A Happy Medium

Having teenage girls inevitably brings up issues of weight. I want them to have healthy self esteems and a reasonable self image. It's not an easy thing to do given all the media hype espousing images of what is beautiful that are often unreasonable and unattainable for most people. When you have size 0 models and celebrities obsessed with their physical appearance and weight that they often resort to diet pills, it becomes a battle to instill a healthy self image. We talk to them over and over again to find a healthy medium. That as long as their bodies are healthy and clean, they don't need to be fashion model thin. I try, by example, to show them that what is on the outside is not as important as what is in their head and in their heart. It's an on going battle when they are bombarded in their media with these unrealistic images.