Parent refuses children’s veganism against the will of the ex, the influence of the Internet

The Internet provided support for a parent who decided to introduce animal products into their children’s diet after their former child followed a strict vegan regime.

Reddit user u/ThrowRA-Vegan876 shared his story in a popular topic “Am I a bastard?” where their post quickly gained traction with 5,200 upvotes.

In the post, they explained that they and their ex-partner Venus had been together for over 10 years, starting when they were 15 years old. vegan lifestyle and agreed to raise their children, 11-year-old Mercury, 9-year-old Jupiter and 7-year-old Mars, vegan – a practice Venus also grew up with.

“About 3 months ago I slowly started introducing meat back into my diet and since then I have felt much better. I didn’t have to buy a bunch of vitamins or carefully plan my diet to ensure I was getting all the amino acids. or avoided the shortcomings and my food bill went down,” they wrote.

They began research and found that children raised vegan can sometimes grow slower and need supplemental nutrients such as B12, calcium and iron.

“Neither of my boys have started puberty yet, which can be normal, but since I hit puberty at about 9 years old, it made me worry about Mercury,” they added, referring to their concerns about growth children.

All children were within the 5th to 15th percentile for height and weight, which prompted them to seek medical attention. After consulting with a doctor, the parent was advised to try reintroducing animal products into the children’s diet to see if it would have a positive effect on their growth.

After they informed their ex about the change, tension increased. Venus was reportedly furious and threatened to sue them to get full custody of the children.

“She calls me cruel and tells our boys that they must give up all animal products and that I am forcing them. When it wasn’t true, and every time they came, they enjoyed trying something new. foods like real milk, eggs, etc. some they don’t like and rightfully so,” they shared, ending their post with the question: “AITA?”

Expert advice

Psychologist Caitlin Slavens shared her experience Newsweeknoting the complex emotions involved.

“There appears to be a lot of emotion and personal history in this situation, which is not surprising given that it involves big changes in the children’s diet and beliefs that both parents have held for years.”

She called for a focus on “creating a supportive and informed environment for children” and suggested parents work together to reduce tension.

Slavens noted that while consultation with a doctor is mandatory, it is also important to involve both parents in decisions that affect their children’s lifestyle, especially such a key element as diet.

“One way to approach this is to suggest a joint meeting with a therapist,” she advised, which will allow both parents to hear the recommendations first-hand and develop a plan together.

She noted that a collaborative approach can help reduce the likelihood of children being separated from their parents.

Caitlin admitted that Venus’ reaction may have been due to feeling overwhelmed. By allowing Venus to speak her mind openly, a parent can potentially prevent conflict from affecting their children.

“Finally, if direct communication leads to conflict, consider using a family therapist or mediator to help create a structured conversation,” recommended Slavens, emphasizing the importance of supporting children’s health and sense of family unity.

Reddit reaction

Reddit users were quick to support the parent, showing support for their approach.

“NTA. I would recommend getting medical documentation in case of the inevitable custody battle you face. It’s weird that only she can dictate their diet and I really don’t see any court forcing her diet on others,” a Redditor commented. Remote-Passenger7880.

“NTA. You also have the right to decide what to feed your children. When my kids are with their dad, they are likely exposed to more unhealthy foods, but I feed them a well-balanced diet. I’m keeping my mouth shut because he’s doing his best and he’s doing his best,” another user added, echoing the importance of balance and perspective when making co-parenting decisions.

Newsweek turned to you/ThrowRA-Vegan876 for comments. We were unable to verify the details of the case.

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