I've been reading a lot of great posts about body image on the web lately. Now that I'm the mother of a little girl, I find this issue particularly fascinating. There's a lot of great discussion out there about how to keep our girls from developing the sort of body issues that can follow them all of their lives.
So, this is the time on Sprockets when I get all preachy and give my No-Fail 10 Step Plan for Mental Health Re: Body Image! I mean, I've been a mother for going on 13 months now so I can hardly function under the weight of my maternal experience!
Wait. ACTUALLY, this is the paragraph where I shine a ray of hope upon the world and give mad props to my mom. Didn't see that coming, did ya? HAHAHA! Tricked you into reading a positive body image antectode!
I have never ONCE heard my mom discuss her weight or the shape of her body (other than the occasional I-have-no-boobs joke, and who doesn't love those?) in a negative way. Not while I was growing up, not while I was pregnant, not EVER. I don't think I have to tell you how awesome this is. Some of you who know us in real life might be thinking "well, DUH, skinny bitches" (huge eye roll). And it is true: we are small people and not, by any stretch of the imagination, fat. But I really believe it doesn't matter. It isn't just that she didn't go around calling herself fat and pointing out her various flaws. She didn't do the opposite either. She just NEVER MENTIONED IT AT ALL.
My own goal in regards to my kids and food/body image is "don't make a big deal out of it". Don't talk about my body or about the bodies of others. Don't comment on what I eat or what others eat. Don't discuss the relative health benefits of various foods or exercise routines. I know a lot of people probably disagree with that last one on the basis of educating kids on what is healthy, and I see their point. But I really think that any mention, positive or negative, gets the wheels turning for kids. Basically, I don't want them thinking about it at all.
Luckily, this "do nothing" approach fits perfectly with my lazy nature. I always love it when that choice shows up on the list of options.
Thanks Mom!
(Yep, she's actually shorter than me. Let that sink in-I'm 4'11")
(And you thought I was kidding about the gymnast thing)
