Things I NEVER heard my Mum say or do and why I am so glad.

I have thought about writing this post for a while but a conversation with my kids last night made me think it was time to write it.

My Mum was a beautiful size 10 with a lovely figure until she finished having her children. There are 5 of us and she was still slim whilst she had us but after she had my brother she slowly started gaining weight. I never took a lot of notice except that sometimes I heard other kids laugh and occasionally make comments. Sometimes as happens with every kid I would be embarrassed by her but I think that is just part in parcel of being a kid.

She was a size 16 to 18 for most of my life. While that is not HUGE to a kid it can seem that way. But you know the one thing I NEVER heard from her was that she was fat. I NEVER heard her say that she didn't like her body. I NEVER remember her trying on 10 outfits before we went somewhere because nothing fit or she didn't like the way she looked. I NEVER saw her stand on a set of scales. It NEVER stopped her from doing anything! (She was and still is the first one to get into her bathers and head to the beach.)

I LOVE that I NEVER experienced her doing any of those things. I LOVE that if she was struggling with it she NEVER let it show to us kids. I LOVE that she would defend me when my Gran called me fat even though I was 12yrs old and a size 10.

As an adult of course we have had various discussion about weightloss. She has lost just over 10kg this year and is now between a size 20 -18. She struggles with exercise as she has scoliosis. So she has back pain when she walks. But she is getting there and I am so proud of her.

Also as she points out none of us were overweight when we lived with her. It wasn't until we either left home or went away to school that any of us started putting on weight. She always provided healthy meals and there was never any 'crap' food in the house. Mostly because with lots of kids it would never last long so they couldn't really afford it.

I just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU to my amazing mum for not letting any body issues she was having pass on to us girls. I can honestly say that none of my insecurities or body issues came from her. I have become a lot more aware of the words I use and how I act around my kids especially my lovely little 5yr old girl. I want her to grow up loving her body not matter what shape or size it is. But I also want all of them to know about how important healthy choices and exercise are.

Also I don't want them to be teased for something that is completely out of their control. I don't want my choices and decisions to be something that they are teased or embarrassed by. I am sure I will do lots of embarrassing things in their life but I don't want my weight to be one of those things. Especially when I have to power to do something about it.

This was us back at Easter celebrating losing 21kg between us.