Recently my 10-year-old daughter asked me a question. She said, "You diet and you exercise, and you don't eat a lot of sweets, right?". I said, "that is what I try to do, yes". She said, "Does that mean you have anorexia?".
She has been reading a book about growing up and all the good and bad that comes along with it. This book brought up anorexia. She was confused and didn't understand why everything that I have preached to her about being healthy, watching what you eat, and getting exercise seemed to be a bad thing. I am glad I was able to set her straight and explain it to her.
This made me think of another issue. The issue of how 'everywhere' body image is and what young girls are getting out of it all. How many times has your child heard you or another adult they know say, "I'm fat". How many resolutions are made to lose weight? How many moms like the way they look in clothes and make it known. Kids are listening. This is something we don't think much about but what are the young girls getting out of it? We worry about what images our kids are getting from pop stars and television but have we thought about us? My daughter, at 10 years old says she is too fat to wear a bathing suit. I try to explain in most 'kid' terms as possible that it is about being healthy and not skinny or fat. How do you explain this difficult subject with your children?
Are we as moms portraying a bad image of 'fat' for our daughters?
Posted by Dalia (Generation X Mom) Labels: body image, tweens
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This is a really hard one. Many of us do have issues with food (my personal one is sugar cravings and sugar binges). It is sad that we have such excessive amounts of food available to us, and so little need to exercise (e.g. because of cars and "conveinience"). We just don't seem to know what to do with it. Rather than being grateful for how our bodies function and nourishing our bodies appropriately, we tend to either over-eating or under-eating or eating foods lacking in nutritional value. I'm interested to hear how others try to teach their daughters about food/ exercise. The little things I try to do are walk to nearby activities (my daughter is in the pram at this stage), offer lots of healthy food choices, but ensure that no foods are "off limits" in moderation...
Sorry for the long, rambling response!
Fortunately to this point in my life I've never worried about my weight. My daughter has probably never heard someone refer to a diet. Possibly the teasing between my dad and husband has used the "fat" word as they try to get the best jab in. They're men though, so I'm not sure it affects a young girl's body image.
Exercise is just a part of our lives. When the weather is good we go outside to ride bikes or scooters, play at the park, swim, etc. During the winter we chase each other around the house and dance in the living room. It's easy when it's a lifestyle and it's been my daughter's life from day one.
I know - this kind of awareness is starting to creep in with my 7 year old too. It's a fine balance to walk with them, isn't it??
This is a touchy subject. I may not have too many body issues but then I don't lead a very healthy lifestyle either. I don't smoke but I don't exercise either.
I'm dreading this one - I'm probably not the best role model in the world. I have a friend with a 2.5 year old daughter, who she says already imitates the way her mommy pinches her sides and frowns in the mirror...
It's bad news.
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