I just have a hard time when 7 yer olds are having to worry about what they look like to others
i agree. i picked my niece up from school one day (i think she was around 7 or 8 also) and she proudly announced that she was ''going on a diet too!!!''
her mother, my mother, and i had been discussing going on a diet together the night before. i quickly said, "nonono!!!! diet's are for people who need to lose weight.'' then she asked me what losing weight meant. i told her it's for fat people and assured her that she was not fat in the least bit and didn't need a diet.
''but you're not fat either jojo.'' ahhhh...from the mouth of babes.
i decided that day that if i ever have children, the words diet, losing weight, and oh crap i'm so fat will never be mentioned in their presence.
it sounds like your niece has a very loving family and that she has many people to turn to when she needs to talk to someone. i didn't have that and struggled w/ my weight issues from the time i was 12 until recently. luckily i never developed an eating disorder, but i had a lot of unhealthy habits...fasting, occasional purging, over exercising, etc.
i have a wonderful support group now (matt). he helps me to eat healthy and to exercise properly. i apologize for hogging this thread. i've just made it my life goal to try to find that chip that society has placed in the brains of our young girls, making them think that they're supposed to look like Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton, and tear it out. i think our society has gotten better, but we still have issues. i look forward to the day when girls will just enjoy being girls again.
ok...i'm done now.
luv, jojo
