I am glad you wrote that letter. If you need a stamp I can bring one over.

I am astounded. Given that obesity is a genuine health risk, and an undeniable social reality - surely a doctor should be able to recognize who is and who ain't obese?? I've worked with children all my life, and those pictures you posted tell me this child is in no way obese. Not even close. I'm not even sure I'd call him chunky. And a pot belly? ALL kids have a pot belly, which they'll lose by the time they're 5 - 7.

And who uses a BMI on children?? It's ridiculous!

My aunt is obese, in fact "morbidly obese" is the charming term, but her four sons, now young adults, have always been active and of healthy weight. Because she did all the things you are doing with Bear, and for which you should be receiving credit.

Good for you for writing that letter. Not only was she rude and insensitive, she's using questionable diagnostic methods - and that makes one wonder about her basic competence.

Oh, but I'm steamed!

I'm sorry to hear about the pediatrician visit. Yikes, that is just mean. Sometimes doctors are the worst about ignoring what is right in fron to them and going with what "the book" (or the BMI chart) says.

Good for you! I wrote a similar letter when I was pregnant with #6, and the ped who had seen all of my other kids since birth had the nerve to laugh at me and send me home with a prescription for The Hubster to have a vasectomy. He also handed me an advair diskus - for asthma for one of my kids - and said it looked like birth control, but I wouldn't know since I didn't use it.

Whoops. Not all about me, sorry.

Bear is super lucky to have a mom like you in his corner.

Its probably better that you waited to write the letter because now you're calm and composed and can raise some valid points. I think you did it the right way!

Don't berate yourself for not saying enough when you were in the doctor's office. It's hard to come up with something intelligent to say when your child is being attacked.

You did the right thing by talking to Bear about it, and then firing the pediatrician and writing a well thought out letter as to why their practice should rethink their philosophy. Be proud of yourself for that.

you go girl! good for you for sending the letter.

Yea, you! You should be really proud of yourself for putting it in writing and standing up to her. It's a hard thing to do, but you did the right thing. There are way too many good doctors out there to waste another day or cent on one that makes you feel that way.

Stamp, schmamp. I'd march right in that office and shove it in that broad's . . .

Stethoscope.

And that, my dear, was a joke. I second all that RP said. :)

Oh, good for you. It feels good to stick up for yourself in such a reasonable, intelligent, assertive way so that the offending party has no choice but to listen and, hopefully, feel something. And knowing that because of your letter, they might think twice next time. And it sounds like you did excellent damage control with Bear (who's adorable, btw).

BRAVO!!! (sending stamp thru snail mail)

You rock, Elizabeth.

The only thing I would add about what you said is that that doctor is already bankrupt - just not financially (yet).

Amen. And Bravo.

there is still something very satisfying in the day of email and voice mail to write a good ol' fashioned "YOU SUCK" letter. Way to go.

*begin gush* You are my hero. Seriously. I'm thrilled that you wrote that letter, that you stood up for yourself, that you let them know that they were bullies, that they should not have even had that conversation with Bear in the room. Sometimes, I want to be just like you when I grow up. Hero. Really.

Bear is a very lucky young man. *end gush*