Dear Peanut,
Earlier this week, we went to visit Dra.CTP for your second checkup and she made it official that you are fat. Okay, so harsh. But yeah, you’re too heavy for your age. Your current weight (4.2 kg) at 1.5 months should be your weight when you’re 2 months old. Ayan, ang takaw takaw mo kasi! Anyway, nothing serious. But Dra.CTP told us to lower the amount of FM we give you during feedings.
The other night, we watched Judy Ann Santo’s movie titled Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo while waiting for the next feeding at 12am. We laughed so hard because many of the “grandparents” scenes reminded us of our own parents—your Lola Mommy, Lolo Daddy, and Lola Mama. There was a scene there when the grandparents were complaining about the parents’ decision not to give too many cakes, candies, and ice cream to an already fat kid.
A few minutes ago, while I was watching you sleep on your Daddy’s chest, I got to thinking. Most people, especially Filipinos, tend to let kids eat as much candy, cakes, and ice cream because they want the kids to “enjoy their childhood.” And we’re talking about small kids, like 5-year-olds.
It makes me wonder…sure, these sweets were parts of our childhood too. But I have no distinct memory of my parents letting me eat all the ice cream and cakes that I wanted. Probably not because it didn’t happen, but most likely because they didn’t want me to get too fat that I won’t fit in my clothes anymore.
Okay, I was a fat kid. Wait, I wasn’t that fat. I didn’t look like the Michelin man but I sure had a hard time getting rid of the baby fats. I remember having insecurities about my baby fats all the way till 6th grade. I officially got rid of the fats when I got my braces in freshman high school. I lost so much weight in 2 months (I think) because I couldn’t eat anything other than soft bread and Cheese Whiz, and Knorr soup. They’re not healthy foods but the pain of wearing braces took their toll on me. I hope you won’t inherit my teeth problems (namamana ba yung sungki?) so you won’t have to wear braces like I did.
As we were fitting you into your onesie this morning, your father and I agreed on another parenting plan: We would train and encourage you to eat healthy foods for as long as we can (hangga’t hindi ka makakapalag, hahaha) and teach you that sweets are optional treats.
The thing about Filipino eating habits is that many people think of dessert as something you can’t go without and you should have it every single day with every single meal.
If we teach you to think that sweets are optional treats you can enjoy after a meal (but not every meal), then you can lower your risk for obesity. And if you are healthy and fit, then the more you can enjoy these sweet indulgences.
I disagree that you should allow kids to eat as many sweets as they can because it’s part of their childhood. Hell, young kids won’t even remember it. I mean, if I ate an entire chocolate like that scene in Matilda, I want to be old enough to remember it and old enough to know that it’s wrong. I want you to enjoy all the cake slices that you want but in moderation.
Why are we doing this? Because we want you to enjoy life and all the sweets it can offer.
So that when you grow up, you can be the Fat Kid Inside and marry someone as beautiful and amazing as Anne Curtis (your mother is such a fan of the #ErwAnne love team). But for now, you are officially the “Fat Kid Inside the House of Derla.”
xoxo,
