One of the teachers at my daughter’s afterschool program today caught her coming in from school with a mouthful of candy. Which is funny because just the day before, I gently reminded them that she’s not supposed to eat candy unless I or my wife clear it. We’re trying to teach her good habits. I know she’s being given sweets at school and at her afterschool program. I don’t want this to start being a problem later in her life, her dad being a diabetic and all.
She was told to spit it out. She knew what she was doing too because she had crammed all the candy in her mouth before she got to afterschool. So she was without.
The teacher then proceded to spend 15 minutes telling me about the incident. A quick minute would have been sufficient since I was running late anyway to take my daughter to karate. Abby’s been told time and again to not eat sweets. Every infraction costs her a week without treats at home. Good eating habits are important to us, but there’s an even more important reason: She has an allergy to peanuts. A serious one. And we’re doing all we can to make sure that one Reese’s cup doesn’t slip through and cause major problems.
Abby got the candy in school as a reward for good behavior. I’ve talked to her teacher about that. But as you’ll see soon in the paper, school isn’t the best place for you to rely on good nutrition. They can do better. But like most people, it’s easier not to.
At 10 or at 39 you are responsible for what you eat. But be respectful of others, too. Institutions can do better for us and our children, but for many reasons (money topping the list as it does with most things) they choose to do the wrong things.
We need to put a stop to it. That’s my mission, for me and for my family.