Today my son came home from his summer bible study church and he had a blast. It was water day and all the kids went swimming and played with water. I’m sure they had squirt guns, slides, etc. AND they had these really yummy things called “Root BOB Floats”……..*record scratches…..HOLD THE FORT!!!….WTF?*
Me: You mean root beer floats?
6 year old: I think so.
Me: They gave you soda?
6 year old: No, not soda mommy. Root beer floats. They had ice cream in them, not soda.
Me: What do you think Root beer is? That’s soda.
6 year old: No, it’s not.
Me: Yes, it is.
6 year old: No, it’s not.
Me: Don’t argue with mommy. Come to the computer with me and I’m going to show you what root beer is. It’s soda.
6 year old: Ohhhhh, they gave me soda? Uh oh.
Me: Yeah, uh oh is right.
6 year old: Are you mad at me mommy?
Me: No, I’m mad at them. You had no idea.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that soda is NOT an appropriate thing you should be feeding 6-year-olds. And before you say to me that I should have told the church about my son’s “diet restrictions” I’m going to tell you that my son has no diet restrictions. But soda is not something that a responsible adult should be feeding children THAT ARE NOT THEIR OWN. If you want to feed your 6 year old soda, that is your decision, but don’t feed it to other children without permission. That is not a “diet restriction” that is common sense.
Soda is not food. It has no nutritional value whatsoever. In fact, even Todd Putnam, an ex Coke executive has now seen the light about soda and is calling out his old industry for their marketing practices. I myself call soda “the devil” because I don’t think it has any redeemable qualities to it. Everyone around me knows that. In fact, one of the first things we ask of Mamavation Moms is they drop the soda. Even the diet soda. In fact, diet soda will make you GAIN weight not lose it. People are usually stunned when they hear that because the whole reason they switched was to lose weight. That says a lot when you think about how much sugar regular soda has in it…about the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. And over the period of a year, if you drank one can of soda per day you could gain up to 18 lbs. Shocking.
About 10 years ago, I was on a 4-6 diet coke per day kinda diet. I’ve never denied this. I was one of their biggest fans. And boy was I overweight. My life story is basically like the story of Saul turning to Paul in the new testament when it comes to soda and fast food. It used to be a BIG part of my life and now it is not. In fact, I spend most of my time dealing with it’s after effects in the lives of people I truly love…all of you. Obesity…I’m not talking people who have a little bit of padding, I’m talking about people who are on the precipice of Type 2 Diabetes and have Sleep Apnea. That is the reality of some of my closest friends and other people that I care about online. I’m fighting the after effects of soda in social media every day.
So back to my point, I called the Director of church activities at this church and gave her a piece of my mind. A big piece. I’m very nice and easy going…UNTIL you feed my child soda without my permission…then I’m not nice anymore. I’m not even upset about ice cream and cookies because most of the time I can deal with things like that outside the home…but with soda, you’ve crossed a line. That was my son’s first drop of soda…and it was given to him AT CHURCH of all places. She told me that the curriculum, including all snacks, was part of a program followed by churches all over the country called VBS SKY Group. Today, which is day 3 of the SKY program, they were recommended to give the children “high flying floats” i.e. Root Beer floats. So basically 6 year olds all across the country were given soda. So I went on Facebook to bitch, because that helps keep me stay sane at times like this, and I learned that there were quite a few churches out there that had enough wits about them to avoid giving their children soda. Hmmm…I’m thinking if there are churches out there avoiding that snack…it might be better to avoid it completely next year. Ya think?
I would like VBS to stop suggesting soda as a snack to churches all over the United States. I know it was a root beer float and some people are going to say I’m a nut for getting so bent out of shape, but I’m not the only mother that would have been upset by this. And if you don’t believe me, let’s do an experiment. All the churches that fed their children soda today should email all the parents to let them know that they were given root beer without parental notification…and just see what happens afterward…..or maybe not because the outcome to that MIGHT be a bit scary.
