Weighing In

Yesterday I inadvertently stepped on some toes when I relayed something I had witnessed at McDonald's earlier.
I had taken the kids in for some ice cream and to just get out of the house. While there I noticed another baby boy. He was adorable, little blond curls and bright blue eyes. His mom was talking to her friend about the obesity problem in America and especially with children.
The irony in this for me was that while having this conversation, she was feeding her baby a double cheeseburger, french fries and soda. Not sharing hers, it was his own.
I heard her mention to her friend how tiny Hurricane was and (after cringing because I cannot tell you how many times I've heard that) turned to talk to her.
Her son was 11 months old and weighed 30 lbs. I looked at Hurricane.
Before he got sick he weighed in at 25 lbs fully clothes. He's 16 months.
I know that there are many reasons for a kid to be heavy, off those stupid little charts the Doctor follows at our visits.
Still, I think that double cheeseburgers, french fries and soda could play a part here (is my sarcasm showing?).
When I relayed all of this on those toes yesterday, I didn't really think much of it.
I didn't think about how it was really a judgment on this person. I didn't give a whole lot of thought to the fact that I don't know what goes on in their lives everyday. I just saw a baby eating a meal that would make most adults full and took off from there.

I get it in reverse.

Hurricane has always been a bit smaller than every other baby. A bit slower in his development. His adjusted age isn't that much but what a difference it makes.
I get asked if we ever feed him. I usually laugh it off because really? I never thought they could be so stupid as to be serious.
I occasionally hear someone talking about the 'sad skinny baby'.
I roll my eyes.
For all of the food issues this kid has, it's not lack of calories (vegetables sure, but everything else?). He likes the occasional cheeseburger and a couple of fries. I can't tell you how many times I've hidden shredded carrots in his pizza. He loves tacos and will actually eat the tomatoes in them. And in what makes me question how he could possibly be mine, he likes black olives (*shiver*).
I wonder if he'll always be underweight. Sometimes I worry about him, especially when he's sick and losing weight.
I try not to make a big deal of food in general. When Girl X is around I am extra careful. I fear the day she will stand in front of the mirror sucking in her flat tummy and crying about how fat she thinks she is.

But I did the same thing to that woman. Right?
I looked at her baby and what she was feeding him and decided she was feeding him to obesity.
But what if she's not.
There are medical conditions that can cause a child to gain extra weight. And what about heredity?

And more importantly, what business is it of mine?
Maybe that's the problem. We all worry so much about what everyone else is doing when we just need to butt out.
I know I have enough to worry about without taking on something that has nothing to do with me.