When did health become the exception instead of the rule?

It’s back-to-school time, and I’m thinking that it’s the start of back-to-treat time .

When I was a kid, we ate candy on holidays and birthdays. We stayed up late for New Year’s. We were told to go outside and play.

I may be showing my age, but I’m sad that healthy habits of moderation, fresh air, and a good night’s rest has become the exception instead of the rule.

It happened some time between my childhood and now, while we weren’t looking. Our 12-year-old‘s middle school sent a note home last spring asking that we make sure she’s eats a healthy breakfast, goes outside for fresh air, and sleeps the night before…the state assessment tests.

Pause. Deep breath.

I know they have fed her candy during these tests at her elementary school, to ‘keep the class’s energy up.’ I know she has opportunities for treats for what seems almost-daily reasons from birthdays to holidays to class celebrations to whatever else. I know that we don’t want her to eat candy everyday. And I know that Lexi does not say no to any treats when we aren’t looking.

We are those boring parents. We tell our kid to choose food that she can tell where it comes from. Do chips grow on a farm? Do cookies grow on trees? So when there’s a special opportunity for birthday cake or a piece of chocolate, she doesn’t have to say no. She’s already filled her day with good food choices. And we don’t have to see the sad face of disappointment. And keeping our kids healthy and happy is why we encourage vegetables instead of sweets.

So when the school feels there’s a need to send a note home to tell us to do the basics of health as a special exception, I’m afraid of what has become the rule.