Not my kid but a friend of my kid has complained about 5th/6th grade kids being mean to him and teasing him (sometimes it’s about him being chubby, sometimes I just suspect his body type is why certain kids feel like there’s an opening to target him). I hate it. He’s not my kid so I try to stick with telling him those kids are being donkey butts and telling my kid to tell them to knock it off, if it ever happens when he’s around but it usually doesn’t because middle school kids are like little heat seeking missiles for moments of weakness in another child.
Dec 8, 2022·edited Dec 8, 2022Liked by Claire Zulkey
As mother of a 3.5 yo and general novice witch I have nothing of substance to add except to say I feel so seen by the end of this newsletter. I love the tiny victories section at the end of Jess Grose’s NYT parenting newsletter but sometimes I need someone to explode in rage with me
My daughter hasn’t developed a sense of awareness about body image yet, but speaking from my own experience, the best advice I can give is to model what you want to see. My mom often told me how beautiful I was or that I was a perfect weight while constantly complaining about her own looks and weight in the same breath. It was confusing and contradictory and made me not trust her opinion.
💜💜💜💜 thank you for doing this piece! Love being a witch.
Not my kid but a friend of my kid has complained about 5th/6th grade kids being mean to him and teasing him (sometimes it’s about him being chubby, sometimes I just suspect his body type is why certain kids feel like there’s an opening to target him). I hate it. He’s not my kid so I try to stick with telling him those kids are being donkey butts and telling my kid to tell them to knock it off, if it ever happens when he’s around but it usually doesn’t because middle school kids are like little heat seeking missiles for moments of weakness in another child.
As mother of a 3.5 yo and general novice witch I have nothing of substance to add except to say I feel so seen by the end of this newsletter. I love the tiny victories section at the end of Jess Grose’s NYT parenting newsletter but sometimes I need someone to explode in rage with me
My daughter hasn’t developed a sense of awareness about body image yet, but speaking from my own experience, the best advice I can give is to model what you want to see. My mom often told me how beautiful I was or that I was a perfect weight while constantly complaining about her own looks and weight in the same breath. It was confusing and contradictory and made me not trust her opinion.
So much great info here! It’s wonderful the 11 year old shared their thoughts.
We have a podcast episode during which we interviewed our daughters, then ages 10-16 about messages diet cultures messages they hear out there in the world. The 11 year old might find it a helpful episode. https://sunnysideupnutrition.com/episode/caroline-ellie-miriam-izzie-perspectives-from-our-kids/
This couldn’t come at a better time. My
9 year old has expressed these feelings to me and it’s so tough to not get mine tangled up in them. This is so helpful. 💓