Or "normal"? I went to new parent orientation at Em's Montessori. The parents were all talking about birthday's and how the policy in the toddler room is to bring the kid's favorite fruit instead of a sugary snack (which I think is nice).
A parent pipes up how they do no sugar and will bring their own cake for their kid if they're invited to a party. No allergies, just don't want the kid eating cake. Is this a "thing" now? Have you had a parent bring cake for their kid (non allergy related). It just seemed odd to me.
Then it went on to how if you never kid your kid sugary snacks they'll never know what it is and therefore never eat it...It all just seemed odd to mean. I don't gorge my kid with snacks, but she knows what a cookie is!
(No, I did not judge the parent, was just taken aback)
Post by muppetinma on Aug 29, 2014 19:34:25 GMT -5
Please. As soon as that kid hits school and has an ounce of freedom, he's going to OD on Mt. Dew and Smarties. I understand wanting to limit it, but I feel like it's a bit too extreme.
Post by notoriousmeg on Aug 29, 2014 19:35:07 GMT -5
DS is only 2, and he knows what cookies and ice cream are, and he's had them. We don't offer them regularly, but he's around his older cousins and knows what treats are, and I would never bring a separate cake to a party for any reason other than allergy. But, to each his own.
I feel bad for that kid. Also, life tells me that he is more likely than his peers to gorge himself on candy at every possible opportunity due to his rather overbearing parents.
Please. As soon as that kid hits school and has an ounce of freedom, he's going to OD on Mt. Dew and Smarties. I understand wanting to limit it, but I feel like it's a bit too extreme.
This is what I did - I wasn't allowed to have oreos, sugary cereals, koolaid etc. My entire first year of college I lived on Oreos and cinnamon toast crunch.
Please. As soon as that kid hits school and has an ounce of freedom, he's going to OD on Mt. Dew and Smarties. I understand wanting to limit it, but I feel like it's a bit too extreme.
This is what I did - I wasn't allowed to have oreos, sugary cereals, koolaid etc. My entire first year of college I lived on Oreos and cinnamon toast crunch.
It seems like a preacher's daughter set-up if you ask me.
BIL is into that. His sons from a previous relationship had no sugar before age 5. SIL and all my ILs are into sweets and baking. When BIL is there, nephew will have fruit while we all have cake. If he is not tgere, SIL gives him a tiny piece.
Oh and actually his sons are now 14, and never eat any junk. They think McDs is the worst place on earth yet they have never tried it. So I guess it works...
Even the vegan couple I know let there daughter have regular cake at a birthday party. Unless it's an allergy I would never restrict my kids eating so much.
Post by miniroller on Aug 29, 2014 19:43:54 GMT -5
Man, I remember feeling really bad for my niece b/c SIL made her a sugar-free cupcake for her 1st & 2nd birthdays. She's given up by now, though (2.5); in moderation, of course. This is a whole new level...
I don't think it's that odd to not allow sugar, but to bring another cake to someone else's event is odd.
I do think that some people just don't have a sweet tooth and it's half learned. A lot of my friends from other (3rd world) countries don't really like sweets like Americans do because they didn't grow up with cookies, cakes, candy, etc like we do. Even when moving to the land of processed goods, they still don't eat it.
My parents did this with me. No sugar at all until I was 3, and then very little. I remember not being allowed cake at bday parties. Well, junk food totally became a forbidden fruit, and I still have a weird relationship with food because subconsciously, I think of anything that's not a raw fruit/veggie as a "treat."
Needless to say, my kids are allowed sugar, and the occasional happy meal. I want non-health food to be in moderation, but not anything super special.
Post by hopecounts on Aug 29, 2014 19:49:48 GMT -5
I think it can seriously backfire. It may work for a while but eventually they are going to either hit a rebellious phase or peer pressure or just the freedom to eat whatever when you move out and the kid is going to have no concept of moderation. It is far healthier to teach your kid to appreciate sweets in a healthy way (birthday cake at a party, an occasional dessert) then make it forbidden fruit.
Well, I do think that sugar-added sweets throw off your taste for other, more natural sugars. Like, 100 years ago my kids would think an orange was SUCH a tasty treat, but now it's not sweet enough for them. All they want is candy, brownies, ice cream, etc. So we're set up for a lifetime of sugar addiction.
I would be amused if someone brought their own cake to my child's birthday party unless it was due to a dietary restriction. Although Jalepeno Mel does make a good point. I had a friend in high school who got so hopped up on sugar it was ridiculous and I guess I would prefer my child not go through that.
Post by EmilieMadison on Aug 29, 2014 20:33:24 GMT -5
Weird, yeah. Hopefully they loosen up by the time the kid is older. If this is the toddler room I assume this child is around 2, so still really young.
I think that's weird. Poor kid. I mean, we don't eat processed or sugary sweets at home, but birthday parties are an anything goes situation.
We just call treats "sometimes foods," and the kids get them... Sometimes. Usually a small treat once a week, with birthday parties as icing on the metaphorical cake.