A mother has sparked a debate after revealing she wanted her chubby daughter to go to a fat camp despite her husband’s objections.
The mother in question sought advice from columnist and author Jane Green whom she told that she is a mother to two amazing children including a six-year-old girl.
While her 10-year-old son delivered on her expectations and met the standards she’d set by playing instruments, learning foreign languages, and loving sports, the mother admitted she feels like her daughter is underperforming in school and not showing any interest in hobbies.
“She struggles in school, doesn’t show any interest in the extracurricular activities that we sign her up for – and now she has started to binge eat,” the mother revealed.
“I don’t want to deny a child who needs food but my daughter has been sneaking candy when she thinks we aren’t looking and at dinner, she shovels food into her mouth without any control. The housekeeper told me yesterday that she always finds food wrappers under her bed, and it’s always junk food.”
The frustrated mom went on to say that as a result of her unhealthy habits the girl gained a lot of weight, prompting her parents to put her on a diet. The child, however, rebelled against the sudden restrictions by throwing tantrums and screaming when she didn’t get the food she wanted.
“I’ve been doing some research and came across a treatment facility for young children who are struggling with food and impulse control. It’s basically like a summer camp, but they teach nutrition and portion restriction, and I think it might help her to be around other kids who have similar issues to her,” the mother continued.
“But when I told my husband, he went nuts, telling me that it was cruel to even think about sending our daughter to ‘fat camp’ and that it would damage her permanently. He said I was obsessed with having the ‘perfect’ daughter and that it’s ‘shallow’ of me to be so focused on her looks.”
While the mother admitted she was hurt by her husband’s comments, she insisted she is focused on her daughter’s health and happiness.
Responding to the worried mom’s request for help, Green suggested the mother should stop putting too much pressure on her daughter and expecting her to live up to her standards.
“I see numerous examples of children having – like your daughter – eating disorders, huge anxiety, being carted off to therapy to solve these issues, not realizing that it all stems from the pressure that is being put on these kids by none other than their parents,” the best-selling author wrote.
“So I am asking you to stop. Stop worrying about your daughter’s weight and food issues. Stop worrying that she won’t achieve what you want for her in life if she is not a perfect size. Stop putting pressure on both your children to be the best, the thinnest, the prettiest.”
Rather than imposing strict diets or sending the girl to a fat camp, Green also advised the mother to seek a local professional therapist to help her daughter overcome her unhealthy eating habits.
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