One Step at a Time

Beverly's Running Blog

Role Modelling

Filed under: Frying-Pan-on-the-Head Moments,General — beverly at 2:38 pm on Monday, February 28, 2005

Short story: Son has long-time friend over today. I have watched this 6 year-old boy over the past four years go from “what-a-big-boy” to obese. It’s so hard to see a child like that. Watching the two of them in my backyard just breaks my heart … he can’t run, climb on our playset. He doesn’t even seem to have that kid-like desire to move. He mostly just sat and watched Derek. And he was sweating like crazy when he came in. The eating is a whole other rant. All he wants is candy and pop. He was completely ticked that I served baby carrots with our pizza for lunch … much too healthy for him! I know his parents let him have free reign of the “treat drawer” and the pop in the fridge … and I also know that they call his Playstation his “favorite sport”.

This isn’t so short is it? Bear with me.

Conclusion: Today just impresses on me what a job we’re given as parents to be role models. Kids need to see us eat well, and need to see us choosing and enjoying physical activity. They’re watching … those sneaky things. Even when they don’t look like they are, indeed they’re watching.

4 Comments

79

Comment by jank

Monday February 28, 2005 @ 8:43 pm

Kids follow what they see, and it’s easy to forget the good stuff.

Keep charging, and keep teaching the good.

80

Comment by kirsten

Monday February 28, 2005 @ 9:15 pm

That is heartbreaking. I often have kids over to play with my girls. Some of the kids won’t eat my food either. eg. whole wheat bread. They tell me that they’ve never had whole wheat bread before.

By the way, glad to hear you liked your hot tub!

81

Comment by kirsten

Monday February 28, 2005 @ 9:17 pm

I mean “like” your hot tub. silly me. kirsten

82

Comment by Chris Brogan...

Tuesday March 01, 2005 @ 7:58 am

It’s astounding what we teach the children of the world on one hand, and then find shocking when we read the statistics on the other. But saving the little roly poly kids can’t necessarily start with them. It’s a system. But then what? Parents are touchy about being told what to do. They feel under pressure as it is. You’ve struck on a chord that usually bothers me, and that kat always fixes by saying, “Just be the best YOU can be, and maybe that will influence others.”

By your children being healthy in front of this boy, you’re doing the kid the only real service you can provide. I’m sure he reports what he ate when he gets back home. Maybe, just maybe, a little of it sticks in the minds of the folks.

(Post office today at lunch for sure. Sorry for the delay. Stupid procrastinating mixed with flu!)

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.