The four of us went to the Children's Museum on Friday night to see a local children's musical act. Zoey ran into one of her old friends from The Little Gym and hung out with her the whole night. As we were getting ready to leave, Zoey asked me, "Daddy, do I have to wear my coat?"
She hates her winter coat. It comes down to just above her knees, so it limits her mobility. She cannot run very well when she wears the coat. She has trouble buckling herself into the car seat when she wears the coat. But Mommy and Daddy are mean, so we make her wear the coat.
"Yes. It's cold outside," I replied.
"Do I have to?" she asked again with enough whining, angst, and eye-rolling to put a sixteen-year-old to shame.
"Yes!"
She continued to pout as she put on her coat. The Little Gym girl's mother walked up to me and whispered, "My daughter hates to wear her winter coat, too. She says it makes her look fat."
I guess she saw my jaw hit the floor because she quickly added, "I don't know where she gets it from!"
I couldn't help myself. I was in total shock. I know lots of people have issues with their bodies; they're either too fat or too skinny. No one thinks he or she is "just right."
I just didn't realize it started in kindergarten.
As a result, I have decided to homeschool my children in a log cabin in Montana, free from television, the Internet, magazines, newspapers, and, most of all, other people.
Have a good life, everyone!
Song of the day: All The Kids Are Right by Local H
Body Image And The Kindergartener
