Mom Teaches Kids about the Other F-Word

Mom Teaches Kids about the Other F-Word

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Mom•Logic's Julie: New study finds "fatism" is more widespread than racism.

"Fat" is a bad word in my house. So when I read the new study that found weight discrimination occurs more frequently than race, age, or gender discrimination, it just reinforced my belief that kids should never use this word under any circumstances.

Although my husband is fit and trim now, he was a chubby kid growing up. So we're particularly sensitive when people call others fat. My husband knows how hurtful that word was to him as a child--how it cut like a knife every time it was aimed directly at him. So, from birth, we have taught our kids never to use the word "fat" no matter what.

A few weeks ago, my 7-year-old son told me that he knew how to spell the F-word. I was a little nervous until he said F-A-T. I smiled, feeling pretty good about myself and my parenting skills...that is, until he added, "I also know how to spell the OTHER F-word: F-*-*-K!" Oops. I guess I'm not as perfect as I thought. Oh well--at least I try.

Is fat a bad word in your house?

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My husband uses the F-word all the time in context to my one son’s over eating. I tell him to stop saying that “its going to give the kid a complex”. But like Julie’s husband, my man was a chubby kid, he thinks it was because he over ate as a child and not due to genetics. It’s tough, one hand you have to regulate your child’s consumption, but on the other you don’t want him to have a complex. Anyone suggest another way of explaining healthy moderate eating and body shape?

- dulce303

Posted 04/05/08 08:11 PM

This is a joke right? What’s the next “bad” word - dumb? As obesity continues to rise and children are developing weight-related diseases that once were only found in adults, maybe fat SHOULD be a bad word.

- kllace

Posted 04/06/08 12:45 AM