Quote From: kadjiaFirst of all, I think mom has her values in the right place, in cultivating self-esteem first! No 8 yr old has any business being on a formal "diet", and honestly, the implication of such..even from well-meaning family members is not productive. I do however, think that lifelong habits are formed while we are young and impressionable, and so if healthy eating habits are learned early on, all the better! But even so, grandma and auntie's critisisms are out of line! Especially if they are ever within earshot of the little girl. Such comments could seriously do irreversable damage to her self image. While it may be easy, to lose a couple of pounds, it is much harder to recover one's self esteem later on in life, or to recover from a life threatening eating disorder one day. I think Dr. Phil hit it on the head, in saying Mom is in the position to provide a good example, and to help promote healthy attitudes when it comes to nutrition, that can last a lifetime. But I do think her heart, and priorities are in the right place...Rock on, Mom! =)
I think you are right about cultivating self esteem in the child who was seen as 'over weight'. But I think that a healthy self esteem needs to be based in fact. To really make the child happier, get out and go for long walks with her. Go swimming with her. Play badminton or learn to curl. Ice skate, run, bike and rollerblade.
Get your kids active and you won't be worrying about them dieting. My own daughter was a chubby little girl and I have to admit I loved her round and girlish shape. But I could see, at about age 8 or so, that it was bothering HER. She didn't want to be the chubby girl anymore. She wanted to diet. As a recovered anorexic I did NOT want her to diet. So I decided it was time to give up my couch potato ways and get busy with my daughter.
Now she's a beautiful and slender 17 year old. [And I admit that Mom has reverted to her couch and computer potato ways!]
