Plus size clothing for children

Last year I was inudated with hand me downs the month after school started. I had spent about $150 on clothes for the kids, and well, we didn't really need it, so I decided not to do that this year.

I'm waiting a month and we'll see what we need after that.

I did decide to buy each girlie a new shirt for tomorrow, the first day of school, so they can feel "special". As I was browsing I noticed a whole line of "plus size" clothing. Wider then the regular fit.

Plus size clothing for kids?

It saddens me that we as a society have reached a point where it's so normal and in demand, over a third of the clothing available was plus size.

I know I struggle with my weight. I know I have my own demons but honestly they didnt' start until puberty hit. That hormonal change was hard on me. I can't imagine my child being fat.

Don't get me wrong, my kids have different builds and none are skinny as a rail but they're healthy weights, all of them. We limit tv, limit junk, offer veggies multiple times a day.

Actually my neighbor announced my kids were wacked when they stole my pea pods at the movies last week. Yes, they had popcorn, a splurge but the boys all opted to snack on my pea pods instead.

We're not perfect, not by far but apparently we're doing ok. Healthy kids growing into healthy adults, that's my aim.

I want to be clear I'm not talking about chubby toddlers and babies or even pre-schoolers that eventually even out from baby fat. That's a whole different relm. I was blessed with one of mine being an absolute chub and she did even out. I'm talking the kids that eat potato chips multiple times a week, play video and computer all afternoon. Kids that have lost their ability it imagine and play with nothing but their backyard and a pile of dirt.

Wasn't exercise something that just happened when we were kids? I remember playing tag, walking the dog, climbing up our tree in our backyard granted I climbed to read a book , but still, it was fifteen feet in the air to reach my perch?! Now exercise seems to be something that has to be planned. Soccer, T-ball, dance, martial arts, basketball or any team sport has taken the place of what use to just happen.

I turned off the tv's for the summer and it was wonderful. My kids played with friends, did their chores better and we even etched out some special time for each one during the day with me.

Why even at the boys last two wic appointments the focus was on exercise and getting kids to move. Of course my challenge is to get my boys to sit down and focus on reading, homework so it is a bit ironic.

I guess my gripe isn't with the market meeting demand but the blind acceptence of society in something that clearly needs to change and change starts at home!

You know I'll never forget when an aquaintence asked me how I got my kids to eat their veggies so well. I responded that while snacking on my own they'd ask if they could try and I'd make a point of sighing and saying I wasn't sure I wanted to share. They'd ask again and I'd grudgingly give them one or two, then they'd think they were fooling me by sneaking a few more. The young mom I was talking too quickly pointed out that my technique wouldn't work because she won't touch raw veggies.

Huh, and they won't eat veggies either?

So I guess if you want your kids to eat better, eat better yourself. If you want them to be physically active, do so yourself.

As I said, we're not perfect in our house, but we must be something right. My ten year old daughter can now do a chin up. I've never been able to do that, even as a kid! So we keep plugging away, and hopefully I can not only leave my children a legacy of healthy habits but healthy body imagines to boot.

They deserve the best.