Asked my SIX year old daughter the other night.
Seems some kids at school have been calling her fat.
And as much as a part of me wants to strangle them, part of me realizes kids are kids and while Soph isn't obese, she also isn't what you'd call svelte. What she IS though, is beautiful, healthy, sensitive, and just a tad on the stout side.
And she wants to go on a diet.
And she's SIX!
Apparently I'm at a loss for words, (other than diet and six.)
So, we've been talking a lot about healthy eating and exercise and bodies being different. I've told her that she can choose to eat fewer sweets if she wants to, and that we'll try as a family to have healthy meals, but that no, she cannot go on a diet (and frankly, she probably doesn't actually know what that even means) because she is not fat, and also, SHE IS SIX YEARS OLD GODDAMMIT.
This is the part where I could type pages and pages about my relationship with my body, how I have a hard time taking care of myself, eating disorders, cultural expectations, blah, blah, blah, but I've done that here many, many times, and frankly, I'm bored with it. I am just so sad and feel so guilty that my issues have already rubbed off on my sweet, sweet Sophie Gene.
Balls.
I do want her to be healthy. I do want her to feel comfortable in her skin. I do want her to enjoy physical activities like I never have. But I guess I'm not doing enough to facilitate that.
SO, yesterday we went to the pool after school and had a really fun time. I'm going to TRY and go swimming with her (which she loves) 2 or 3 times a week an see if a little exercise will make us both feel more fit and less fat. (Although getting the legs, pits, and nether region swim-worthy 3 times a week is just a bit more with the hedge clipping than I generally like to do in the winter months.)
We're also going to menu plan together, and spend more time in the kitchen feeding ourselves in healthy ways.
Is that to much? Is it too little?
Damn.
Comment whore wants to know: What do I do about the kids who are calling her fat? Talk to teachers? Parents? Ignore it?



