Fatty, fatty two by four

Fatty, fatty two by four Mommy can’t get her big butt through the door.  Awww, luckily for most of us our kids can’t make fun of us, yet.  I stress the word yet.  In time the kids will notice your extra weight.  They may notice in a cute way.  My oldest once told my Mom she had really big muscles.  That was kind of cute and funny (because it wasn't said about me).  My other son at three years old slapped my butt and said “you got a really big butt Mom” that didn’t seem that cute, he laughed as he said it but I wanted to cry a bit.

As your kids get older most of them will no longer speak about the weight because as much as it embarrasses us it will embarrass them too.  Most of them will have problems finding the words to discuss the subject and you would have problems finding the words to confide in them about the issue.

I remember my Mom coming to my school in sixth grade.  My Mom was so unhealthy, she was not at her biggest but years of unhealthy habits and yo yo diets left her skin flabby and it hung all over.  She wore a loose top and shorts to my school and I could swear I saw every inch of cellulite and extra skin she had.  Now I know what you are thinking, I was probably just your typical eleven year old and I was probably over reacting right?  WRONG!  As soon as she left, two boys said something to me.  And the girls didn’t need to say anything; the looks they gave me said it all.  I could have crawled under a table and just died. 

As a moms, as soon as we have a baby we turn our lives over to the child.   We begin to sacrifice everything.  We no longer shop the same, eat the same, or decorate the same. 

What to do?  Well I changed my entire life around and did something most moms struggle with.  I made time for myself.  It sounds a bit selfish just saying I did it, it almost seems like it goes against my parental oath.  You know to love, nurture, and obey.  Oh wait that’s not the oath, maybe the oath including that I must give every last minute to my children and every last penny.  Yeah, that sounds like the oath I took.

No, really I found that to be the best parent I could be and to set the example (you know the do as I do thing) I would have to make time for me.  I was going to need to set aside time for myself and I was going to have to exercise.  The other thing I had to do to get on track as a healthy Mom was I had to stop eating my kid’s leftovers.  We all think we eat the right portions until you realized you ate an extra ½ of a peanut butter sandwich, a handful of fries, and ¾ of a juice box today for an extra 400 calories.

If you are ready to be the example for your kids and not a potential embarrassment find time for you.  Remember who you are, and that putting yourself first once a day is good for your family.  The kids might not understand in the beginning; mine often ask why I act different now, but I just tell them there is a new Mommy in town and the fat one left.

Healthy Moms have healthy kids.  And healthy Moms are happy moms.