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Should Parents of Obese Kids Lose Custody?

Should Parents of Obese Kids Lose Custody?

This is an interesting article. Why would people believe taking kids from their parents and putting them in foster care is better for them? I have mixed feelings on this issue. On one hand, parents who are maliciously over feeding their obese children should be charged and have to undergo some kind of fine and punishment, but don’t take the children from them. On the other hand, children who are obsessed with eating need to be able to go into a state sponsored program to get them on the right track. It’s up to us as a village, not just the parents.

I worry every day whether Brennan will be an overweight toddler. I know he is off the chart based on his weight, but he is also a tall baby. I have asked his pediatricians repeatedly whether or not we should be worried. They said not to worry. Once, he starts walking, he should start burning some of the weight off. Not so. Apparently when I put him on whole milk at 1, he gained a whole new level of calories. Whole milk is so fattening, but he needs it for brain development. So, what do I do?

I’ve limited the number of bottles of milk to 16 ozs a day and increased his dairy, cheese and vitamins. I’ve started running after him in the house to help him burn the calories. He likes to play fetch like our dog Bailey. So, I throw things on the floor and he runs after them and brings them back to me. It is the cutest thing ever! All the while, Bailey is looking at him with a strange look on his face.

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Crowning of first non-black Miss HU divides campus — dailypress.com

Crowning of first non-black Miss HU divides campus — dailypress.com

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Okay people, haven’t we moved beyond this? What an incredible step towards diversity at HBCU’s. Hampton University crowned its first non-black Miss HU Friday, leading to a division on campus that prompted her to write President Obama. Nikole Churchill, 22, competed against nine black students in the 15th annual Miss HU scholarship pageant. The senior nursing major attends the Virginia Beach campus and is the competition’s first non-black winner, according to executive pageant director Shelia J. Maye.

First, people are divided because she attends an extension location and not the main campus. Secondly, people are upset because she’s not black. She paid her money to attend the school just like everyone else. You can’t limit her because of the color of her skin. Was Dr. King’s March on Washington in vain? We have to be proud at the fact that we are really becoming an integrated and diverse nation. We still have many miles to go, but the fact that we are taking the steps in the right direction is an enormous compliment to our need to see who we are as a country.

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Birthday Bliss for Lee

Okay, so it was Lee’s 36th Birthday was on September 28th. I planned a wonderful surprise birthday dinner at Sequoia’s on September 27th. It was a rough year for him last year with a pregnant wife on bed rest, premature birth of our son and his strokes. I wanted to do something sweet and intimate. He enjoyed it. Here are some flicks.
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Happy Labor Day!

We just got back in town from a wonderful weekend in NYC with friends. It was relaxing, fun and great to get away. I needed a break! It’s weird though, most of us are parents now and it was cool to just sit back and relax and chill with our children. Brennan had a ball! He loves his Aunt Natalie and Uncle James. He has this special connection with her that is unbelieveable. He was upset and crying and she just walked over to him and he fell in her arms and stopped crying. What an amazing relationship.

Muhammad and Brennan looked too cute together. Brennan even cried when he left. This year’s Big Fellas was phenomenal! We had a ball!

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Brennan Wins!…Not the Highest Title Though

Brennan partipated in the National All American Girl & Boy Pageant in Stamford, CT this past weekend. He was in the Tiny Baby Boy Division (2 months – 17 months). He won the following:

– Sponsorship Award (Trophy)
– National Sweetheart (Sash)
– Best Dressed (Father and Son) (Sash)
– Best Model (4th Runner Up) – (Trophy and Black Bear)
– Most Photogenic (2nd Runner Up) – (Trophy and Brown Bear)
– Beauty Award (3rd Runner Up) – (Trophy and Brown Bear)