Soda kinda IS a bad word now. And just like the big bad tobacco companies…soda is on the outs. Get with the program.
What Would Jesus Do? Probably NOT drink lots of soda….
I saw your post on facebook. I’m really sad for them…. mostly because I’m assuming they’re about to wish they were dead.
HA! I’m not planning on organizing an attack because ultimately I like what they stand for BUT I think they would be smart to change the curriculum going forward.
Hi, there,
Sorry to interrupt your debate here, ladies, but how exactly do you delete thing on here, comments, I mean? Can you, even? Thank you, and have a great day!
Hello, Hi,
I would just like to take a minute to apologize for all comments left by a Jannie & Belinda. My apologies! I think they ran off at the mouth a little. Again, my apologies, and please, feel free to remove them. Have a great day!
Since I can’t seem to post to the Mom directly, guess I gotta say it here.
You’re crazy! You’re gonna raise the most over-protected kids EVER! And when they finally get out (if ever) they’re gonna take things to the extreme, just like the Independent Baptist Kids I grew up with. Their parents never let them to anything (no movies -too sinful, etc.). Now there’s running off to the city, clubbing 24/7 and doing all the things that their parents never let them do, growing up. BALANCE IS KEY, LADY! NOTHING is bad for you (aside from drugs n’ stuff) if taken is MODERATION! CHILLLLL!
I’m no health nut (wish I could be though!) but I would be LIVID if they gave my kid soda or even considered it as part of a snack. Go get em mama!
My toddler has already had his first sip of soda, so I am impressed by you getting 6 years out on that.
But it’s not like it was soda and graham crackers for snack every day. Dd you ask what kind if food they were serving? I’m signing up mine for preschool and that was the first question I asked.
I’m sorry the record is broken, but at least it was a special treat like a rot beer float.
What I find ironic are the people who are saying this isn’t such a big deal. Every mom has her one issue that she would fight over. Most of the time, I’m pretty easy going with things. This is my ONE RULE that I have. No soda in the house and no soda outside of the house. It simply is not welcome in our family. Period.
You know what, I raised three kids to adulthood and I can vouch that a one time brush with a root beer float is not going to destroy your kid. You need to chill out about this. You are over reacting, and I feel badly for the people at the church camp who are either volunteers or get paid next to nothing and have to deal with your frantic screaming at them. They meant well and these things happen. Next time, if you want your kid on a special diet, you need to send a note to camp on day one. Otherwise, you have no place to complain. Of course if you send that note, be aware that your kid may be watching everyone else enjoy a float and wonder why he’s drinking juice.
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com
Wow.. just wow. They took soda out of schools, because its bad for kids (and adults as well) , they push fruit juice and milk for even happy meals now. And someone thought it would be a good idea to push a ton of sugar and carbonation at a group of 6 year olds? Holey moley. I’d come unglued too and I’m 20 years your senior ! I’d say a curriculum change would be in order for sure. Next time they’ll think twice (maybe). BRAVO for you!
@Joyce, Leah has rules and things she believes are and are NOT good for her family. She has every right in the world to BITCH. If they were planning on serving up this ‘treat’ (I use that loosely) they should have informed the parents at some point it would happen. What if some child had an allergy? Rootbeer of the organic kind is still a ‘root’ and gawd only knows what’s in the bottles of brown goo! She’s hardly over reacting. She’s stating her beliefs.. and ya know what.. its HER BLOG. Don’t like it.. don’t comment.
If my child had an allergy, I would by all means alert the school and any place where he goes where I’m not with him. That is a safety and medical issue. This isn’t a safety issue, this is a common sense issue. You don’t feed children soda. I mean, would you do that without permission?
Lol, I’m guessin’ you must home-school your kids, too, then?
OVER PROTECTIVE MAMA! Just like Tangled!
And Mrs. Olson off of Little House on the Prairie….!!!!!
