If you saw a parent give
crack cocaine to their 8-year-old child, or put vodka and tonic in their baby’s
bottle, would you intervene? You know it
is unhealthy and can lead to a life long list of complications and even death;
no one in society would frown upon you for trying to stop it, they would even call
you a hero.
Now what if you saw an overweight child at McDonalds eating a Big Mac, French fries and washing it down with a soft drink? You know it is unhealthy and can lead to a life long list of complications and even death. Would you be frowned upon for trying to stop it, would you be called a hero?
We look down on those whose babies are born addicted to drugs or alcohol. We are angry because they put their child at risk and through no choice of their own, their children can end up with life long list of disabilities and complications.
It’s hard enough as adults
when we pick and choose the wrong life style then struggle with the
consequences of those decisions; it’s abuse when it is done to us.
Do you consider the caregiver of an over weight child a child abuser? We speak openly about the health risk, we argue what is served on the lunch menus in our schools....we have even gone to lengths as to ban super sized soft drinks in New York! I am not saying a caregiver does not love their child, but are they showing it in a healthy way?
Mental abuse leaves emotional scars, physical abuse leaves physical scars and food abuse leaves both....so is it the ultimate form of childhood abuse?
