Being Healthy

I used to feel guilty about being away from the kids while I worked out during the week.  Not really guilty, but more like I was going to miss something.  I LOVE spending time with my kids, but crave losing weight and feeling good about my body.  But now, the coolest thing has started to happen; Cohan has been going to meet with my personal trainer with me.  

It all started once when we were going to do a pool workout.  Cohan came along to swim too.  He loved it.  Since then, he has only been a couple times.  But then, the last three weeks, he has asked to go with me.  He participates, he does push-ups, he sprints, he does high knees and bear crawls.  He loves it and sweats and motivates me.  I love that my child wants to workout with me.

I read an article my cousin sent me called How to Talk to Your Daughter About Her Body.  This article validated many things that Scott and I have talked about together and with Cohan.  We had already banned the word fat in our house.  We don't talk about the way people look.  We know there are going to be enough pressures on our children, especially Ireland with body images.  This articles is awesome.

Here it is...

How to talk to your daughter about her body, step one: Don't talk to your daughter about her body, except to teach her how it works.

Don't say anything if she's lost weight. Don't say anything if she's gained weight.

If you think your daughter's body looks amazing, don't say that. Here are some things you can say instead:

"You look so healthy!" is a great one.

Or how about, "You're looking so strong."

"I can see how happy you are -- you're glowing."

Better yet, compliment her on something that has nothing to do with her body.

Don't comment on other women's bodies either. Nope. Not a single comment, not a nice one or a mean one.

Teach her about kindness towards others, but also kindness towards yourself.

Don't you dare talk about how much you hate your body in front of your daughter, or talk about your new diet. In fact, don't go on a diet in front of your daughter. Buy healthy food. Cook healthy meals. But don't say, "I'm not eating carbs right now." Your daughter should never think that carbs are evil, because shame over what you eat only leads to shame about yourself.

Encourage your daughter to run because it makes her feel less stressed. Encourage your daughter to climb mountains because there is nowhere better to explore your spirituality than the peak of the universe. Encourage your daughter to surf, or rock climb, or mountain bike because it scares her and that's a good thing sometimes.

Help your daughter love soccer or rowing or hockey because sports make her a better leader and a more confident woman. Explain that no matter how old you get, you'll never stop needing good teamwork. Never make her play a sport she isn't absolutely in love with.

Prove to your daughter that women don't need men to move their furniture.

Teach your daughter how to cook kale.

Teach your daughter how to bake chocolate cake made with six sticks of butter.

Pass on your own mom's recipe for Christmas morning coffee cake. Pass on your love of being outside.

Maybe you and your daughter both have thick thighs or wide ribcages. It's easy to hate these non-size zero body parts. Don't. Tell your daughter that with her legs she can run a marathon if she wants to, and her ribcage is nothing but a carrying case for strong lungs. She can scream and she can sing and she can lift up the world, if she wants.

Remind your daughter that the best thing she can do with her body is to use it to mobilize her beautiful soul.

My sister-in-law once told me when Cohan was a baby that I have to be an advocate for my children.  This has stuck with me in more ways than one.  We are advocates for our kids and we will instill this in our kids.  I promise to try my hardest to not let others talk about bodies and diets or about the way people look in front of my kids.  I know that we are so blessed with beautiful, healthy children and I will remind my kids and self of this of this daily.