If you love your children you give them what's best for them. Needless to say, what's best for them is not always what they would like to have.

I have a niece who just turned 6, she is over 120 pounds. She has to wear woman's clothing, and it has to be tailored to fit her. My nephew, her older brother, is just over 7. He has trouble walking and trouble breathing, because of his weight.

Both of these children now need to be treated at the Children's Hospital, down-state. My niece for sleep apnea and problems with her lungs. My nephew for heart problems.
What's happening here?

Easter is just around the corner. For most children there will be an Easter egg hunt, and what will the kids find when the crack open those plastic eggs? Candy, candy, candy. There will be an easter basket on Easter morning, complete with the solid chocolate rabbit, and the marshmallow peeps.
Our family is rethinking these traditions.
If the children don't get candy this year, will they feel left out, deprived, or will they be made fun of?
Will there be cupcakes for the Easter celebration in their class at school?
Will candy be passed out, and if so, how much?
What about Easter dinner?
Will there be a huge ham, coated with honey, served up with sweet potatoes baked (of course) with lots of marshmallow?
Will there be a hundred different desserts at our family gathering?
what if there wasn't? Would it still feel like Easter?

And after Easter? There will be Thanksgiving and Christmas, and birthdays, and the Fourth of July, and New Year's Day- and all of the traditional feasting, and feasting, and feasting...
Isn't that what the "good life" is about?
Eat until you can hardly move, eat until you can't look at another bite of food...
This is how we celebrate, isn't it?

Mom's who love their kids give them the "very best."
We get up early to make them breakfast, and we pack them special "surprise" kisses and hugs (made of chocolate) in their lunches.
They have a balanced dinner of course, and we always do dessert, because it makes the family happy.

Sometimes we give the kids "special treats" too. We take them to McDonald's for lunch, or bring home pizza on a Friday night.
We might make them a milkshake or a homemade banana split. (Nothing says I love you like a banana split!)

When our kids have something to celebrate- we usually go out to dinner.
When our kids have a bad day, and they are feeling sad, we get them a "little something" like a candy bar, or an

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Dangers of obesity?
We want to hear your view. Write now!