My 10 year old (soon to be 11) stepdaughter is over weight. We know it, pretty sure she knows it. Her dad was overweight at one point, so I’m sure there are some genetics playing a role. However, she eats and eats and eats, will stash food in her room and hide it, and we pretty much stopped buying the Little Debbie type stuff and ice cream because she will clean house on it when we aren’t around or looking. As bad as it sounds, I ended up putting a chain and a pad lock on our pantry.
How do you tell a child that they have got to change their eating habits because they are overweight and will continue to gain weight if they don’t change? How do you say this without making them feel self conscious and keep from being scarred?
I know a lot will say it starts with us parents.
My wife cooks most nights. Usually some meat and veggies and generally always mashed potatoes. I wouldn’t say we are healthy eaters, but we arent junk food eaters. I’d say country cooking is the type of food we eat.
She will fill her plate twice and sometimes wants more and we feel compelled to tell her no, she’s had enough. She will eat just plain bread or tortillas if she can get her hands on them.
If we force her to eat certain things and certain amounts, she’s smart enough to know what we are saying without us having to say it. It is to the point where we just need to get blunt with it and have a talk.
How do you handle something like this? We don’t want to break her heart, but at the same time, as parents, we are looking out for her well being.
How do you tell a child that they have got to change their eating habits because they are overweight and will continue to gain weight if they don’t change? How do you say this without making them feel self conscious and keep from being scarred?
I know a lot will say it starts with us parents.
My wife cooks most nights. Usually some meat and veggies and generally always mashed potatoes. I wouldn’t say we are healthy eaters, but we arent junk food eaters. I’d say country cooking is the type of food we eat.
She will fill her plate twice and sometimes wants more and we feel compelled to tell her no, she’s had enough. She will eat just plain bread or tortillas if she can get her hands on them.
If we force her to eat certain things and certain amounts, she’s smart enough to know what we are saying without us having to say it. It is to the point where we just need to get blunt with it and have a talk.
How do you handle something like this? We don’t want to break her heart, but at the same time, as parents, we are looking out for her well being.
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