What Kind Of Role Model Are You?

I became very aware of the impact I have on my daughter from a very early age. I can remember pulling some face only to see the same “poppy eyed” look staring back at me! And it didn’t end there, sometimes I had all my “ugly” thrown back at me too!

Just yesterday I was looking at a letter my daughter had written for me…if you can’t read it, it says:

To Mum,

you are the best in lots of ways like you are inbarasing (embarrassing), funny, nice, lovely and inspiration (al). I want to be like you when I’m older.

Lots of love

Maya

Mmmm….just like me when she’s older! Now that puts me under a bit of pressure. I am sure there are some terrible, horrendous things she will inherit from me (those that love me most know my flaws) but I am really making a conscious decision to model some things around health and well being that I truly hope she takes into womanhood.

I eat  – I eat lots of wonderfully nutritious food. I don’t take my advice from trashy magazines (they are not in our house) or the latest celebrity fad… I eat – I talk about why I need to eat and  how my body requires it to maintain health and wellness. I can honestly say I have never been on a “diet” – that word is just associated with a healthy eating plan.

I talk about carbs, protein and omega 3 etc and why I need it…it certainly doesn’t mean my kids eat everything I do but when a 10 year old asks you to make a salad for their lunch box you know you are kicking some goals.

I don’t weigh myself.  We do have scales and the last time I used them was to weigh my suitcase to make sure it was under 20kg! As a teenager I can remember weighing myself daily, I don’t want my daughter to go there!

I don’t complain to her EVER about having a fat day, a bad hair day or “I look like shit day!” She doesn’t need to hear it…(I do have them, not often, but I can suffer in silence!)

I don’t finish everything on my plate if am too full – but I do eat my vegies.

I cook, prepare and make lots of fresh, real food.

A “treat” is a wonderful home cooked meal.

I’m active, without being obsessive. When the family is in a grump we often rug up and take the dog for a walk. When we come home EVERYONE is laughing, talking…happy! Yes, exercise is medicine!

I don’t use food as a  “cheer me up” tool.  BUT I DO USE EXERCISE.

I enjoy an occasional glass of wine, chocolate and ice cream and don’t beat myself up about it when I do.

Am I perfect? Of course I’m freakin’ not.  We are not the bloody Partridge family! Just giving it my best shot and hoping that it helps my daughter block out the noise to become a wonderfully, happy, balanced woman.

I hope I’m on the right track…