I spent some time today with a good friend who shall remain nameless in order to protect her identity and her safety… and quite potentially her street cred. While we were together we talked about this that and the other thing, got pedicures, ate lunch.
We were also really really judgmental of movie stars while flipping through a trash magazine… that’s what you do with your girlfriends in nail salons right?
That’s not what I want to talk to you about though. What I want to tell you is that somehow in the course of the conversation she bounced a parenting scenario off me. Not raising any children herself she had a question about the correctness of a happening or 10 that she had witnessed and wanted to hear my thoughts on them since I try to keep my kid healthy and allow her sugar in moderation.
Oh. My. Gawd.
I can not tell you how monumentally proud I was. I am. I am moderate when it comes to letting my child have sugar and things that are unhealthy.
Oh. My. Gawd.
Most parents either think I’m a fricking nut because I don’t allow my kid to guzzle caffeinated over sugared beverages and eat candy all the time. And because she can’t have juice or candy or sweets after a certain time of day unless it’s a special occasion. Some people think it makes me some sort of food controlling nazi. The truth is I was very strict about it when she was little and she has just developed some very healthy and particular eating habits that make it easy to continue on that path. It’s true that if she asks I say “No” sometimes… but the truth is she doesn’t ask often. Usually she asks for fruit or veggies or bread or cheese for a snack. Not a candy bar.
There are other parents who think I’m evil for letting the processed sugar devil into my child at all.
But my friend today… she asked my opinion because of my skills at moderating. I saw it as a victory for me and every other parent trying their damnedest to keep their kid healthy in body and mind. Sure I want my daughter to have a healthy childhood, but I want her to enjoy it too.
So friend that complimented me SOOOOOOO much by asking my opinion and validating the food choices I help my child to make.
Fucking THANK YOU.
CamiKaos 
that rules, and yeah that validation is good for ya
I get crap from family because I’m too ‘strict’ with my darling boy. But I don’t want him to follow down the same path of crappy eating that we are trying to get off of. Good for you! I’m proud when my kid picks the healthy choices over the junk too.
you frickity fracking pedicure cheater!! *sniff* How could you????
Oh, and I’m glad K eats good food, blabbity, blabbity, blab, blab.
You’re right on. My mother wouldn’t let me have candy when I was a kid (except for some carefully rationed out at Halloween). To this day I’m grateful to her for it, since I attribute my lifelong robust health to her healthy foods policy. Also, I never inculcated a tolerance for sugar so I enjoy one candy bar and its Sugar Rush City….Wheeee!(Its fun).
you know, MM took that route with MG, and I have to tell you, it’s great. She’s a fish and veggie lover, I have not even SEEN the girl eat a candy bar, YET (she does eat occasional sour candy) and we don’t keep soda in the house. What you are teaching her is good for her long term health, and when she is 90, and spry, with all her own teeth and her faculties, she will have YOU to thank.
Fantastic job.
I have since day 1 fully supported and appreciated the way you raised your daughter in regards to food choices. It has been such a joy to sit down with such a beautiful young woman and hear her ask for “more brie” instead of “more candy”
I applaud you and how you have supported her healthy eating habits! ROCK ON!
I just love moments like that…
I really liked your blog! Praise Bacon and Hallelujah :)