You better work

Growing up, I was expected to go to church. It wasn't a bad thing for me. I actually liked it. We'd pick up my Nana and I'd hold her hand in the car or stroke her fur coat in the winter. She always looked fancy and pulled together with her fresh nails, hair and make-up, gold jewelry and a matching knit suit. My extended family was there and afterwards we went to the grocery store for hot ham and rolls and donuts with Casey Kasem's top number one song revealed on the way. 

Times have changed...

Yesterday at 8:50am, a couple of my kids stared me down and told me they were only going to 9am church if we got donuts afterwards. They know they can have donuts without going to church, but whatever gets them out the door so we make it in time for the homily works for me. Get in the car, kids.

As our kids fast walked/ran for the donuts after mass, I walked in slowly talking with my friend. This was clearly enough time for her daughter to approach her mom and ask for a second donut. 

Her mom looked at her and said, "Well you did wake up extra early and did a reading at mass.....so, yes, I think you've EARNED it". 

My insides crumbled faster than the empty Dunkin' Donuts box in the garbage. 

Why are people still thinking this way??

The idea that we have to WORK or EARN or be WORTHY of our food is not ok. Food is your, my and everyone's birthright. We need food to survive and no food needs to be categorized as morally higher or lower in value. Food is food. Sure it has different tastes, smells, textures and energy amounts, but in the end, it's simply energy for your body. 

You and your body can eat whatever you want, whenever you want. You don't need to be GOOD to eat a certain food. You can decide to eat whatever you want. And guess what, when given freedom to choose, your kids will do a really good job of giving their bodies what they need. And I PROMISE you it won't be donuts for breakfast, lunch and dinner five days a week. 

Today, I hope you'll challenge diet culture's expectation that you have to work for, earn or deserve a food in order to eat it. Ask yourself what you want today and go get it for no other reason then, JUST BECAUSE. You might even want to turn up this week's number one hit on the way, FLOWERS, by Miley Cyrus. 

Trust me, you're worth it.