Someone can love their kids but still be not be as conscientious as they should be. It’s not about devotion and it doesn’t have to be taken as an insult. Maybe a wake-up call? The tone of the post is what I was bristling at in my comments on the Obama/marketing to kids post…it’s always *somebody else’s* fault, right? In my house, as the mom, I *do* control the food, entertainment, etc. of my child. Coincidentally, I am one of those part-time workers, but I don’t see why, if people are working full time or not working, they’d make excuses. That last paragraph is a ridiculous passing of the buck. Ladies, take control of your damn homes and children!

Ok seriously?!?! THIS STUDY WAS DONE IN AUSTRALIA!!!! A country, that yes speaks English, but has different work/life balance, a different food culture and different health care system. Most of us don’t even have a choice as to which group we fall into…so how about we stop pitting mother’s against each other to say who is the best type?

Jeanne was linking conscientiousness with devotion. I say, one can be devoted in the heart, but still may not be making the most intelligent or conscientious decisions with regard to what goes on in their household. How is teaching your children good nutrition and supplying them with healthy foods unattainable? How is instilling the importance of exercise unattainable? The line “worn out being home all day every day doing the duties of a full-time stay-at-home mom” really makes me roll my eyes. I am a SAHM mom (work from home) and I will be the first to admit its a pretty nice life. People do what they want to do, especially middle class women of means who KNOW BETTER. Quit the whining!

As GP and MAMA point out, it’s ultimately up to the parents to take charge of this situation. It seems like each group I’m around has an excuse: working moms say the daycare feeds their kids junk and the stay-at-home moms say you can’t get healthy snacks because we don’t have a Whole Foods nearby. The reality is you can provide your own lunch/snacks for daycare, and when parents have spoken up and made the effort to work with the daycare on food quality they usually see good results. Whether you work outside the home or not, there are plenty of healthy food options at plain old Kroger, and we have a farmer’s market and orchards in the area, as do most folks in the U.S. A healthy lifestyle can be achieved regardless of your work situation, it just takes a little work and discipline, like any other worthwhile persuit.