Do these jeans make me look…
With daughters and working with young people, I have a fair amount of experience with the negative side effects of body image issues; particularly in girls.
While the shaming conversation on a grand scale is progress, I think all parents, especially moms with daughters and dads with sons, could help a lot by getting their body language in check while shopping. Sideways glances, sighs, chuckles and frowns have a lasting impact. And for the love of all things Holy, please stop preemptively worrying about how others, including family and friends, MIGHT react or respond to THOSE jeans because they’re a size bigger (for girls) or a size smaller (for boys) than some insensitive relative’s expectation for them. That’s your and your circle of adults’ issue and not your child’s. You can be honest while being gracious, supportive and caring. They wear the size they wear. It’ll matter less to them if it matters less to you.
I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin.
Every kid I’ve ever known is a little more sensitive than they let on when it comes to the opinions of their parents. They work hard to make it seem that they don’t care…but they are paying attention and do care. I wish adults would recognize that and act accordingly…especially when shopping with a kid who is naturally struggling with how the world sees and judges them.
