MuskogeeUSA » Childcare

Fire the parents, not the clown

admin — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:34:11 +0000

Corporate Accountability International and hundreds of health professionals are calling for McDonalds to ‘fire’ Ronald McDonald. It all stems from the epidemic of child obesity we have in this country and the fact that McDonalds markets to children.

I don’t dispute we have a problem with childhood obesity in America, but there are many things to blame for it and unhealthy eating is only one part of this problem. I also don’t dispute that McDonalds markets to children. However, instead of blaming some clown, maybe we should ask, “what is the parents’ responsibility in this?”

Companies have for years been targeting children in their marketing. Probably even more so now that parents seem to have forgotten the word – “No”. I remember well that my parents knew that word and used it often. And I’m all the better for it.

Parents nowadays are too concerned with being their child’s friend instead of the authority figure they are supposed to be. Children have enough friends. They need structure and someone to enforce boundaries and provide guidance (parents). Children will take the path of least effort unless they are nudged in the right direction. Parents need to teach their children that there are temptations in this world and how to resist them. Unfortunately, many parents also take the path of least resistance, so when their little snowflakes throw a fit, they will give in and let the child have his or her way lest the little monster be upset.

Children are faced with temptation to take the easy path every day. Television, internet, video games, and movies all provide diversion to physical activity. Easy, greasy fast food provides a quick (and fattening) meal for busy families constantly on the move. Children do not use their imaginations any more like they used to.

Unless there are parents who are not afraid to say “no, you will do this instead” or “no, you will eat this instead”, firing a clown isn’t going to do anything to assuage the obesity problem in the US.

So, parents, tell your kids they can’t eat junk food every day; tell them to go outside and play, and run, and jump; restrict their time on the television and computer and have them read a book and use their imaginations; teach them to make good choices by your own example. In short – be their parent, not their friend.

Long live Ronald McDonald!

In this post, I used the word parents to mean any adult figure in charge of raising a child be it parents, step-parents, grand-parents, aunts, uncles, guardians, foster parents … well, you get the picture.

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Breastfeeding: Whose choice is it anyway?

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:55:34 +0000

It seems as if supermodel Giselle has stirred up a hornet’s nest by making the statement that mandatory breastfeeding should be a worldwide law. Of course, many moms were angered by this statement and some even felt inadequate. In fact, breastfeeding has been in the news quite a lot lately with new laws that support breastfeeding moms to short-sighted managers who want to prohibit breastfeeding in their establishments. But, whose choice is it anyway?

Benefits of breastfeeding for baby

There is absolutely no doubt as to the health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child. The child gets the benefits of mom’s antibodies and other immunities, fewer stomach problems, fewer ear infections, and fewer lower respiratory infections. Actually, the list continues. The first milk (colostrum) contains large amounts of secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) that coats the baby’s mucous membranes, stomach and intestines to protect against invading germs. Secretory IgA is also available in the later breast milk in lower quantities.

Breastfeeding benefits extend long beyond the end of breastfeeding. Studies have shown that exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months can set your child up with immunities that last not only throughout childhood, but also into later life. These studies show a lower risk of diabetes, high cholesterol and inflammatory bowel disease.

Breastfeeding can also help protect the baby from allergies. Babies who are fed formula based on cow’s milk or soy tend to have more allergic reactions than babies who are breastfed. Scientists think this is due to the lack of secretory IgA protecting the baby’s intestinal tract.

Breastfeeding is also linked to higher cognitive functions. Tests have shown that breastfed children tend to have higher IQs, do better on vocabulary tests than their formula-fed counterparts. Breastfeeding also promotes emotional bonding which also helps cognitive development.

Breastfeeding also has been shown to help reduce childhood obesity. Breastfed babies tend to only eat until they are satisfied and stop, setting up a healthy pattern of eating. It also has been linked to reducing a child’s risk of becoming overweight as a teen or adult.

Benefits of breastfeeding for mom

For mom, breastfeeding has it’s benefits as well. Breastfeeding can reduce stress levels and lower the risk of postpartum depression. Studies have shown that women who don’t breastfeed or stopped breastfeeding early showed a higher risk of postpartum depression. Oxytocin released during breastfeeding often has a calming effect on mom. Oxytocin also helps the uterus contract and reduce postpartum bleeding.

Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of certain types of cancers. The studies have shown that the longer a mom breastfeeds, the lower her risk for ovarian and breast cancer.

Numerous studies have found that the longer women breastfeed, the more they’re protected against breast and ovarian cancer. For breast cancer, nursing for at least a year appears to have the most protective effect.

It’s not entirely clear how breastfeeding helps, but it may have to do with the structural changes in breast tissue caused by breastfeeding and the fact that lactation suppresses the amount of estrogen your body produces. Researchers think the effect on ovarian cancer may be related to estrogen suppression as well.

Whose choice is it?