Relax. You can’t control ever-aspect of your kids like forever, you know. One day, their going to have make their own choices independently from you… trust me, I’m currently going thru all this with my parents right now. Over-protection is NOT the key…
My children go to public schools in California
Let me start by saying I agree that soda/pop/carbonated drinks are terrible. My kids DO NOT get these items, no redeeming qualities. I would also like to point out that the quoted “diet restriction” of my comment on FB is about the fact that if you are adamant about this, as a mom, if I were you and this fanatical about it then approach the church, school, or any other curriculum your child may be involved in where the possibility of something outside of what is nutritionally acceptable in your household be addressed.
I understand being on a tirade, I would be too…but accepting accountability on the other part that approaching this curriculum and stating “hey, my kids don’t eat, drink, or come into contact with these things….blah blah blah.” I do that for EVERYTHING my kids are involved in because you have to assume our society is based on drive-thrus, processed foods, and HFCS drinks and snacks. PERIOD! Maybe I am over the top on that, but I wanted to let you know I wasn’t being a “jackass” to be a jackass. I was merely looking on from the outside to say this was both the VBS and parental error. I would take it as a lesson and be sure to address your beliefs and concerns….who cares if they think you are crazy for being nutritionally sound for your kids, but voice it NOW rather than after the fact.
Not launching a personal attack. Hmmm it seems like you’ve done just that. You could have taken care of this differently instead facebooking and blogging it. Maybe you should have went over the menu for the week and notified the church. And why is the root beer such a big deal but you don’t have a problem with the ice cream.
It really is not a big deal. If you don’t want your child to have something you should have informed them so it was your fault not theirs. It is sad you are pushing the blame on someone else when it is you who is to blame.
Not a big deal? I beg to differ. I think there is a reasonable expectation that a “children’s program” would offer the children in it’s care nutritional snacks instead of garbage. The fact that we have never encountered this in 6 years of widely varied extracurricular activities seems to support this expectation.
Using the link you provided for the Sky VBS , it doest show the kids making & drinking root beer floats in the Skydive Diner… http://youtu.be/a-DmsC_GVQk frames 21- 27 which is 6 frames out of 40 total. It shows them pouring it out of a can into a cup of ice cream…. perhaps the kids at the one your son is attending didn’t make their own, but in the video they do.This was pretty prominent in the video as was some of the other snacks.
I have to agree with some previous posters- if you don’t allow something in your home (in your case soda) you would almost have to treat it as a restricted diet since that is what it is. You have to take the responsibility to find out what treats they will be getting and inform whomever is responsible that it isn;t something you want your children to have.
I love what you do Leah, I love how you have helped so many people and do agree that pop/soda isn’t a good thing. But…… in this case, perhaps what Jesus would do maybe wouldn’t join the kids in sipping a root beer float but he would sure be glad they came to VBS and were learning about Him.
Having taught VBS for several years they use the snack same snack plan as everyone else across the country using the curriculum. There will be next to no nutritional value in every snack so be prepared to be annoyed all week.
Bottom line, soda makes no sense as a snack in any way shape or form. Schools don’t have it anymore, so why would any church deem it appropriate?
As for Leah needing to be the proactive one here and telling the VBS peeps about diet restrictions, I disagree. Where on any list of possible allergens is soda listed? Peanuts? Wheat? Milk? Those are typical foods that kids can have problems with, so those are the ones that schools, organizations, etc., ask about. To assume that Leah should have thought ahead that any group would be numbskulls enough to give her child soda is silly and a poor argument.
Rage on, Mama.
Leah,
I hear what you’re saying. I would be LIVID. I have a no-soda rule myself. It’s evil, IMO.
I think the silver lining here (yes, I’m looking on the bright side) is that you now know without any doubt that you are going to have to be proactive and diligent in situations like this when your children participate in any program or activity. You’re going to have to find someone in charge everywhere you go to say, “Do not give my child soda.” It’s a sad state of affairs that you have to do that, but it looks like that will be the only one to hopefully never have this situation happen again.
And if you do give those instructions and it still happens, then you can release the hounds.
