A Lesson in Humility: What a Little Girl's Ice Cream Request Revealed

Michal Moalem took to Facebook to share her perspective on an incident she witnessed. Michal urges parents to recognize that while it is reasonable to care about children's nutrition, it is not acceptable to belittle or humiliate them.

Here is the post, and you can judge for yourself:

Ice cream shop in Ashkelon.
My daughters and I are waiting in line.
In front of us, a mother with her three children: a boy about four years old and two girls who seem seven and 12.
The young boy and girl each select two flavors in a cone with their turn. The mother even encourages them to add some syrup on top.
The 12-year-old girl wants one too.
Whoa... the mother looks horrified.
"Sweetie, I don't think you need that. Get yourself a small yogurt with fruit."
The girl, looking humiliated (though appearing accustomed to such situations), responds: "I don't want yogurt. I want an ice cream cone!"
The mother: "Remember how you cried in the store when the jeans didn't fit? Get the yogurt."
Embarrassment... my daughters look at me... the cashier waits for the decision, smiling awkwardly... I hold myself together and breathe …
The mother turns to the cashier: "A small yogurt, no chocolates, no syrup."

(Photo: shutterstock)

The girl takes the yogurt and sits outside.
My heart went out to her.

Thought that was it? So did I…
But... surprise!
The mother turns to the cashier: "For me, two flavors in a cone."
If only this were imaginary. If only it were just funny, just sad... but no! It's hurtful! Humiliating! Cruel and destructive!
Mothers! (And fathers, too!)
This isn't how you do it!
It's a surefire recipe to develop a negative body image and eating disorders in a child.
Please, seek out professional help and advice.
Even children who are overweight deserve fair and equal treatment.
It is both possible and desirable to help them.
But not in a way that tramples their dignity, not by ignoring their feelings.
Eating habits (almost in all forms - too much, too little...) have emotional and psychological aspects that can't be ignored.
Do it now before it truly is too late.