When we hear the word Diet, we often think of girls. And while it’s true that more young girls and women try dieting than boys and men, as a mom to all boys, I know that self esteem and body issues are hard on both sexes. No one is immune to feeling bad about their bodies and wishing they were more fit, lean, or strong as some of the images they see on tv and magazines. I’m joining Silken Laumann in taking the Never Say Dieting Oath, so that my boys won’t learn that behaviour from me.
“I want you to live with Confidence”
This is my favourite line in the oath. As a mom, to three young boys, it’s my goal and hope that they will find their Confidence in themselves and the world around them. Be Confident to try new things, be Confident to take risks, be Confident to love themselves for who they are, without thinking they need to change.
“I want you to be comfortable and secure in the wonderful person that you are”
We try to teach our boys as they grow to seek out others who are kind and helpful to be friends with. To look beneath a person’s appearance because none of that is important. This is something we will reinforce in many ways as they get older and mature, met new people and start to see girls in a new light. We will encourage our boys to lift others up and be respectful of others, but also of themselves.
Canadian studies over the past decade have reported dieting rates that range from 14% to 46% among preteen and teen girls – many of whom are already at a healthy weight. And the Canadian Paediatric Society recognizes “parental role modelling of dieting behaviour” as a risk factor for dieting among teens.
That’s why it’s important to recognize that when we choose dieting, we’re not just depriving ourselves, we may also be teaching the next generation to live with emotional and nutritional deprivation as well.
Let’s use our influence to positively empower our children to live with healthy balance, by living that way ourselves.
By teaching our children the importance and benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, we can eliminate the word “Diet” all together. The best way to do this is by modeling a healthy lifestyle ourselves!
Together, we can build a healthier future for every generation to come – Take the Oath today!
This post is in partnership with Multi Grain Cheerios, all opinions are my own and not influenced in anway.
I took the oath for my girls. Such an important message
What a great program. My DD is only 2 but I worry that her body image will affect her one day. I’m awful and always say I’m going on a diet. I need to change my attitude in order to ensure she turns out right1
What a great oath to pledge. I often wonder and worry about my LO’s perspective when it comes to body image. I already hear her friends use the words “fat”, “chubby”, “skinny”, “perfect” with regard to other kids’ bodies…and they are only 4, 5 and 6 years old!
wow already with the fat word? sheesh!
I am always correcting people when they say the word “diet”. No! You don’t want to diet, you want to live a balanced life. Yes I eat healthy most of the time but guess what…I also enjoy a huge greasy burger and pizza from time to time. I think diet leads to failure mentally and psychically. No one should be deprived.
I want my son to know he eats well. I don’t think “dieting” should be the norm.
You are right Randa, we should focus on being HEALTHY first
What a wonderfully positive message for everyone!! So many kids start to worry about body image when they are barely out of their little kid years and it scares me. I try to remind my daughter, who is almost eleven, that it is what’s inside that counts, but it is a hard sell at times. I want her to live with confidence and will strive to remind her every day.
yup my boys are 7 and under and they already run around ‘flexing their muscles’. As much as we hear about the girls, the boys have big ideas of what they are supposed to look like too