parenting in a skinny vs. fat world

We’re gonna talk about the “s” word today.

No, not that one.

Yesterday I read a letter from Lauren Conrad about the “s” word – SKINNY – and how she’s banning it from her vocabulary.

When we’ve talked about getting in shape in the past, words like “skinny,” “slim,” and “thin” have often come up. Starting this month, we’ll be banning any body shaming terms from the site, and replacing them with words like “fit” “toned,” and “healthy.” We try do to this for the most part anyway, but now we’re making it official! The word skinny will now be reserved for skinny jeans. My editorial team and I had a long talk about it, and we want to make sure that the focus is on being fit as opposed to a number on the scale. Every body is created differently—and healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes.  {source}

As a woman, I applaud this.  As a trainer, I love it.

And as a mama of a young girl, I want to go kiss Lauren Conrad’s sweet Laguna Beach face.  And that’s what I want to talk about today.

Parenting In A Skinny Versus Fat Society.  How should we approach the next generation?

Skinny isn’t a word that we use around the Wright house.  “Fat” either for that matter.  We just don’t talk about stuff like that.  And it’s VERY intentional.  When you’ve struggled with body image and food issues for a large part of your life, the last thing you want is to pass along those demons to your daughter (or son – I don’t think it’s a gender-neutral issue).

Here’s my approach:

Clara’s body is “strong” and she loves to dance.

Clara and Henry eat “healthy” foods but they don’t know the words “calories” or “fat grams” or that carbs are naughty or nice.

We just eat. 

They just eat. 

Sometimes it’s carrots and sometimes it’s ice cream.

Henry can do 10 push-ups and he thinks that’s awesome. So do I.

We move daily.  We feel best when we’re active as a family.

I’m very intentional with my vocabulary.  I’m very intentional with the faces I make when trying on clothes, during bathing suit season and when I look in the mirror.

(both for them AND for me)

Maybe I’m a bit jaded because my children AREN’T overweight.  We haven’t really had to deal with adolescent dieting and I know many parents who have/do.  Is this because I’m hyperaware of how I talk in front of them….of how I talk about MYSELF in front of them?  Is it all due to genetics?  Because we’re more active?  Who knows. 

What I DO know is that we’re called to help and not hinder, to guide these little lives toward VITALITY and JOYFUL LIVING.  I want so much more for them in life than MyFitness Pal.  

I want to open this up as a DISCUSSION post.

What is YOUR approach (or what will your approach be) to raising healthy children?  What does your vocabulary look like regarding the “s” word?  What measures can we take to give our daughters a fighting chance against poor body image?  I’m all ears.

splendid…lindsay