WEIGHTY ISSUE

We don't describe people as "fat" in our house. The word fat has been saved for describing animals like, "Oh! Isn't that a cute little fat kitty?" or "Our dog Ben is fat and old."

Izzy obviously got the idea.

Last week we had to get Izzy updated on his immunizations before preschool starts. Izzy doesn't mind getting shots and never cries. He actually looks forward to it. At the end of his doctor visit, Izzy knows he will get a lollipop and a bright colored band aid on his owie.

Our Physicians Nurse is a very large woman. OK. She is morbidly obese. It's really quite painful to watch her move around. Simple tasks such as weighing a child or walking down the hallway to a room can put beads of sweat on her forehead.

When we were waiting for the doctor and the Nurse was asking me general health questions about Izzy, this is what I hear in the background coming out of Izzy's mouth:

"Mom? Is she fat?"
"Mom? Is she fat?"
"MOOOOOMMMMMM! IS SHE FAT?"

At this point, I start apologizing to the nurse and she leaves the room. I explained to Izzy that people come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and that it is impolite to call people fat and it hurts their feelings.

I was embarrassed, but more than anything.....just sad. I can't imagine what it would be like on a daily basis for this woman and countless others that are obese. What it must do to someone's psyche to have people stare at you or call you fat on a daily basis. I don't pretend to know what that feels like, but it must feel really really awful.

The Nurse returned to give Izzy his shot. I wondered if she poked him just a little harder than usual?