Regards,
Alicia
This shocked me….we have a bigger problem then I originally thought. Is what I’m saying “Not that big of a deal”…or are we all in denial? Here is something Jessica Gottlieb sent me today on Facebook,
A 2006 Purdue study found that the fundamental Christians are by far the heaviest of all religious groups led by the Baptists with a 30% obesity rate compared with Jews at 1%, Buddhists and Hindus at 0.7%.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/06/03/obesity-epidemic-in-america-churches/#ixzz1yRz1G2EH
Here some more from that article that was shocking,
Similarly, a 2011 Northwestern University study tracking 3,433 men and women for 18 years found that young adults who attend church or a bible study once a week are 50% more likely to be obese.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/06/03/obesity-epidemic-in-america-churches/#ixzz1yRzeRTQQ
This breaks my heart….because it’s entrenched in a culture. And it’s really only the leadership of this culture that can make a change. SO basically I need to BEG the VBS peoiple to do something…
I applaud you!!
That study is bogus. They set out to talk to fat people to try and find some connection between their waist line and spiritual life. There is none. Sorry.
Is this a joke post?
Uh, this is kind of ridiculous. Not the fact that the church gave your son a root beer float, but that you’re flipping your shit over it. There’s no way the church could have known about your “one rule”. Your kid will live to see the age of seven, I promise. You need to step back and look at the big picture. I commend you for being an advocate for your child’s health, but these people (who are probably volunteering or being paid very little) shouldn’t have to deal with your irrational outbursts.
I hope you realize that you’re taking this a little too far.
Preach! I know, right? It’s a VBS, for cryin’ out loud. What does this mom expect? Did she come out and explicitly TELL the people in charge NOT to give her kid sugar? Probably not. And even so, it’s a Vacation Bible School – Hate to break it to ya, but treats are part of the package, lady! Deal with it!
“these people (who are probably volunteering or being paid very little) shouldn’t have to deal with your irrational outbursts. ”
This. Is. It.
“Glorifying and enjoying Me is a higher priority than maintaining a tidy, structured life. Give up your striving to keep everything under control- an impossible task and waste of precious energy.”
Long story short, this is vacation Bible School. I’m hoping your six year old will remember a lot more of what was taught and not that that his Mom was up in arms over a Root Beer Float. Definitely not trying to have this be a negative comment, because I know your blog is all about health, just trying to give a little insight to the bigger picture.
I wish I could ‘like’ this. Well said. I’m not even religious, but I hope that the “message” for her son wasn’t clouded by Soda-Gate.
obesity. diabetes. id be flipping too.
Then rather than complain, DON’T SEND YOUR KIDS! There’s Vegan, Vegetarian Camps out there, you know. No ones FORCING you to send your kids to VBS, you know. And if it bother that mom that much, SHE should volunteer next year, so that she has a SAY in it, and can DO something about it. And again, the ice cream float was probably meant as a TREAT… NOTHING in MODERATION, ladies, EVER hurts you. It’s only when you go OVER BOARD that it does, EXCESS. Otherwise, you could NEVER eat ice-cream or sweet or anything, and all of us, at some point in our lives already have or will. Yeesh ladies, I’m only 22, and even I know this! Grow up!!!!
Really? Over one soda? How about being a good parent and teaching your child(ren) things like common sense, restraint, self-control, etc? How is it always someone else’s fault when parents fail at raising their offspring?
One soda, even one a week is not going to cause diabetes. Get a grip on reality, sweetie, unless you are intentionally raising anal misfits.
I 100% agree on the soda, both diet and regula. Children and adults alike shouldn’t drink it. Ever. The chemicals, not to mention the health issues caused by those chemicals are reason enough to ditch the soda. In my honest opinion, I think that children shouldn’t be fed anything in VBS without the parents being informed. For example, VBS should upon the first day have a menu of the week ( or however long the duration of the event) & give it out to the parents. When the first day of VBS rolls around, the parents then either turn in the paper signed or write their childs food restrictions on the paper. Each kid at VBS has a name tag, so then there could be a code color or letter for the food restrictions put on the name tags. Not that difficult and everyone is happy.
