Bad parent of the week--diet mom Dara-Lynn Weiss

Parenting is a tough job.  So it's difficult to criticize moms and dads (unless they are Honey Boo Boo's parents or the Dance Moms).  But Dara-Lynn Weiss calling her child obese, putting her on a strict diet and then talking about it to "Vogue" certainly puts her in the category of bad parents who deserve a spanking or, at least, a long time out.

The idea is sound.  Parents should be aware of their childrens' nutrition as well as their physical activity.  The idiot parents who sued McDonald's because the restaurant made them fat are on the other side of the spectrum.  Side note--does anyone eat a Big Mac and think it's health food?  However, calling a child fat and reporting the child's weight loss in a magazine for public consumption is a call to action.

Weiss's child is destined for an eating disorder and years of therapy due to her mother's actions which seem more selfish than in the best interests of her daughter.  Instead of doing what any sane parent would do and deal with this privately, she is airing before and after pictures of her daughter, calling her obese in the media, and saying that any of her detractors are too "sensitive."

Diets are good, although the word healthy lifestyle seems better since diets rarely work and changing your lifestyle to incorporate healthy eating, exercise, and portion control is something all of us should do.  Parents who give their children cookies all day or take them to McDonald's too often are doing their kids a grave disservice.

The main problem is that she aired it.  In this world of oversharing (see this blog), it's okay for Ms. Weiss to detail her personal struggles of weight loss, but her seven year old's?  She may argue that she is doing it for other families, but if you watch her on the video below, it's clear she is not being altruistic in telling her child's story.

Honey Boo Boo may grow up to be a lovely adult and Ms. Weiss's child may be fine, but rather than protecting kids from the F-Bomb, shouldn't we be more concerned with parents who use their kids for fame and fortune.  Or do we have to see more kids go the way of JonBenet Ramsey before something is finally done?  Shame on "Vogue" and shame on Weiss.  You get the Dirty Diaper of the Week award.