People Watching. Post (1)

Eating my breakfast here at the Residence Inn the other morning full of biscuits, fruit, and country potatoes, I couldn't help but people watch as we all tried to make our way towards the the buffet. Like cows when I farmer drops off a bale of hay, our eyes lit up when the cook would bring out a new, luke warm, floppy piece of grease filled something. Moo!!!!

But back to the people watching. Most of us were young families trying to get our kids fed before heading off to Legoland or the beach for the day. And right there in front of us was a family no different, all except for their size. Now, I am not a judgemental person. Remember, I am the one eating the fried country potatoes AND biscuits. And they are good. But here is what I have an issue with, their eleven year old son who is about 100 pounds over weight, just like them. And just like his mom and dad I watched him go back a second and third time to pile high his plate. Here's the deal though, they had an average sized nine year old who ate a typical nine year old breakfast, cereal and a banana, then ran off to play. So I just don't get it. We'll I guess I do. I can be an enabler too. But the part I don't get is how you can see one child energetic, running around, thriving. And the other struggling to get out of his seat to go get more sausage. I want my children to be happy, have the things they desire and do the things they want, but as a parent I feel like you need to know when to say no. He has no idea of the potential health problems he has or will have. That is the part that makes me upset because THEY DO. And at the end of of the day they are making themselves and us pay more for health care and unfortunately limiting his future physically as well as emotionally. And that is what breaks my heart.

Parenting is hard. I struggle with a lot too. Do we make Jack go on that ride? Will he be a wuss when he is older because we didn't make him go on the jousting horses? I don't know. Maybe we are not doing him right just as much as they aren't. But what I do know is that a healthy kid will be a happy kid. And we as parents need to try our hardest to get our kids prepared and teach them the best we can. And trust me, I lay in my bed at night wondering if I did my best that day and pray for another so I can give it a good try again. I really don't know why I felt the need to post this comment, I guess it just plugged at my heart strings because I could see the struggles that he may go through. So I feel better now and am going to go clean out my junk food cabinet. :)