They sent out a weekly menu for ours before the week even started.
Um, ladies, did the mother TELL the people in charge NOT to give her child any kind of sweets BEFORE the VBS started? If not, then she really doesn’t have a right to complain, as she DIDN’T make her desire KNOWN BEFORE it started. And no offense, but treats are a part of the VBS package. If she doesn’t like it, send your kid to Vegetarian/Vegan Camp next year, lady… !
For real. Not saying that soda and ice-cream are the best for you or anything, but taken in MODERATION, they are quite harmless. And it’s hardly like this VBS was feeding the kids that EVERY DAY, now were they. BALANCE/MODERATION is key! The float was probably meant as a TREAT, not as a daily lifestyle. For real, people…
PS- May I remind church goers that our bodies are temples for the Lord. If you are drinking and eating junk, you are NOT honoring your bodies. The church is a building where we gather for fellowship, but our bodies are the temples for the holy spirit. Just saying.
I think this is a matter of opinion regarding what “honoring your body” is. In my opinion, just concerning the food/drink aspect, it’s everything in moderation. ie: You shouldn’t be an alcoholic, but a drink once in awhile is no problem. You shouldn’t be eating junk food all day, but you should limit it, etc.
“The Christian should value his body as a sacred place where God dwells and should realize that by the Spirit’s presence and power he can be helped against such sins as sexual immorality.” (NIV notes on 1 Corinthians 6:19…)Just saying…
Just because we WANT everyone to know the truth and we WANT them to be on the same page as us when it comes to health and healthy eating, doesn’t mean that they are. I am sure those workers did not purposely give kids something that is harmful. Obviously, they dont’ see anything wrong with soda (although there is) so why not educate them instead of go off on them for not being aware. I guarantee you it will go much further if you approach it from that side rather than coming off as an irrational health nut.
Soda gate…that was a good one
How bout “Idiot Mom” needs more God in HER life!?
I’m thinking anyone who calls me “Idiot Mom” needs more God in THEIR life #justsayin
I came across this conversation, and I feel badly about it, but must say, I hope everyone keeps a civil tongue in their heads when they approach anyone antwhere. I realize mom’s distress about what happened. Our youngest was given ice cream way before I ever intended him to taste it, but, in the long run, it has not affected him one bit. He is now 19, and doing very well. We are born-again believers in Jesus Christ, I homeschooled all three of our kids all the way through their schooling, and made homemade goodies for them all the time. They are all graduates from high school: Daniel, 23, is a missionary in Hungary (actually working in a camp in Poland this month) and is finishing his degree online. Suzi, 22, is doing two internships this summer at Christian camps, doing their videography and photography, and goes to college in Florida, studying Media Production. Mark, the youngest, is working at a Christian camp this summer, for no pay, and will return home to continue his education online for one year to save money before returning to college, where he desires to be a pastor. I tell you this because someone intimated bad things about the homeschooled, and because I know from experience that our kids can be okay, and thrive, even after ingesting some of these things. They have all had pop, and have not died from it, so I know it can be done, but I do not begrudge anyone not wanting their child to have any. I put it off for forever, it seemed. I would just appreciate it if everyone would speak civilly and without foul language, as I believe what goes in through the ears affects the heart and mind, too, just as does poor food choices. I would also ask everyone to please be gracious when dealing with those who are trying to do something nice for your children. As a worker in church, I would be in tears if someone yelled at me, or ranted to me over something about which I had not intended to do, even in error. Blessings on all of you, but please let’s deal with one another in love.