Okay, now that I’ve extolled the benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby, the question is still: Whose choice is it anyway? Well, for all the benefits, I reject Giselle’s call that it be made mandatory and legally required. That idea is ludicrous at best. Some mothers don’t feel comfortable breastfeeding, some can’t breastfeed. And some others simply don’t want to or don’t have the time. Some mothers want to, but don’t have the support of family and friends.

It is ultimately mom’s choice. It has been shown breastfeeding has definite benefits, but if mom doesn’t feel comfortable or doesn’t want to, but is forced to breastfeed, the effects may be worse than not breastfeeding at all.

If you are a friend to a nursing mom, offer your support and encouragement, but not judgment. If you are a restaurant or store manager, don’t condemn a mom who’s nursing discreetly (as most moms do).

Mom, it’s your choice – and your choice alone. Whether or not you decide to breastfeed, do not allow anyone to judge you or make you feel any less a good mother.

More Information:

How breastfeeding benefits you and your baby | Babycenter

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Does McDonalds prey on weak parenting?

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:44:26 +0000

Apparently, the Center for Science in the Public Interest believes that McDonalds preys on weak parenting, so they are suing McDonalds. Actually, according to this article from Google, they are alledging the chain is “unfairly and deceptively” marketing the toys to children to sell Happy Meals. But, whose fault is it? McDonalds, or weak parents?

I say it’s not McDonalds fault that parents can’t say no to their little snowflakes snowballs, but the parents’. They should try it. It’s an easy word consisting of two little letters: n-o. One syllable: no. It can be said in a variety of ways; soothing: noooo; commanding: NO!; or simply: no.

“At some point parents get worn down,” Jacobson says. “They don’t always want to be saying no to their children. We feel like an awful lot of parents would be relieved if this one pressure was removed from them.”

Let’s practice. “Mommy, can we go to McDonalds again today?” “No. We ate there yesterday and the day before.” “Please?” “No.” “Pretty please? I promise to clean my room, walk the dog, and cure cancer!” “No.” “But, Mom!” “No. That’s final. If I hear another word about it, I will send you to your room.”

See? That’s simple. Parents need to stop being friends to their children and be the parents they need. Parenting is never about making simple choices and winning popularity contests with your children. Parenting is hard work. Proper parenting is almost never popular to your children – until they are grown and have children of their own and can understand why you forbade them to play in the tub with a hairdryer.

So, McDonalds gives out toys with their Happy Meals. Big deal. They’ve been doing that ever since I knew what the Golden Arches looked like. I’ve had my share of Happy Meals and the included toys. Sure, we ate there at times, but not all the time – my parents knew how to say no. I learned that from them and practiced it on my own two children. Now, they are grown and seemingly unscarred.

To the Center for Science in the Public Interest: I’ve got an idea. Instead of suing McDonalds for providing toys in their meals, why don’t you sue parents who can’t say no?

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Obamacare dictates how you raise your children

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:38:14 +0000

National Socialism

With Obamacare being rushed through Congress and forced down the throat of American people, is it any wonder why these town hall meetings are turning into health care revolts? Another hidden agenda I discovered in the health care bill is that the government wants to come into our homes and limit parental rights over child care and development. Ah, yes, more evidence of Obama’s socialism. Because the government does everything else so well, do you want them telling parents how to raise their children and what to teach their children?

In this article by Chuck Norris, he says:

Dirty secret No. 1 in Obamacare is about the government’s coming into homes and usurping parental rights over child care and development.

It’s outlined in sections 440 and 1904 of the House bill (Page 838), under the heading “home visitation programs for families with young children and families expecting children.” The programs (provided via grants to states) would educate parents on child behavior and parenting skills.

The bill says that the government agents, “well-trained and competent staff,” would “provide parents with knowledge of age-appropriate child development in cognitive, language, social, emotional, and motor domains … modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting practices,” and “skills to interact with their child to enhance age-appropriate development.”

So, right there, the Obama administration and the democrats are telling you people out there that you do not have the sense to raise your own children. And since when are government agents “well-trained and competent staff”? Anyone who’s had any dealings with the federal government know that, while there ARE knowledgeable people on the payroll, the vast majority you deal with are not well-trained and not very competent.

Plus, on Page 840, the state “shall identify and prioritize serving communities that are in high need of such services, especially communities with a high proportion of low-income families.” So, according to this, low-income families know even less about parenting than middle- and upper-class families. Don’t get mad at me, your president said it in his health care monstrosity.

Also, whose values and principles do you think these agents will instill in your children? That’s right, the government’s. Sounds a lot like Hitler’s Germany, doesn’t it? Or even the failed USSR. They know that controlling the parenting and education, limiting options such as home schooling or private schools, will control the future of this country. That is a socialist’s dream.

Bottom line: Is all this what you want or expect in a universal health care bill being rushed through Congress? Do you want government agents coming into your home and telling you how to parent your children? When did government health care turn into government child care?

Government needs less of a role in running our children’s lives and more of a role in supporting parents’ decisions for their children. Children belong to their parents, not the government. And the parents ought to have the right — and government support — to parent them without the fed’s mandates, education or intervention in our homes.