Affirmation Cards
Joy filled to inspire, encourage, and comfort. These cards are good for any age - from 5 to 95. These cards are excellent reminders of the best things we can do for ourselves. 

New Moon Magazine offers positive articles for girls who think for themselves. If you are looking for a publication that will encourage the young girl in your life to read, be creative, respect their individuality, and celebrate everything about themselves, this is it. 

Happiness - Now and Later

Absolutely nothing is more important to your child's happiness and, ultimately, health, than knowing they are loved unconditionally by you. They must know, without a doubt, that you are proud of them. They must know, without a doubt, that to you they are beautiful, fun, and the *best* kid in the world. If you can't give that to your son or daughter because you are hung up on their size, then something is lacking in you, not in them. Work on it. 

Growing up is a tough job for a kid who is different in any way. Growing up chubby is, according to a recent study by Janet D. Latner and Albert J. Stunkard and presented in Obesity Research 11:452-456(2003):

"The most important finding of this study was that children were most strongly biased against the obese child and that this bias was even stronger in 2001 than it had been in 1961. Among the girls, 77% ranked the obese child last or second to last. The healthy child was also liked more in 2001 than in 1961, making the difference between the obese and nonobese child even greater. The pattern of preference toward their disabled and nondisabled peers was uniform across participants and did not differ across children of various ethnic backgrounds or between white and minority children, suggesting that there may be a widespread stigmatization of certain disabilities and obesity. However, this cross-ethnic stability in stigmatization should be interpreted with caution and replicated in future studies, because there were unequal sample sizes across the groups."

That's a tough bias to overcome. 

It isn't possible to protect your child from every bully or nasty situation. But negative childhood experiences can be buffered with the knowledge that you are loved and enjoyed by your family. 

Speaking of bullies, you know how it is when someone's "got your back." Be that someone in your kid's life. It starts with giving the feeling of confidence by being loving and supportive of them. They will carry that confidence with them into the world. But when they encounter situations they can't handle, be ready and willing to step up for them. 

Roxanne's chubby 7-year-old son was being bullied on the playground at school. At each recess, three children would corner him, taunting him with derisive names and shoving and hitting until he was in tears. The playground staff ignored the situation, even when Davy approached them for help. When Roxanne talked with Davy's teacher and school principal, they made light of the situation, saying "kids will be kids." Their solution was that Davy be put into counseling so he could learn to get along better. To make a long story short, Rosanne refused to accept that bullying was normal and her son was in the wrong. She demanded the bullies be put into counseling to learn acceptable behavior and that the school start teaching diversity to the kids AND the staff.  It took a bit of coercion, but a new program was quickly put into place with good results for everyone. 

The point is this . . . give your child strength, but understand that he may end up in situations beyond his control. Stand up for him when necessary. Try to understand their world. 

Give love. Give total acceptance. Work on good health, confidence, and happiness.