Obi’s Sister

And no, I’m not inviting POTUS over for dinner. I’m not in the mood to count the silverware.

Don’t these lovely morsels conjure the happiest of thoughts? The colors, the sprinkles; you just feel like a little kid again. Cupcakes are all the rage these days. Beside being adorably cute, they satisfy your sweet tooth without risking the bloat endangerment of eating a giant piece of cake. Or half the cake. Oh blazes, the whole cake. I’ve never done it (ahem), but I’ve watched my boy do it. Growing boys, they say. And having the metabolism of a cheetah helps. But back to the cupcakes.

Even brides are using them in inventive ways as a stylish replacement for wedding and groom’s cakes. Here’s a website with tons of cupcake recipes. Yum Yum.

Enter MeMe Roth (I’ll let you make the ironic observation of her name, I mean really, I try to rise above that sort of stuff), self-appointed culinary police at Public School 9 in NYC (h/t Free-Range Kids). Ms. Roth has gone ballistic on her kids school, yet again, for serving cupcakes, etc. for special events. Her kids even have a special Tupperware container in which they are instructed to place all junk-foods from their school (for further inspection? Midnight consumption? Oops, sorry). School administrators have suggested she request a transfer for her kids since she believed they were “threatened” by the exposure to junk food. Described as “hostile” and “abrasive” by school personnel and PTA members…

Her extreme methods have earned her attention before: The police were called to a Y.M.C.A. in 2007 when she absconded with the sprinkles and syrups on a table where members were being served ice cream. That was Ms. Roth who called Santa Claus fat on television that Christmas, and she has a continuing campaign against the humble Girl Scout cookies, on the premise that no community activity should promote unhealthy eating.

After the constant barrage of complaints to staff, teachers and other parents, you’d get tired of seeing them walk through the door, too. Elementary school is quickly losing it’s reputation as the last refuge of any semblance of childhood.

Both parents left feeling they were being pushed out of P.S. 9, which they perceive as exhausted by Ms. Roth’s intense lobbying for, among other things, permission slips for any food not on the official lunch menu. It would not be the first time: The Roths previously lived in Millburn, N.J., where, after Ms. Roth waged war on the bagels and Pringles meal served to kids at lunch, received e-mail from one member of the P.T.A. that said, “Please, consider moving.” That was in 2006, and P.S. 9 has been hearing about its transgressions against healthy eating pretty much ever since.

This reminds me of a little story when my kids were very young. I was firm in my commitment that my younglings would not be exposed to weapons of any kind. Then my darling baby boy, chewed off his toast in such a way that it was shaped like a gun. He’d point all around and say “Bang Bang Bang” while giggling his little baby head off. So much for that.

Every parent is entitled to raise their children as they wish; I understand that and rejoice in the fact there are parents out there willing to raise their own children instead of turning them over to the state for mindless indoctrinaiton. So I have a suggestion, Ms. Roth. If you REALLY want to control every bite that goes into your children’s mouths and save them from death by dreaded cupcakes, quit your job and home school. That is the only way you can ensure absolute iron-clad control of their diet. Besides, they would end up better educated. Then you can take your own arugula to the neighborhood birthday parties – you’re on your own there, honey.

UPDATE: Donald Douglas of AmericanPower has more on ME!ME!.