The competition was tough, because he competed against children all on the East Coast who had won their state competitions. He did great though! We were blessed. He wasn’t happy with the schedule not permitting a nap and by 4 pm, most of the children were having breakdowns from lack of sleep. My brother walked Brennan down the runway 2 of the 3 times. Kenny looked smooth in his black slacks and black tie. It was the perfect compliment to Brennan’s tuxedo. The judges created the Best Dressed Father and Son just for Brennan and Kenny. We all laughed at the fact that they assumed that Kenny was Brennan’s father. We want to personally thank each of you for all your love and support of our son. It is a blessing. Thank you to all of our sponsors ( you will receive a copy of your ad along with a picture of Brennan and his trophies in the next couple of weeks). Thank you to his Godmother Audrey, Godbrother Alex, Aunt Nicole and all of my family for attending. It was wonderful that you could be there to experience Brennan’s second pageant.
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The Road to Nationals

The road to nationals is paved with lots of anticipation. We are preparing for Brennan to participate in the All American Girl & Boy Pageant this weekend in Stamford, CT. I tried on his tuxedo and he looked adorable. I am impressed. My husband and I made a beautiful baby boy. I’m just trying to understand how he will react with a limited nap schedule on Saturday. He has a full day and my son (like his mother) needs a lot of sleep. We are blessed to be able to have our family and friends including Brennan’s godmother and god brother attending the pageant. He’s going to have a lot of loved ones wishing him on.

My Two Cents:
I must tell you though that I am a little disheartened by the response to TLC’s “Toddlers & Tiaras”. After watching this show in March, I decided to enter my son in a pageant. Boys by definition don’t have to do much. Put on a cute outfit and walk the runway. My son could be the next African American supermodel after Tyson Beckford. While I understand the outrage regarding the glam pageants that mothers put their daughters into, please understand it is personal choice. Everyone has a right to choose how to parent their children. Believe it or not some of these kids want to do the pageants. The pageant that Brennan is participating in happens to be an all natural pageant. Children are not allowed to wear make-up, false lashes, flippers, etc. They are to look like children. Other pageants are designed to be glamorous. There are not pedophiles sitting in the audience praying on the little girls as they walk across the stage. Pageant locations are not advertised and guests are only allowed in if they know one of the participating contestants. Pageant Directors are very concerned about the safety of their children and they don’t want strange men or women lurking around them. So, when you see men and women in the audience who may look strange, remember they are the invited guests of some pageant participant or their parent.

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A sick child by any other name is still a sick child…

Okay, so Brennan has been getting sick off and on since birth. His latest bout of illness was pink eye and a virus. We got a script for the pink eye and was told that the virus would just have to pass. Well it passed alright. It passed directly to me. I got sick and it developed into a severe upper respiratory infection. I’m on 3 different meds. It sucks, but at least the baby is not sick anymore.

We are prepping for Nationals! The All American Girl & Boy Pageant will be held in Stamford, CT on August 1st & 2nd. We are hoping to bring home the gold! Brennan won the regional pageant in May and qualified for Nationals. We are truly blessed and happy for our little one. Thanks to all of our family and friends who were able to donate ad space for the pageant. I will let you know how it goes.

Here’s a picture from his regional pageant in May.
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Why Fathers Are Important

A father’s role is crucial to a child’s growth and has profound bearing on the social, emotional, and intellectual development of a child. Learn the benefits of receiving paternal involvement in a child’s upbringing, the characteristics of
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Brennan’s First Birthday

Okay, so Brennan’s first birthday party was a success (by my standards). He hated all the people and attention. It was as if he knew it was party day b/c he refused to nap until everyone showed up. The party lasted 2 hours and he slept for about an hour. We were overwhelmed by all the love and support shown to us. He had over 35 guests. We really do believe in the village raising your child and our village continually comes through for us. Brennan had a wonderful birthday and got lots of gifts, money and clothes. People who couldn’t attend were handing me and my mom gifts or mailing cards with money and gift cards to the house. The Elmo thing was a hit. I had Elmo magnets, Chocolate bars, CD’s, Bottled water and bubbles.

We loved the day, but we were exhausted afterwards. He looked sharp and I was hoping he would take his first step, but no such luck. He’s still creeping along. I’ve attached a few flicks from the party.