Animal’s Daily Back To School Interrogation News

Over at PJMedia, parenting scribe Megan Fox tells us about her kids’ back-to-school physicals, where she was asked (apparently) some… interesting questions. Excerpt:

In fact, it took well over two and a half hours while I sat there and listened to this man, who has seen us regularly, ask my children uncomfortable questions about sexual abuse, guns in the house, bullying at school and a myriad of other things that, frankly, aren’t any of his business.

Several times he addressed me directly on parenting issues like “are they wearing helmets when they bike ride?” or “have you spoken to them about inappropriate touching?” Well, yes, actually, of course they do and I have spoken to them about abuse regularly, but what that has to do with a school physical is beyond me.

Very little was done to check them for actual physical health. I think he looked in their ears and listened to their hearts, but no reflexes were checked, no neurological exam or eye exam was given. No hearing test was administered. Mostly, it was an inquisition into my parenting skills. What do you feed them? Are they eating enough vegetables and staying away from processed foods? Do they sleep well at night and have regular bedtimes? Do you and your husband fight? Are you safe at home? Is anyone smoking? I kid you not. This was the tone of the interrogation.

I’m so glad my kids are all adults now. But they were once in school too, although we were never subjected to this kind of interrogation – I’ve known our family doc for over thirty years and he’d have no damn part of any such shenanigans – it should surprise anyone that I have some thoughts on this. Let’s look at those questions, and I’ll answer them.