I came across this conversation, and I feel badly about it, but must say, I hope everyone keeps a civil tongue in their heads when they approach anyone antwhere. I realize mom’s distress about what happened. Our youngest was given ice cream way before I ever intended him to taste it, but, in the long run, it has not affected him one bit. He is now 19, and doing very well. We are born-again believers in Jesus Christ, I homeschooled all three of our kids all the way through their schooling, and made homemade goodies for them all the time. They are all graduates from high school: Daniel, 23, is a missionary in Hungary (actually working in a camp in Poland this month) and is finishing his degree online. Suzi, 22, is doing two internships this summer at Christian camps, doing their videography and photography, and goes to college in Florida, studying Media Production. Mark, the youngest, is working at a Christian camp this summer, for no pay, and will return home to continue his education online for one year to save money before returning to college, where he desires to be a pastor. I tell you this because someone intimated bad things about the homeschooled, and because I know from experience that our kids can be okay, and thrive, even after ingesting some of these things. They have all had pop, and have not died from it, so I know it can be done, but I do not begrudge anyone not wanting their child to have any. I put it off for forever, it seemed. I would just appreciate it if everyone would speak civilly and without foul language, as I believe what goes in through the ears affects the heart and mind, too, just as does poor food choices. I would also ask everyone to please be gracious when dealing with those who are trying to do something nice for your children. As a worker in church, I would be in tears if someone yelled at me, or ranted to me over something about which I had not intended to do, even in error. Blessings on all of you, but please let’s deal with one another in love.
I had quite a bit more to say. I deleted it, however, because I didn’t want the key point of this issue to be lost amidst other words. So…here goes:
“What Would Jesus Do? Probably NOT drink lots of soda….”
Actually, He most likely would have followed His own advice in Matthew 18:15-17 and not started spreading trash around the internet. Assuming Christ would have done anything other than what His Word actually says, is disgraceful, disgusting, immoral, and (to be honest) unChristian and heretical.
Are you kidding me? What would Jesus do? He would forgive! If this is your one stearn rule, you should have pinned a note to your child that read, “no soda please”. Just so you know, my daughter is 12 and doesn’t drink soda. In first grade they made soda floats at the end of the year party, she asked for ice cream only. If your child has been to any birthday parties or a grocery store, he should know what soda looks like.
What would Jesus do? Not attack a bunch of volunteers for giving a school aged child a special occasion treat after his parent failed to inform them of her outside the norm dietary phobias. You need to apologize to all those people who volunteered theiir time so you could go shopping and eat bonbons.
As a Children’s Ministry Coordinator who has spent months planning for the SKY program and as a mom myself, I find this mother is absolutely what is wrong with society today!
If this ONE thing is such a BIG deal to you, why didn’t you just pull the Children’s Minister aside and say “Hey, in our home, we are not big on sugar, but I am thrilled to have my child attend your program, what can I bring to substitue so that he can be part of the group while still maintaining our family rules of no sugar or soda?” Is that so much decency to ask? But no, you had to go blog about it and slam the church in the name of your self righteous “I am an awesome mom because I don’t serve soda….it is the devil!” Are you KIDDING ME??? Now instead of your son remembering the awesome messages of SKY VBS, he will always remember his lunatic mom and how she handles conflict in her life by tearing down others??!! So who really did your son a diservice? Yep, his own mother!!
And to all the other mother’s who are posting about being a ‘good protective mama bear’, there is a way to do that without acting like a petulant child and while showing good conflict managing skills to your child. Remember, the people at this church provided a loving, safe, Christ centered message for him for probably next to nothing so that you could sit on your butt at home and be critical. How about next year, you volunteer to run the snack program yourself!!??
There is a sense of entitlement in our North American culture that allows people to think they can complain about things that are given to them. Free. As gifts. Like a hundred volunteers who give a mom some free time and a child some fun, friendship, life lessons and a snack.
I realize soda is not the best choice and I also realize parents around the globe, especially the US are banning it like crazy. My problem is that we seem to make it a value judgment. We declare our food choices as right or wrong and the choices of others as right or wrong.
Not everyone thinks the same way about what kids eat or drink… you should have said something or asked about treats if this is such a huge issue for you.
Not everyone in the world shares your views, even if you believe you are right, you are making an assumption that everyone thinks like you and how dare they not!!
