Pour Some Sugar On Me

I blasted the music while I attempted my best air guitar and classic rock hand gestures. My kids stared at me with blank faces while I shouted the words. I mean what child who grew up in the 80’s doesn’t secretly love belting out Def Leppard’s, Pour Some Sugar On Me? 

I was inspired to have a kitchen concert since I’ve seen so many kids in our neighborhood sporting the vintage rock t-shirt trend. Last week I spotted a four year old in a Def Leppard t-shirt and leopard skirt. Classy. I’ve spotted some Rolling Stones and GnR. I started to wonder if all the local parents were having their kids listen to classic rock. Was I missing out on some important music education for our kids? 

I decided to ask a ten year old sporting her Def gear if she knew any Def Leppard songs. She said “Ummm, no. My mom just bought it for me”. 

What. A. Crime. 

I mean Watermelon Sugar is catchy, but it’s no Pour Some Sugar on Me. 

Kids these days (really thought it would be longer before I started saying that) are missing out on the goodness of Love Bites and Animal. I know these were all featured on my sister’s mix tapes I tried to steal when she wasn’t working on her Def Leppard performances in our basement. 

Hearing this girl’s confession made me think about how many times we get behind something without even really knowing what it’s all about. 

Bulletproof coffee, wheat grass shots, celery juice and apple cider vinegar come to mind. All of these come with various promises that people get behind because they’re “supposed to be good for you” or maybe your mom/friend/cousin/sister told you that it really works!

Reading an article or seeing one celebrity post on the latest and greatest “health” trend shouldn’t be enough to drastically change your diet or lifestyle, but unfortunately, we readily grasp for the next “solution” to our health. 

It’s not your fault, you’re easily sueded because, like the rest of us, you’ve been raised in the diet culture waters which constantly promotes thinness and “health” while demonizing bigger bodies. Who wouldn’t naturally gravitate towards the next best “promise” with what we’ve been told and sold?

Before you jump ship into the rocky diet waters in the name of “health” (aka thinness), don’t go out and buy your Kale University sweatshirt until you’ve fully vetted the latest and greatest so-called solution to your health. More likely than not, it’s just another way to make money off the vulnerable and just adds to the growing shame and stigma around weight and size. It’s important to know that studies have shown that weight stigma alone (not just body size) can cause actual adverse health conditions. 

Be careful who and what you promote. Make sure you know the lyrics before deciding if you want to buy the band’s swag. And by all means, give your kids a kitchen rock concert so they can decide if they want to go out and rock a Def Leppard t-shirt. 

Our kids said they’ve seen enough already and that my show was really embarrassing. 

My t-shirt should be arriving in the mail this week.