An Open Letter to my Son…

Dear Oliver,

I am writing this letter to you as you curl up on my chest at just 3 months old. I feel so called to write this letter to you as I help you navigate your way through this world.

You are growing up in a world that will pick on you for your size and judge you for eating too unhealthy. It will push you into diets, and push you into exercising to change the way your body looks.

This is diet culture. We often think that diet culture only affects women, but I can tell you know Oliver, its just as vicious no matter who you are.

I can’t protect you from everything you see online, at school, or what is said to you. BUT I can promise that I will help you stand up to this, I will do everything I can do make sure you feel comfortable in your own skin, I will show you activities and exercise can be fun, it doesn’t have to be about looks. I will show you how to cook yummy food and equip you with the skills to look after your self. I will sit with you and eat cake as we laugh on your birthday (or any day really!).

I can’t promise you that I won’t ever feel insecure about my changing body. But I can promise you that I won’t comment negatively on yours. I can promise you that I will wear the swimmers on our beach trip, I can promise you that I will be proud of my body for growing you and that I will help you be proud of your body and what is can do!

I won’t force you to clean you plate, but instead encourage you to honour your hunger. I won’t restrict dessert until you have eaten your veggies instead I will serve up that cake and eat it with you.

I can’t promise I will always get it right, because my own relationship with food is a work in progress. But what I can promise is that together we will work on our relationships with food, I will try my best to not comment on what you eat, but instead introduce you to a whole variety of foods – and yes one of those will be my delicious chocolate cake! I won’t force you to clean you plate, but instead encourage you to honour your hunger. I won’t restrict dessert until you have eaten your veggies instead I will serve up that cake and eat it with you.

I love you with all my heart. I can’t wait to watch you grow. I know I am not always going to get it right. But I do know I can try my best to help you develop a good relationship with food and kindly say F*CK YOU to diet culture.

Your Mumma xx