At Ella's last doctors appointment, which was her four month check up, Ella weighed in at 17 pounds and was 26 inches long. She landed at the 95 percentile for both her height and her weight on the charts, and was off the charts for her head size. She is now in 9 month clothing (mostly because of her length) and keeps on growing like a weed! As happy as I am to find out she is growing and healthy, I've run in to some issues with her size.
Never have I seen my mother bear protective instincts come out like they have since I've been hearing all the time, "Wow, she's a big girl," or, "She's huge!" and my favorite, "How old is she's about 8 or 9 months?" I've been hearing it so much lately Im starting to get a little mad when I hear people mention her size. And last night, when someone told me my daughter was "huge" I felt like laying the smack down!
I wish I had the same attitude as my husband did, that is..."Who cares what people think?" but I don't, I care quite a lot about what people think, and now I'm worried that Ella will grow up being teased for her size. I wish I could just put Ella in this protective bubble where nothing could ever hurt her, and no one could ever say anything to her to hurt her feelings, but I can't do that, and she will never learn how to go through hard things.
So how does an over-protective, sensitive, cares what everybody thinks mom supposed to do? First of all, probably get over some of my own issues, but second of all, always make sure that Ella knows God made her special, and that she was fearfully and wonderfully made, no matter what people tell her, she's beautiful and just the way she should be. Now I want to cry just thinking about the future hurts my daughter will go through, not just with her own body image, but with life in general.
I guess that's why God's in the picture...how do people attempt to try and be a parent without the wisdom and strength and grace of our God? Its boggles me. One thing I do know, God has such an amazing plan for Ella's life, and he made her for a purpose. I need to trust that God will help me raise her in a way to help her discover that purpose, and to be confident in who she is in Christ.
2 comments:
3 of my 4 kids have been chubby, chubby babies...I think babies are suppose to be that way, it's healthy. I don't think it's meant in an insulting way when people comment on how huge she is...she looks like an adorable happy healthy little girl. Personally I think the best we can do for our little girls to to model for them a healthy body image of ourselves and teach them that God made them special. My chubby babies have all turned into healthy, not sickly skinny, little kids that love to play and eat. (And no one mentions it anymore). Praying for you!
Thanks Emily for your prayers. I guess I didn't realize it wasn't meant as in insult! I love the fact that Ella is the size she is. I just got a little over sensitive because I kept hearing how big she was. Its encouraging to know that at some point she will slow down and not be this ginormous kid!
And you are right, its very important to model a healthy body image. I want Ella to have a healthy view of her body and of how God sees her!
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