. At least one of the daycare workers would sometimes announce to the other kids “OK, T & X are here so we have to turn off the TV now.” That was infuriating.

    Reply

  • dakini_grl
    July 28, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    Oh good god. Both of these scenarios drive me batshit crazy. I think that’s all I will say right now. Gr.

    Reply

  • sarabellae
    July 28, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    It is truly infuriating. I’m not a perfect mom and I do allow my kids to eat some treats once in a while, but I sure wish there weren’t so many people pressuring us to give them crappy food. Some family members think every interaction with my kids is a “special occasion” and therefore appropriate for treats.

    Ian and I call the grandparent problem OPTTGIH (Old People Trying To Get Into Heaven).

    The end result of all the treats given by others is that we usually feel obligated to say no more often than not, making us the “bad guys” and the treatgivers the “good guys.”

    Reply

  • sarabellae
    July 28, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    I remember that well. The TV isn’t on in the infant/toddler room anymore. Disney music is on, however. But hey, I can live with that. I really, really dislike the video game thing though. The assumption is that every child plays video games!

    Honestly, it is already extremely difficult to hand over my precious children to teenaged or college-aged childcare workers who rotate in and out of the room constantly, ensuring that the kids (especially Asher) have a hard time adjusting and feeling safe. It’s hard looking in to the room and seeing the two girls chatting to each other instead of playing with/caring for the children. I don’t need the candy thing, too.

    Reply

  • frosteee
    July 28, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    Once we start to focus on our diets, our eyes open up to all of the super persuasive (evil) advertising for non-nutritious things. It makes it hard to switch from the “normal” to the “better” because we’re bombarded as a society to eat crap and junk food.
    Refined sugar is EVERYWHERE and it is a total drug that is bad for us and people don’t realize what it actually does to our bodies.
    I have to constantly explain why sugar is bad to my ignorant diabetic grandmother because she doesn’t want to change her diet, yet she doesn’t like that whole diabetic coma thing.

    I’m still trying to not have refined sugar in my life and it’s been a difficult journey avoiding it. It’s best if you are raised not to commonly have it around in your house, I’m happy that you and Ian are aware of your family’s nutrition and I stand by your choices.

    You rock, mama! Keep up the good workouts and hang in there

    Reply

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  • About Sara

    Thanks for visiting! I’m Sara, editor and writer, wife to Ian, and mother of two precious boys. I am living each day to the fullest and with as much grace, creativity, and patience as I can muster. This is where I write about living, loving, and engaging fully in family life and the world around me. I let my hair down here. I learn new skills here. I strive to be a better human being here. And I tell the truth.

    Our children attend Waldorf school and we are enriching our home and family life with plenty of Waldorf-inspired festivals, crafts, and stories.

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    “Love doesn’t just sit there like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new.” —Ursula K. LeGuinn

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