Am I overreacting? MIL took DD (6) to Weight Watchers meeting.

[Anonymous]

DH thinks I'm over reacting and maybe I am- I honestly don't know. I have a history of eating disorders and try very hard to focus only on healthy eating and an active lifestyle with DD. She doesn't go often (has been with MIL three times ever) but I wonder if it's a place she should be at all. I've never attended a meeting so I would love the opinions of moms who have (especially moms of elementary aged girls).

She watches Netflix with headphones when she goes and we talk about it after. So I do my best to find out what's on her mind. I'm trying to decide if I just decide no more weightwatchers or let her go periodically (which has amounted to twice a year).

This is such an emotional issue for me so I wonder if I am in fact overreacting.

Would love your input. Thanks.

And please excuse typos - I'm on my phone.

[Anonymous]

Why in the world is she there? Is MIL baby-sitting? No, a six-year-old does not belong at Weight Watchers.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure I understand your problem OP. The child isn't participating, only watching a movie.

[Anonymous]

Well, your kid is probably at high-risk for an eating disorder considering you have a history and clearly your mother in law has a bad relationship with food.

If dd is off in a corner not participating, I guess it's not terrible. But if MIL is trying to impart some message or something, this is DANGER WILL ROBINSON! territory.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't think twice about it

[Anonymous]

so not a big deal. when your kid is with grandma she is gonna tag along where grandma goes. if grandma has to go to the bank, she goes to the bank, if grandma has to go to the dry cleaners, she goes to the dry cleaners, if grandma has to go to weight watchers meeting, she goes to a weight watchers meeting. you are totally looking for something more here when there is nothing.

[Anonymous]

The meetings are completely innocuous. The leader will chat about what's going on in the program, do her little lecture/theme of the month, give out stickers to anyone who dropped some weight, entertains some questions about the point system/nutrition, and that's it. There's no shaming, name calling, or catharsis going on. Lighten up. You are putting your fucked up notions of body image onto her. And what's so shameful about being overweight anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The meetings are completely innocuous. The leader will chat about what's going on in the program, do her little lecture/theme of the month, give out stickers to anyone who dropped some weight, entertains some questions about the point system/nutrition, and that's it. There's no shaming, name calling, or catharsis going on. Lighten up. You are putting your fucked up notions of body image onto her. And what's so shameful about being overweight anyway?

Are you kidding me? Do you live in our society?

[Anonymous]

I am a WW member and would never bring my kids because I want them not to stress about food. The Leader's lesson would be OK -- WW is all about moderation and healthy eating that fits into a long term lifestyle -- but the comments and questions probably would not be.

I have explained my membership to the all about health and reducing my cholesterol (which i did!) not appearance or weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The meetings are completely innocuous. The leader will chat about what's going on in the program, do her little lecture/theme of the month, give out stickers to anyone who dropped some weight, entertains some questions about the point system/nutrition, and that's it. There's no shaming, name calling, or catharsis going on. Lighten up. You are putting your fucked up notions of body image onto her. And what's so shameful about being overweight anyway?

Are you kidding me? Do you live in our society?

Yes, I live in our society. And I'm overweight. And I refuse to be ashamed of it. I'm not going to walk around like I've committed a crime just because I carry some extra weight on my body.

[Anonymous]

I've brought my daughter to WW several times. She's 7, and I've brought her since she was 5. I brought her because I really needed to go and didn't have childcare.

DD is skinny as a beanpole. She just plays on the iPhone or colors. I don't mind if she hears what's being discussed because it's about being healthy--exercising, enjoying life, making choices and eating healthy foods.

Now if your mom was bringing her because she thinks your dd is overweight, then you have permission go ballistic. But a kid attending a meeting that a parent or grandparent is attending for him/herself is totally fine in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Totally inappropriate. Tell her she is not to take her there again

[Anonymous]

I don't see what the problem is espexially since she's watching a movie. But seriously, what's wrong with a kid overhearing adults talking about making healthy lifestyle choices? Kids need to know adults make bad choices too and they can get help and support for learning how to make better choices going forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally inappropriate. Tell her she is not to take her there again

Have you ever been to a Weight Watchers meeting? If so, how many and when?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The meetings are completely innocuous. The leader will chat about what's going on in the program, do her little lecture/theme of the month, give out stickers to anyone who dropped some weight, entertains some questions about the point system/nutrition, and that's it. There's no shaming, name calling, or catharsis going on. Lighten up. You are putting your fucked up notions of body image onto her. And what's so shameful about being overweight anyway?

While I wouldn't have said it quite that way, I agree this is about your issues with food. Also, maybe you should go to a WW meeting (bonding with your MIL?) so you can see what goes on there and then have an educated opinion on whether you think it's right for your DD to be there. Frankly, I have a bigger problem with kids that age wearing headphones.