30 October 2013

We Found the Wicked Witch



She’s not even in costume and we already found the Wicked Witch of the West...West Fargo, N.D. that is.
Did you see this letter circulating around today from the woman in a West Fargo neighborhood who has decided that instead of giving candy to overweight children when they come to her door to Trick or Treat, she will hand them a letter for their parents explaining that Little Jack or Little Jill didn’t get candy because he or she is apparently not so little.
Read the letter below while I come up with 500 more reasons why it is one of the meanest things I’ve ever heard of. 

So if this woman is so concerned about childhood obesity why doesn’t she give out apples (I know, too risky, most parents don’t let their kids eat something like that for fear of razorblades) or then what about little packages of raisins? Those are nice and healthy and sealed in tamper-proof plastic.  
But better yet, why doesn’t she mind her own damn business? The thought of getting that letter if I were a little kid trick-or-treating is unbearably cruel, especially as she will presumably by giving out candy to those who meant her weight requirements. Hey, if she really wants to get her point across, why doesn’t she hand out Thin Mints to the kids who are slender and Chunky Bars to the kids who need to lose weight. And, by the way, how qualified is she to make that decision since she says it’s her opinion. Will she have calipers that she’ll pinch a kid’s belly with? Is she going to make them step on a scale? Take their height and weight and calculate their BMI right then and there? 
I’m not really sure how we got to this point where anyone thinks that’s acceptable behavior. If a child has a weight problem, I’m pretty sure he or she didn’t get that way from eating healthfully the other 364 days of the year and gorging on Halloween candy for one day. 
In a local interview, this woman said “I just want to send a message to the parents of kids that are really overweight... I think it’s just really irresponsible of parents to send them out looking for free candy just ‘cause all the other kids are doing it.”
That’s helpful, isn’t it? No one is denying that childhood obesity is a problem. It’s a drastic one in the U.S. and it needs to be addressed more effectively, but I don’t think Halloween is the time for this woman (who needs a grammar lesson, by the way) to go on a one-woman campaign. 
I fear some of the kids leaving her house without treats tomorrow may have a few tricks up their sleeves.  
Today's $10 goes to Kid-Fit, an organization that promotes preschool health and fitness. Afterall, you're never too young to get in good enough shape to egg someone's house or toilet paper their yard -- not that we'd ever suggest that ; )

Oct. 30: Kid Fit

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