to think this Mother's comment to her toddler was pretty awful....

[RachelHRD]

Out for a walk at some local gardens this morning with DD (2) and DH and as we were wandering around a Mum carrying her toddler in front of us commented 'Come on X you're nearly 2 now and you should be running around or you'll get fat like Y'

Of course said Mum was reed thin - both DH and I were a bit about what she said - not a great way to encourage your child to exercise by commenting about another 'fat' kid???

DS (4) is fascinated by Super Fat Super Skinny and comments about the people with fat tummies and I try very hard to say he shouldn't talk about people like that and it isn't nice - but it's no wonder some kids grow up to tease and poke fun at larger people if their parents talk to them like this mother did to her child.....

Horrible comment, I always stress the health benefits of excessive to mindees so say' come on gang, let's get our hearts working' not mention fat ffs.

Why is your ds watching supersize skinny or whatever it's called? If you don't want him to be fixated on weight I wouldn't expose him to a programme about unhealthy eating habits.

Not sure if Yabu. I see your points but I also don't see anything wrong with children being taught to understand that a lack of exercise or overeating typically lead to accumulating fat.

a 4 year old watching that programme is likely to have more weight issues imho

does your 4 yo honestly watch that programme?

Are you sure she meant another child, not, say,
a TV character
a teddy
the family's vast pet cat ?

Still not ideal, but no feelings to be hurt if the child repeats it!

Are you saying your 4 yr old watches Super Size v Super Skinny? Not sure how appropriate that would be.

And your DS comments on fat people but you're not surprised if OTHER parents say things like the other woman did? So this woman is in the wrong but your kid calls people fat too?!

Am I reading your OP correctly?

"no wonder some kids grow up to tease larger people"

"DS (4) is fascinated by Super Fat Super Skinny and comments about the people with fat tummies and I try very hard to say he shouldn't talk about people like that and it isn't nice"

do you see the irony?

I might nit have even been the child's mother.... A nanny? And yes, what were you letting your child watch that programme for??

"DS (4) is fascinated by Super Fat Super Skinny" at 4 my kids were into Dora or whatever the thing of the moment was. OK not the ideal thing to say but really at 4 they should not care whether fat, thin or whatever. Jeesh OP a one off comment would cause less problems then extreme skinny/supersize programs

Seems like double standards to me if you let your DS watch superfat/superskinny!!!

I tell my DS sometimes that no he cant have another packet of crisps or whatever and if he asks why I will say because its not good for you and you'll end up getting fat!!

YABU. This is a simplistic, thoughtless thing to say, but she is correct for the most part. More movement means less weight gain. Maybe she was referring to someone in the family who is morbidly obese and is really worried about it.

YABU to let your 4yo watch SSvSS.

oh for heavens sake

I would have judged the couple for saying that to their 1 year old but I think that most people would judge you for letting a 4 year old watching that programme which will inevitably send confusing message about fat and thin to your child.

Hully please stop reading AIBUs, they seem to be distressing you!

You're right knowitall, they make me go all flabberghasted

My Dses call each other 'fat' as an insult. It's that same as when i was young - except then it was 'gay' (you're gay!) or worse.

They are neither of them anywhere near fat or even chubby.

If that mother wants to encourage her child to run around she can say what she damn well likes. What should she say 'Dont run around and just get fat'. Surely her approach should be commended. She probably knows a fat kid who is so unhappy and unfit and storing up a load of issues like not having enough confidence, being deemed unattractive, being singled out or made an outcast, that shes petrified it might happen to her child if she doesn't keep on top of it.

If you're serious you need to get a grip. Couldn't Y have been the cat? Or a teddy? Or anything? You don't know it was a child, or person, do you?

Also, I have a 5 year old there's no way I'd let him watch SSvSS. No. Way. In fact, I don't believe anyone normal would, and then make your comments so I reckon this is a load of rubbish.

The nearly 2 year old probably didn't even understand!

I don't see what the problem is tbh. If you don't exercise you will get fat, it's true! My DD (nearly 5) knows that if you eat too much you'll get fat and if you don't exercise you'll get fat, but she also knows that you don't call people names or tease people because it hurts their feelings!

Supersize Super Skinny is a bit of a circus IMHO and I wouldn't be encouraging him to watch it.

Charming comment! Could Y have been a character off tv (like a tellytubby)?

Not a great thing to say to a child, but as others have pointed out, we don't know who 'y' is - could be someone out of a book or on tv.

I do think it's unreasonable to let a 4 year old watch supersize vs superskinny however. It's utter tripe and not suitable at all.

You allow your 4 year old to watch Super Size v SuPerskinny and you think that the other mum's comment was awful.

The mind boggles. Is this a wind up?