What to say to kids?

[Guest guest]

I was reading the thread about the daughter upset because her mom

commented on her weight gain. It seems like no matter what we do as moms,

it's our faults that our girls have issues with food.

Please note: I am not trying to say that these girls' moms weren't wrong,

I am asking what is the best way to go? What can I do to help my kids?

I have 3 girls (my mother cursed me well!). The middle one has picked up

on my love for whole foods and exercise, my oldest has picked up my love

for computers, lazing around (exercise takes up what, 2 hours out of 24?)

and my issues with compulsive eating. The little one is in between. She

loves food, loves to be active, as long as it isn't too hard.

So now.. the 12 year old (my oldest) is slowly gaining weight. I try to

tell her that she can't eat dessert the way she wants to because she is

not active enough to eat like that. I am sure she is taking it like I am

calling her fat.

I want to take her to a football field with some M & Ms and for each M & M we

eat, we have to walk a football field length, because it is said that is

how to work off each M & M. Any other suggestions, please?

She recently told me that she can't wait until she has the freedom to buy

her own 2 litre container of ice cream to eat all by herself. I told her

that each time I one up myself binge-wise, it is a horrible, horrible day.

I said " think about it... your food doesn't taste as good after 3

bites.. so how good could it possibly taste at the bottom of that 2 litre

container?!? " You taste nothing, you feel numb and then you feel horribly

shamed.

*sigh*

I haven't eaten anything like that in a really long time. I have

chocolate covered icecream bars at home (a weakness) and have NOT eaten

them. I am better today.. will worry about tomorrow when it comes. I

don't want my kids to make the same mistakes I did!

When we do buy icecream, one kid will say " Can we get Oreo Ice cream? " and

I say " do you want it to be there tomorrow? If so, then no " . I try not

to get my weaknesses these days.

Thanks!

Corinna