Wandering thoughts
We were out and about a lot yesterday so today I'm laying my tired bones down and having a lazy day. I was thinking a lot on a conversation I had yesterday, while chatting with a guy he was telling me about his daughter's weight gain while she was away from home over the course of 3 months. This was before I saw her so in my head I had a certain idea of what she looked like. Then I saw her and realized that she's quite slender and this was after a significant weight gain.
Now it must be pointed out that both father and daughter are athletes and their sport requires as small an upper body as possible in order to avoid injury. I appreciate that but at the same time the very idea of telling or even hinting to a teenage girl that she is too big, particularly when she is in fact nearly tiny boggles me. I can't see myself doing it. It really makes me glad that none of my kids were competitive athletes because I think I'd have a hard time balancing the needs of their sport with what I personally believe about body image ideals.
I think he does an amazing job with not creating issues over food, I've taken several meals with them and there is always dessert and balanced yummy food with plenty of veggies and fresh stuff. Everyone is encouraged to enjoy their food and eat what they like. That goes a long way to bringing balance to the issue at their house although I do wonder about others involved in sports who don't share those kinds of ideas and practices. It's probably very easy to fall into a dark place surrounding food when in order to stay competitive your kid has to be a certain size. It's a situation that honestly I don't envy parents of athletes.
Now it must be pointed out that both father and daughter are athletes and their sport requires as small an upper body as possible in order to avoid injury. I appreciate that but at the same time the very idea of telling or even hinting to a teenage girl that she is too big, particularly when she is in fact nearly tiny boggles me. I can't see myself doing it. It really makes me glad that none of my kids were competitive athletes because I think I'd have a hard time balancing the needs of their sport with what I personally believe about body image ideals.
I think he does an amazing job with not creating issues over food, I've taken several meals with them and there is always dessert and balanced yummy food with plenty of veggies and fresh stuff. Everyone is encouraged to enjoy their food and eat what they like. That goes a long way to bringing balance to the issue at their house although I do wonder about others involved in sports who don't share those kinds of ideas and practices. It's probably very easy to fall into a dark place surrounding food when in order to stay competitive your kid has to be a certain size. It's a situation that honestly I don't envy parents of athletes.
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