I don't know if this is the right forum for this but "In The Eyes of Others" got me thinking about my little girls. I have three beautiful little girls aged 6,4, and 2. I have always been fairly concious about what I say concerning my appearance (never complain about wanting to lose weight, etc) and the appearance of others mainly because I didn't want them to focus too much on their outward appearance. When we do talk about it I try and emphasize strong bodies, ya know, that daddy and I want girls who can kick butt, that kind of thing. My 6 year old and 2 year old are wonderful eaters (actually like lean meats and fruits - no veggies yet though) and otherwise seem very normal. My 4 year old on the other hand is very concerned with her appearance and eats very little and has no where near the energy of the other two. She isn't thin yet (all my babies were like little linebackers) bu I have even heard her make comments about her weight and "fat people" in general. Where is this coming from? Yes, I tell them they are beautiful but I also emphasize to them that they are smart, funny, caring, and extremely special.

I guess I want what every person wants: kids that grow up to be healthy, happy, and strong. I don't want them to have weight problems whether that be overweight or underweight. I think the pressure on young girls these days to be thin is stronger than ever and I want to be well-equipped to counter that pressure. Any thoughts?