I e-mailed this scan of The Girl’s homework to Kate at Shapely Prose, because I knew she would have something more eloquent than I to say about it; but either she didn’t get it or it is stupid. Kate commented and she is right; it’s not stupid I thought maybe it just wasn’t topical, I dunno. I was feeling insecure. 

When first reading the directions to The Girl I unintentionally skipped over the diet thing to just tell her what it was she needed to do.  At first it didn’t affect me, but then I started to really think about what they are saying to 5 year-olds.  That they are presenting the idea of  diets to children only a few years out of diapers.

I have such a negative self image that I sometimes find it hard not to make disparaging comments about my body, sometimes unfortunately when she is around.  I want her to have a better body image than I have, that a few extra pounds isn’t the end of the world.  I want her to have better eating habits. 

But it is hard.  Especially when you have Kindergarten homework planting the idea that hating your body is OK.