A Lesson Learned Deserves a Pat on the Back

It's always nice when my kids say something that lets me know that I've taught them something of value. I was sitting on the sofa yesterday working and Ty was watching TV next to me when a commercial came on for a cup you can use to make homemade ice cream in minutes. I'd seen the commercial before but had never really paid attention to it until Ty mentioned something that one of the kids in the commercial said; next time it came on I paid attention.

The commercial starts off with a three or four different kids complaining: "There's nothing to eat;" "I want something sweet;" "I'm bored." Then the voice over comes on and tells parents to give their kids something to do by letting them make their own ice cream. That's when Ty spoke up, Zach and Dolly concurred, and all three made me take notice. "Oh, sure! Your kid complains that he's bored so you give him something to eat. That's not right." For all the times they tell me they don't remember me saying this or that they definitely remembered that one thing. Don't eat just because you're bored.

I've spent years trying to get it through to my kids that they don't need to run to the kitchen for a snack just because they have nothing to do. They've asked what to do instead and I've given them suggestions; some they liked and some they didn't but they still got the message. Occasionally Zach and Dolly still whine that they're hungry when they're bored but we find something else to do instead and they get over it.

They've asked why they're not supposed to eat when they're bored and I've explained that it's unhealthy and will put them on the road to bad habits. We know way too many people who are severely overweight and I've told them that most of the people we know eat just for the sake of something to do. I've told my kids that they're supposed to eat when they're hungry and if they need a snack at some point I've told them what's healthy and what's not. They're getting the message, I just wish I could get it through to their father now. He seems to always have junk in his house that the kids eat constantly while they're there and then they don't want to eat the healthy stuff I have here when they return.

I'm sidetracking, though. I was just really pleased to know that my kids caught the snag in the commercial that's actually giving kids the idea to eat when they're bored. It's sad, actually, that with all the crap in the news about overweight kids there are still companies that blatantly tell parents it's okay to give their kids a junk food snack when the kids feel they have nothing to do.

At least I know my kids have gotten the right idea. Even though they don't always like it they still understand the right thing to do to, at least, try and stay on the healthy track - when they're at home, anyway. I've been trying to tell them to ask their dad to buy fruits, crackers, cheeses and the like so they're not just eating crap the entire time they're at his house but I don't think they've done it yet. I may just have to suggest it to him myself since the doctor who did Zach's physical a couple of weeks ago spoke at length with me on the importance of my kids eating healthy. I can't force Paul to do what I suggest but I'll know I did my part to do what's right for our kids.

I'm sidetracking again, sorry. I just wanted to say how proud I am of my kids acknowledging the lesson they learned, and how proud I am of me for getting a positive message into my kids' heads. That one lesson lets me know that there are others they understand but can't admit to just yet because Mom can't always be right. I do know there's one that they're still having a problem understanding and I really need to get on it more and more with the boys getting older; it's the issue of dating and staying monogamous. With their dad as a role model it's kind of hard to make them understand certain issues but that's a different post. Perhaps tomorrow I'll get into that one because I certainly could use some advice on it.

For tonight, though, I'm just enjoying the high of having my kids admit that they've processed and understand one lesson that will, hopefully, stay with them for life. It may not be a big lesson in your mind but to me it's huge since their family on both the maternal and paternal sides seem to have a problem with what I call the "big butt syndrome". There are very few of us who are not obese and I'd like my kids to stay in that minority. So far, so good; and I'm proud of all of us.

Until next time...peace to all.