Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Hmm. . .

I was at some friends’ house for dinner one night. On the kitchen counter, they had a baby picture of their niece, now five years old. Another guest commented on how chubby the five-year-old had been as a baby—“fat baby,” “not a cute baby,” and how “it’s a good thing she turned out cute.” Half an hour later, the same guest is talking about children’s clothing and specifically about her young daughter’s preferences. “Would you believe that she’s only six, and she already won’t wear one of her coats, because it makes her look fat? I don’t know where she gets that from.”

8 comments:

PTC said...

Hmmm...SHOCKER! Wonde where she gets that from! Hopefully someone can undo her thinking before it's too late, if it's not already.

Beth said...

Haha, I was a fat baby too, and glad I couldn't hear what people were thinking at the time! Come on lady, you just don't say those things out loud... Thats just not very tactful, so its no wonder that her daughter is probably modeling her behavior after her mother. I wonder how many times this lady professed (perhaps unintentionally) in front of her daughter that various attire made her look fat. I doubt six year olds get that example from Disney channel or kindergarten.

Anonymous said...

Its just so sad. Coincidentally, I met a nine year old today who said she doesn't each much because she doesn't want to get fat. I wanted to tear my hair out when I heard it.

Anonymous said...

*choke* *splutter*

OK,I know none of you ladies with impeccable manners would probably do this, but I think I would have HAD to fix her with a raised eyebrow or two and say in my most dulcet voice with ultimate diction,

"I can't imagine where she gets it from."

And look at her just long enough so she got the hint.

After all, those of us who are aware of the issues are supposed to gently spread the awareness, right? Right?

drstaceyny said...

ptc--I agree.

beth--hopefully, not. Tact in NYC? ; )

ps--that's so sad.

lm--see, that's why I didn't say anything--I'm still working on my "dulcet" voice.

FatMom said...

Oh, good gracious! Future eating disorder right there.

Anonymous said...

I remember a cartoon from the New Yorker that I clipped and gave to my therapist. It showed a woman in the hospital being given her newborn daughter for the first time and she asks the doctor, "is it too soon to start her on a diet?"

drstaceyny said...

fc--my thoughts exactly, though hopefully not. . .

fc--wow, I'll have to look that one up.