Being "fat"

[GreyhoundsRUs]

So, MIL and FIL notoriously don't eat lunch. Whatever. All last week, when DD would ask MIL to eat lunch with her, MIL would reply "G'ma is not going to eat lunch today because she's too fat. G'ma is trying to lose weight". I should have said something at that point. Now, DD is saying that her baby doll is fat, g'ma is fat, mommy is fat. I told DD that we don't say that because it's not nice. I could scream - I do NOT need my 2yo thinking that food=fat as opposed to being healthy. Gaaahhhh. Tell me I'm over-reacting...


Wife of a PGY-4 Orthopod

[JDAZ11]

Yikes!

[diggitydot]

I don't think you're overreacting, but it does bring up a good opportunity to begin conversations about healthy choices in age appropriate terms.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Also, MIL isn't actually fat (my mom on the other hand). She's about my size, but not as toned as she was when she was 20 (obviously). That makes me more frustrated because DD isn't even getting a clear picture of what "fat" is


Wife of a PGY-4 Orthopod

[diggitydot]

That's why it's a good time to start the "What we look like isn't as important as how we treat our body. Good food, lots of wild playing and running around makes us healthy. Eating junky food all the time and just sitting around isn't good for our body. How we look isn't a good way to figure out if we're healthy. Everyone looks different and you can't tell just by looking," conversation.

[Pollyanna]

That's why it's a good time to start the "What we look like isn't as important as how we treat our body. Good food, lots of wild playing and running around makes us healthy. Eating junky food all the time and just sitting around isn't good for our body. How we look isn't a good way to figure out if we're healthy. Everyone looks different and you can't tell just by looking," conversation.

Yep!

[SoonerTexan]

I'd be upset too. Maybe politely ask your MIL to be careful what she says around her.

[WolfpackWife]

Yeah I don't think you're overreacting - I kind of think that scenario is bullshit and ridiculous. As someone who has body issues that stem directly from how insecure my own mother and her sister have ALWAYS been about their bodies (and how vocal they were about it - not to us kids, but in general conversations that they probably didn't realize we were picking up on), I do not take kindly to that sort of thing because having a poor body image/low self-esteem re: body is really tough and I hate it every single day. I don't wish that on anyone's kids and a grandparent should know better.

[GrayMatterWife]

So.not.appropriate.

My MIL tried a similar line of crap in front of my girls. I point-blank told her: "Please keep your weight self-consciousness to yourself. My girls aren't fat and I don't want them to hear the message that they should be weight-obsessed."

That shut her up. What she was really looking for was a sweet, "Oh, come'on! You're not fat!" encouragement.

Nope. You're overweight. Not gonna lie to make you feel better. But your unhappiness about it is not appropriate conversation for my children.

[BonBon]

That's why it's a good time to start the "What we look like isn't as important as how we treat our body. Good food, lots of wild playing and running around makes us healthy. Eating junky food all the time and just sitting around isn't good for our body. How we look isn't a good way to figure out if we're healthy. Everyone looks different and you can't tell just by looking," conversation.

Perfect. And I'd be pissed too. Kids don't need to hear that kind of bullshit.

[Thirteen]

Not overreacting.

I like the good conversation approach. I would also talk to your MIL about the problem with creating negative body image in a 2 year old girl.


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[GreyhoundsRUs]

Not overreacting.

I like the good conversation approach. I would also talk to your MIL about the problem with creating negative body image in a 2 year old girl.


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I think part of it is the fact that she raised boys. Not that boys don't have body image issues, but it's just not the same - especially now. I'm glad I'm not overreacting - DH thinks I am, but he really honestly has no clue what it's like to be or raise a woman.


Wife of a PGY-4 Orthopod

[niener]

Nope, not overreacting. I agree it's a good opportunity to start the conversation about health and food with your DD but MIL needs to cut that shit out.