It’s all very well to keep your kids sugar-free at home, but what happens out in the REAL WORLD, people?
Like: The world of children’s parties?
Sugar. Sugar happens.
This week on This Glorious Mess, a delicate quandry. Parent Alyssa stumped us by asking; whose rules do you follow when you’re looking after someone else’s kid?
She was in charge of taking her six-year-old, the daughter of a friend, to a birthday party. The friend’s daughter comes from a sugar-free house of health. And as soon as they got to the party, she went all Winnie-The-Pooh-in-a-honey-pot-kinda-crazy. She tore around the party throwing jelly snakes and cake into her mouth with the fervour of a Boxing Day sale.
Listen to the dilemma, and the opinions on it, here:
And then, a few hours later, she was sent home full of chocolate. Alyssa said nothing. She skedaddled out of there before the mum even had a chance to look at her precious baby’s dilated pupils.
Whose rules do you follow in this situation? Should you have to follow children who aren’t yours around a party that also isn’t yours, and make sure their blood-sugar remains steady? Are you supposed to hover and push carrots over cupcakes? Spirulina over smarties?
If it’s an allergy, fair enough. But when it’s not, when it’s a “lifestyle choice”, what then?
Andrew Daddo has been in this situation.
So has Holly Wainwright.
And it’s tricky, because should you respect another parent’s rules when you’re looking after their child?
This week on This Glorious Mess, the four word conclusion from our “experts”.
Need more child advice? Ask Mia Freedman:
Got a dilemma too? We can’t help you. That’s the kind of podcast This Glorious Mess is, really. It’s not for perfect Instagram parents or experts. It’s about the mess and chaos, the dilemmas and weird stuff, and the funny moments in family life. ‘Cos, shit, we’re all in this together.
Also on this episode, Dads talk about everyone thinking they’re dumb. Plus, why has one school got rid of recess and lunch? And: Would you take a newborn around the world. Listen here:
What do you think?
Top Comments
Didn't Alyssa put the child in a dreadful position: she would either have to lie to her parents on her return home, or dob Alyssa in, if asked. I can't believe Alyssa didn't just fess up to her fellow parents straight up.
What an unfortunate situation all round. The accompanying adult who can't be trusted to put a brake on the chid's sugar consumption. The unfortunate parents who have been betrayed. And the child - who didn't have its boundaries tested. The only OK scenario here would have been for the caring adult to let the child have just one treat, and then fess up to the parents. Sugar is contributing to our obesity problem, and it's important for kids to know that it's a treat only, and never to be consumed to excess. (In any case - what parents these days put on all-sugar parties?)