Homework Induced Obesity

A casual acquaintance asked if I saw a connection between today’s heavy homework requirements and the epidemic of childhood obesity currently facing our children.    But as I told Paula, although I’m not an expert on childhood obesity, I do see a correlation between my increasing weight gain and the amount of homework my kids bring home.  

Remember, I’m no nutritionist, I regularly shop at the Hostess outlet, but this homework duty is certainly contributing to my tubbiness.  The longer my kids sit at that kitchen table doing homework, the more time I’m forced to stay in the kitchen, which means only one thing – I eat.  I know most teachers recommend that each child have a nice quiet place study area; preferably, a desk loaded with adequate school supplies located in a quiet and private area.  Maybe the teachers haven’t considered all of the ramifications of separate study areas or maybe they are assuming that parents deal with only one child at a time but I’m not running from quiet spot to quiet spot to spell words, explain math problems or quiz vocabulary.  Also, what assurances do I have that any of my kids are doing their assignments in the privacy of their quiet study areas?  At least at the kitchen table I have at least minimal control over homework completion and full access to my stash of Ding Dongs.   

Maybe the school district’s policies regarding homework should be determined on a per household basis instead of per student.  Something like, “Students should continue to do homework until everything is done or mom has ingested 4,000 calories, whatever comes first”.  But until they do, you can find us at the kitchen table from 3 pm until well after 9 pm doing homework and eating Twinkies.   Thank goodness, for the Hostess store, without them I would probably run out of Ho Ho’s long before the spelling quizzes were complete.