It really is ignorant and naive to think that everyone is as progressive as you are.
From someone who works into 3rd world nations, give me a break and get a real problem!
In the end, what is your son going to remember? The lessons of the day or the fact that you kicked up a ruckus with the VBS director?
I’ve done loads of VBS directing and of children’s ministry stuff in general – and while I try to be moderate and semi healthy in a lot of my snacks, I occasionally will allow a treat like this. This is NOT the same snack all week, it is a once in awhile treat. And THAT is ok.
Again, did you say “no soda” in your VBS registration? I even ask stuff about dietary restrictions for sunday school (we have several ADD/ADHD kids and I have to monitor sugar but for the end of the quarter party we had sundaes. And one of the mom’s allowed her son to have a moderate sundae) It’s not common sense, it’s a treat – root beer floats are a treat, not a regular thing.
Overreaction that makes people feel discouraged from children’s ministry. It’s sad.
Its ironic that the lesson for the day was “no matter what people do..trust God”. The people putting on the VBS are not to blame and I feel sorry for whatever poor soul was at the other end of that phone conversation. They were just following the VBS handbook in which the snacks go along with the main lesson being taught that day. Is pop a good snack for anyone, no. Do the majority of people in the US drink it, yes. Maybe someones ONE thing is no ice cream or cookies? How are they suppose to know unless YOU tell them of your ONE rule. Your son is 6, I would think he would know what soda in a cup would look like and say “hey I’m not suppose to have this, my mom doesn’t let me drink it”. My 4 yr old neighbor asks me if there are nuts in things every time I give him a snack because he knows what he is not suppose to have. Placing the blame because you dropped the ball in not informing them of your ONE rule and not teaching your child to be aware of it is your fault not theirs in my opinion.
I discovered that VBS was also giving 3 year olds soda that day. If you don’t see what is wrong with that, this is NOT the blog for you. Feeding soda to children that young is wrong. Very wrong. In California we have strict rules on “competing foods” also known as “junk food” to children and it’s a culture and lifestyle we have here. And because of it we have less obesity. Yes, google it.
You CAN have church and fun without the soda. it’s actually possible. No shit…really.
I am really saddend by what I read here. Actually I wonder if my response will be posted because I am going to disagree with the original poster.
Now I am not denying a parents right to restrict the food that their children consume and just because other kids are allowed is no excuse. I know it can be momentarilly heart rendering to see your kids feeling sad when they so want to do or eat but are not allowed to. It is politically incorrect these days to have your kids on a diet and of course all our kids are on a diet. It is the diet we feed them
But the things I found in the posting and the comments that I felt were kind of sad or disapointing.
The first was that upon reading the original post, I read that the OP’s son is described as having ‘no diet restrictions’ and as I understand it the OP did not tell the camp leaders about this. and then the OP calls up andgives them a piece of her mind. I am kind of saddened to see such an emphasis on no soda and yet the OP is able to include swear words in her postings and associate herself with the christian faith. It just does not seem balanced to me. I also read that she herself was on a 4-6 can per day diet of soda at one stage and so I wonder if there is some kind of knee jerk over reaction here.
I have helped on church camps and I have seen kids come with all sorts of restrictions imposed by parents and even though leaders may disagree with them and of course most leaders are pretty accomodating again most leaders do their best to support parents.
In addition, we need to balance up what harm is really done with the benefits and the reasons we do things.
So yes soda is bad. It is full of sugar. and yes including it in the diet on a regular basis in my opinion is bad.
But I get back to my initial disapointment here that the OP called up and as I understand it abused the camp director for giving her kid soda. How was the camp director to know that this one kid was not allowed soda?
Don’t worry dear. I’m not going to send my kids to a VBS summer camp again. And after this whole debacle, we decided to not look for a local church to attend either. We actually don’t have a church to call home. My views about food were not respected in general by “church going” folks online. I can only assume it would be the same at a brick and mortar church. So you have no fear.