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mara williams
on Jun 18 2013 - 06:00 AM
Hey, manchild, mama says: clean your room, wash the dishes, don't drink and drive.
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Emily Parnell
on Jun 16 2013 - 06:00 AM
Eating fresh, local produce is good for body and soul
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Jim Cosgrove
on Jun 13 2013 - 06:00 AM
I just want to buy some pants. Please, turn down the music.
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- kim nakahodo - Profile | Pictures | Blog
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I went home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. It has been a year since I saw my sister’s family or my brother so it was nice to spend some time with them.
I did see something that worries me though. My niece is pretty self-conscience about her body.
She is turning 10 in December and she tips the scales at 81 pounds. She is pretty tall for her age and looks like a string bean.
She thinks she’s fat.
All she ate on Friday was about a half a cup of fried rice. She complained about stomach pains and I asked her if she was hungry. She said that she hadn’t eaten that day yet… we had been at the mall for about two hours.
My sister and my brother-in-law said that they have a hard time getting her to eat. They also say that she doesn’t really take care of herself. She doesn’t shower unless instructed to and they have a hard time getting her to brush her teeth.
Is this common?
I had the body shape of a German boy when I was her age. I was husky over big German muscles and looked like a boy…. with a bad perm. I played a lot of sports and I tend to get big man-muscles due to my heritage.
I seem to be more worried about this than anyone... I think it’s because I am quasi-obsessed with my weight too. I was once pretty over-weight and I fear getting that way again.
Is this just a common pre-teen worry? I wish I lived closer to her so I could monitor her a bit more. She just looked so skinny and pale…
Anyone else have a child/niece/sister that they fear suffers from a body image problem? Should I talk to my sister or mom about it? I don’t want them to feel like I am sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong though…..
It's very common. That's why there's a huge section in the bookstore that deals with body issues. Once girls start to develop, their perception of their body is off. Rosie thinks her legs are too long. GEEZ, people would kill for them.the other symptoms are disconcerting. not brushing teeth or taking care of herself? not wanting to eat? Sounds like possible depression, they need to have her evaluated, pronto! Not to mention the body issues...that kind of thing can easily turn into an eating disorder if not addressed early.while this may be common I would not call it normal behavior for a 10 year old. She sounds depressed. My 10 year old eats us out of house and home and is lithe as can be (I try not to be jealous!), she is pretty good about taking care of herself, with a few reminders here and there. I think you're right to be concerned. Maybe she needs a little counseling?What kind of social pressures is your niece under? I have found that that plays a big part (sometimes) in these kinds of feelings in girls. Is she in dance or ballet or some kind of activity that sometimes puts a premium on being too skinny? Not that all dance studios do -- my daughter's doesn't -- but some do. Does she like to watch Project Runway or something like that, where she sees super-skinny models? One place to start a conversation is the great American Girl book, The Care and Keeping of You. I gave it to my daughter when she was about 8 or so. We looked at it together, and then she gets it out when something happens that she wants to know about it. Maybe you could give your niece that book for Christmas. You can find it at Barnes and Noble.Go with your gut instinct. Check on-line for some info about "image", weight, etc. and send these addressed to her. She may just need a bit of info. No need to let anyone know YOU were the one who sent them to her. Would she be in "competition" with another girl at school? Or could the "little darlings" of that age have said something she's taken personally? Ask more questions is definitely the thing to do. If it's a phase, no harm done. If not? You've added your voice to the others who may have concerns, too.I agree with gematree and the others. I would ask more questions and poke around. Also someone who doesn't see somebody all the time might notice the difference more than somebody who does. Her parents may not realize how thin she is. Don't let it go. Stick your nose in. If it is serious she needs to be taken care of.
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