The Love Value of Food - Community Response

Opinion: Michael Foster
reprinted with permission

Nice to see some moves to counter this frankly dangerous collection of assumptions and outright prejudice-reinforcment. I've never seen a more cobbled together piece of statistical analysis. It seems to be a patchwork of half-truths and association. The use of this flawed evidence to support what seems to be a purely dreamt up opinion is laughable. To therefore infer that there is a "selfish gene" as it's obvious that step parents would not love their children as well is almost comedic. I mean, as supporting evidence doesn't the tale of Snow White or Cinderella back this theory up just as well? Why didn't they quote that?

There are several factors I've heard suggested that equally likely provide an explanation for a 5% discrepancy which is hardly Earth-shattering anyway. For starters more girls are adopted than boys. Girls eat less than boys. Ergo...

Adoptive parents actually tend to be more thoughtful and committed to the parenting role, I've found, than biological parents, many of whom had little choice in becoming parents. We chose to become parents by a conscious and constantly re-evaluated act of will with plenty of opportunity to opt out. Perhaps we're equally thoughtful about buying the right foods at the right price rather than feeding them on potato chips and cookies. I spend less than my neighbours on feeding my kids. FACT! I've checked. However, they eat freshly prepared food in a nutritious, balanced diet. My neighbour's kids eat pester foods like sweets (lovely sugar), mechanically reclaimed meat in breadcrumbs with sugary sauces and too much salt. They hardly eat any fruit. However, this is an expensive way to buy food. Whose love is stronger?

Trust us in the west to see things in purely monetary terms.

> Submit your opinion
> Back to Feature
> More opinions

Adoption Profiles

Aaron & Triné Adoption has been an important part of our lives and we are excited to continue this journey. We look forward to welcoming another child into our... [more] other adoption profiles | add your profile A service of Adoption Profiles, LLC