Words can never be erased. They are permanent. They can be so damaging. In this particular case I'm talking about how girls begin to view their bodies based on what others say to them. How one word to a little girl could stay with her a lifetime.
My daughter. My beautiful daughter and I were turning my bedroom floor into a nail shop. I was painting her toenails, as she was telling me about her day at school. A boy was bothering her, so and so got new boots and she had to catch-up on her reading. I could tell she wanted to say more and knew that an evening of painting nails might provide her with the courage she needs. It's funny, I can usually get more out of my kids when we are doing something together. Something other than just sitting and talking. This evening proved to be just such a night.
After telling me the fluff stuff, she made a bold statement.
"Mom, my thighs are fat."
Me, "What did you say?"
"My thighs are fat."
It wasn't a question but a statement. She didn't even hesitate. My first question was "Who told you that?" Of course the response was something like, "No one." Yeah, okay right. She's not going to tell me right now. I went into the whole, we are all built differently, .... She, on the other hand, wouldn't even consider that. Her urgency to get to another subject told me that.To be perfectly honest I don't know what I would do if I found out who told her that.
I do know to well how words are permanent. When I was 12 I thought I would never get taller. I was stuck at 4'8" FOREVER. All of my friends already had growth spurts. I, on the other hand, needed one. My doctor, at my well visit, told my mom (but I was sitting right there) that I really didn't need to gain anymore weight. That was permanently embedded in my head, as is evidence of this post.
I just hope it's not too late for my daughter.
Thanks Gabriela!! Visit her @ celebreightyourself.blogspot.com
http://celebreightyourself.blogspot.com/2012/01/fat-is-perfect-scapegoat.html
After telling me the fluff stuff, she made a bold statement.
"Mom, my thighs are fat."
Me, "What did you say?"
"My thighs are fat."
It wasn't a question but a statement. She didn't even hesitate. My first question was "Who told you that?" Of course the response was something like, "No one." Yeah, okay right. She's not going to tell me right now. I went into the whole, we are all built differently, .... She, on the other hand, wouldn't even consider that. Her urgency to get to another subject told me that.To be perfectly honest I don't know what I would do if I found out who told her that.
I do know to well how words are permanent. When I was 12 I thought I would never get taller. I was stuck at 4'8" FOREVER. All of my friends already had growth spurts. I, on the other hand, needed one. My doctor, at my well visit, told my mom (but I was sitting right there) that I really didn't need to gain anymore weight. That was permanently embedded in my head, as is evidence of this post.
I just hope it's not too late for my daughter.
Thanks Gabriela!! Visit her @ celebreightyourself.blogspot.com
http://celebreightyourself.blogspot.com/2012/01/fat-is-perfect-scapegoat.html
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