Some people have no idea!

On Fridays the boys have swimming lessons and my mother takes them so I don’t have to restrain T from throwing himself in the water!

After swimming she buys them an icecream each. This Friday I had to do some jobs in town so I met them at the pool afterwards. My mother said to T that if he could find something he wanted to eat she’d buy it for him. So he found himself a packet of chippies (potato chips). If you are lucky, he’ll eat maybe 6 on a good day. Often he hands them back to you if you offer them! But there are plenty of calories, fats – and the salt makes him more likely to drink his formula…all good.

He was very slow walking along so the others got ahead of T and I and didn’t see this exchange – a lady saw us making our way along the street and stopped me and said “You shouldn’t be feeding those to a child!”. I was totally stunned and she walked off before I had a chance to come up with a smart reply – but really!

It’s no business of a stranger anyway, T hardly looks obese after all, and if he eats even 1 it’s a huge achievement!

There’s a lot of publicity here about the obesity epidemic, school now check the kids’ lunch boxes to ensure they are only bringing in healthy food – not even home baking is allowed if it has chocolate etc – I’m soooo glad I’ve got my kids out of school before things went totally mad. They are talking about putting extra taxes on high calorie foods here in New Zealand. And it’s got to the point where total strangers feel able to pass comment on what you feed your child in the street!! Obesity is a serious problem, don't get me wrong. I know a passerby on the street won't know T's history - but that's precisely why you shouldn't pass comment. Chips are a treat food - and kids are entitled to treats every so often, quite apart from the facts of T's eating habits!

I was totally stunned – and really angry! T handed me back the packet and refused to eat any anyway – I tried again later and he ate a grand total of 4! Yay for T!! But considering the day to day battles to get this child to eat and gain it was totally upsetting!

So, please anyone reading this - think first before you pass comment on parenting - that tantruming child and exhausted mother might have had a day of it and so not be coping so well, that tantrum from a much older child could be an autistic meltdown or sensory overload, and that packet of chips could be a crucial part of a child's calorie intake!! Help - don't criticise!