It’s amazing how a simple phrase can rob all enjoyment from a treat or occassion. The phrase itself doesn’t have to be exactly the same, but the idea always is.
You don’t really want that garbage, do you?
You don’t plan on eating all of that, do you?
The moment it comes out of my mother’s mouth, I turn into a kid again and my mood drops. No matter how much I’m looking forward to a treat (in the first case, ice-cream) and have planned for it and salivated, the moment she opens her mouth, I feel terrible. I feel like a pig. And the same thing happens with the second phrase – it doesn’t have to actually be a lot of food (this was in response to a subway tuna wrap after she had cut hers in half and wrapped half up) or ‘bad’ food at all – just what she determines to be a full meal. Because women watching their weight should never eat a full, healthy meal. That obviously goes against all dieting folklore.
Watching your weight obviously means you should suffer an deprive yourself, according to her world. And this behaviour is what makes me want to rebel. I feel like eating 10 donuts just to spite her and then I stop and realise that that’s the stupidest idea ever. What are those 10 donuts going to do to her? Me, they’ll affect – I’ll be ever so slightly ill after that much sugar. She’ll just say I told you so. So I don’t have the donuts or the chocolate or the ‘rebellious’ foods but I still need to figure out how not to be affected by her words.
Any suggestions?
I'm a twenty-something Aussie who was living in Canada and has now moved to New Zealand and trying to be somewhat strong and healthy while I navigate the perils of living with my Boy, freelancing and planning a long-distance wedding without losing my mind. Welcome!
