Mother charged with ‘fat shaming’ after asking stepdaughter to choose ‘healthier’ birthday cake
Mother charged with ‘fat shaming’ after asking her 6-year-old stepdaughter to choose a ‘healthier’ birthday cake, because she is 20 pounds overweight
A mother has come under fire for asking her six-year-old stepdaughter to make a “healthier choice” than a birthday cake because she is 20 pounds overweight.
The 34-year-old woman took Reddit to explain how her stepdaughter Gwen stays with her ‘on the go’ family for two weekends a month, but otherwise has a poor diet.
The mother said Gwen’s birthday coincided with a weekend she was staying with her, and she asked the six-year-old to choose a healthier birthday.
Instead of cake, he asked Gwen if she would like low-fat ice cream.
The 34-year-old woman took to Reddit to explain how her stepdaughter Gwen stays with her ‘active’ family for two weekends a month but otherwise has a poor diet at home (file image)
She said: ‘Gwen’s birthday ended up falling on one of her weekends with us, and while we were talking about what kind of cake we would have, I asked Gwen about the healthier option.
“My reasoning is that she still gets all that crap at home, unfortunately, and it’s not good for a growing girl.”
‘She agreed and we decided to have some low fat ice cream so she can still have a sweet treat. It’s a brand that Gwen loves and asks for every time she’s here, so she was happy with it.”
But the healthier option didn’t sit well with Gwen’s mom, who accused her stepmom of “embarrassment” and demanded an apology.
“I’m just looking after the health of a child in my care, but I never said that Gwen couldn’t eat cake and that she could have had she said she wanted one,” the woman said.
“I suggested sticking with the ice cream because I care.”
The mum said Gwen’s birthday coincided with a weekend she was staying with her, asking the six-year-old to choose a healthier birthday (file image)
Those on social media were inclined to agree with Gwen’s mom.
Those on social media were inclined to agree with Gwen’s mom.
One even worried that the six-year-old could develop “eating problems and a future eating disorder” because of her stepmother’s attitude towards healthy eating.
Another said: ‘The mum probably asked why she didn’t have a cake and it made the girl cry. It’s really not that hard to believe.
The girl is holding back her own thoughts and feelings with her stepmother because she doesn’t feel safe sharing them. The stepmother’s actions are totally inappropriate.
A third agreed, saying: ‘She’s a little girl who wanted a cake for her birthday.
‘There is no “good” or “bad” food. You really need to rethink your attitudes around food, eating (and) being fat-shamed.”
But not everyone felt the same way, with some commenters applauding the unnamed mother for her efforts.
One person said: ‘You’re doing a good thing by trying to promote healthier eating and an active lifestyle.
‘How do you allow an already overweight young child to eat what is better for said child in the long run than what you perceive as “fat shaming”?
“Being overweight has consequences and no amount of denial from the body positivity crowd is going to change that.”