Published: December 02, 2007 12:07 am            

VASICEK: What kids eat and Hoosierisms

Although I do not always succeed, I try to write about a variety of subjects. Yet there are a few categories that draw me more than others, including the two spot-lighted subjects in today’s column. Like many Tribune readers, I cannot deny I have a soft spot in my heart for children (my first subject). Besides my Judeo-Christian convictions, I also cherish traditional values because they prioritize children, in my opinion.

If you think about it, many of our nation’s social changes (increased divorce rate, single-parenting, drug use, undisciplined purchasing, etc.) have taken their most painful toll upon our children. And one of those declining values, I believe, is pro-active parenting. Although most parents deeply love their children, it seems fewer parents are thinking about their children’s long-term best interests. This is seen specifically in the realm of nutrition.

A recent Associated Press article suggests parents are more lax than ever when it comes to what their kids eat and do. The article explains, “Too little milk, sunshine and exercise: It’s an anti-bone trifecta. And for some kids, shockingly, it’s leading to rickets, the soft-bone scourge of the 19th century.

“But cases of full-blown rickets are just the red flag: Bone specialists say possibly millions of seemingly healthy children aren’t building as much strong bone as they should — a gap that may leave them more vulnerable to bone-cracking osteoporosis later in life than their grandparents are.”

Because modern children frequently enjoy fast-food meals (along with their parents), soda pop instead of milk, and video games instead of outdoor activity, parents are unintentionally risking the future health of their sons and daughters.

Fortunately, many modern parents are traditionalists when it comes to making their youngsters drink milk, go outside to play, and get exercise. Despite these many responsible parents, the growing number of parents who do not take ownership for their kids’ nutritional (and health) needs must be challenged to take initiative – in the name of love for their youngsters. Parents must believe that they have more wisdom than their children (who think in the short term because of immaturity).

Many of us remember that rule we heard time and time again: “No desert until you eat all your vegetables and drink all your milk.” We need to reactivate that rule. Returning to balanced meals with a green vegetable (corn doesn’t count – it’s a grain) needs to make a comeback as well!

But this column is about two of my pet subjects. One lighter topic that intrigues me is the Hoosier dialect. As the years zip by, I grab a few new bits of information about speaking Hoosier.

In previous columns, I mentioned what I (erroneously) thought was a Hoosierism, but have since discovered otherwise. While most Americans say, “In the evenings I do such and such,” many Hoosiers say, “OF an evening, I do such and such.” Since I had never heard the expression “Of an evening” anywhere but Indiana, I assumed it was unique to our region – until last week.

I have been on a mystery book binge lately, and I picked up a book by the British author Patricia Wentworth. Sure enough, the author re-creates some English country dialect and has a character say, “Of an evening.” Apparently the “of a” expression goes back to our Mother Land, the U.K. itself! Next thing you know, Hoosiers will be saying, “Cheerio, pip pip and all that rot.”

But I have noticed a Hoosierism I had not mentioned before, but it is only used by some Hoosiers, and only when giving instructions.

Where I come from, I might give the following instruction: “Get a board and saw it in half ...” Or I might say, “You get a board ...” But some Hoosiers would say, “Get YOU a board ...” or even, “You get you a board.”

Although the English teachers may not appreciate the challenges of dealing with the Hoosier dialect, it is one of many cool things that make Indiana, well – Indiana!

Ed Vasicek is pastor of Highland Park Church and a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune.

        

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