Jodies questions

I used to babysit, near full-time, after school while I was in high school. Josh and Joe were the boys. They were adorable, sweet boys. I really loved those kids, as I spent alot of two years with them. THey were both big boys, though, and I wasn't in much place to say much, as I had been big since being a child too. But I worried abot them, because I knew what it was like to grow up fat. I don't think anyone in the family saw their weight as a problem. They said even their Pediatriciation told them they would be linebackers for the Bears. But then I left for college, and their mom decided to stay home from work. I would come visit for a while, but I just got sad for them too much, the time I went. Josh had been always looking forward to playing football, to 'fullfill his destiny'. He tried in enroll in peewee football that year, but they told him he was too big. He even tried to cut back on food on his own, and run the block, and lost some weight, but was still too big on the last day to sign up. They were afriad he'd hurt the other, 'normal' sized boys. He was crushed. Now not only was he fat, but he was never going to be 'ok' fat, ie a foot ball player to him. I haven't seen them in a long time. I hope Josh and Joe are doing okay. 

That question hits home for me too. Gage began being overweight when he got into school. It broke my heart when he'd come home from K+ and hear from him all the mean stuff the kids would say. First grade football he was allowed to play only if the other time had a player as big as he was, otherwise he had to sit out. In second grade he lost about 15lbs and was normal sized as the rest of the kids. Third grade up to present it has been a struggle for him with his weight. I try to keep him as active as possible. A lot of times it's an actual screaming match. And just as we are at our wits in with eachother - we'll pass by a family that is worse off then us. Mulitple children severally obese. Parents in resturants that allow their children to eat grown up meals. It's those times we have learned that GOD is speaking to us. We apologize to eachother and discuss a sensible plan for Gage to work on.

But still I have problem with him wanting to just hang out all day and watch tv or just play video games for hours upon hours. ANd we argue about meals, especially when we go out. 

I understand now it will all ways be a struggle between him and I so that he doesn't become obese. 

In the past.. I was a failure for him. If I hadn't had the surgery I"m pretty sure he would have followed in my steps and became obese. I mean - I established his eating patterns when I was still obese and having horrible eating patterns. My surgery brought on a lot of changes for Gage and even three years out he's still adjusting, including his eating and exercising patterns. There are good days for him and bad days. 

But my heart aches for those children that are and the parents the promote obesity and incourage it whether they realize it or not. The phrase "Ignorance is bliss".. is not really acceptable in these situtations. And these situtations are becoming more and more common. 

I asked the question because it's a question that weighs heavy on my mind. IT'snot that this is a generation with an obesity problem... this is a generation being raised not to value themselves. I think as a society as a whole... and with the phrase "It takes a community to raise a child."... we should stop looking the other way and help these individuals. I certainly didn't ask the question for anyone to interalize it and make it hurtful to themselves. Just wanted a current topic in the news to be talkable and open some eyes to maybe help a child that you may know that is obese or on the verge of being obese. 

Jodi