My daughter Liv is 11 years old, and she has always been hardy not only emotionally but also in terms of physical strength. She is been involved in sports since the age of five, a soccer star who became a great performer, and can perform several pull-ups a feat I still cannot achieve! She is caring, supportive, and brutally defending her autistic sibling. We refer to her as “little mama” due to her natural cultivation of those around her.
Lately, she has been unable to participate because of recurrent ankle injuries. It is been difficult for her to be without sports and physical activity the things that bring her happiness. Nevertheless, she has been flourishing in various domains, including photography, and simply developing into her true self with poise and assurance.
She is a big fan of PINK, and her self-assurance grew when she transformed her long hair into a daring, shaved-side hairstyle inspired by the artist. That moment was life-changing. She cherished herself, and as her mother, seeing her glow was everything. Then a physician broke it in moments.
During a regular visit for a rash, our reliable pediatrician suddenly began a tone-deaf discussion about her weight. Before her siblings, he remarked that she belonged to the “80% of Americans who fail to eat healthily or exercise.” Ignore the fact that she is been shelved because of injury. Forget that she is extremely active, maintains a healthy diet, and reliable drinks water. Forget that she is a skilled player with an innate curvy figure. She listened to one message: “i am overweight.”
I saw her happiness fade away. She wept. She stopped eating. She stopped her smile.
As a mom, I felt heartbroken and angry. A thoughtless, old-fashioned remark stole my daughter’s sense of value. Yet Liv, despite her suffering, discovered meaning. The following day, she has spoken that she did not want other children to experience her feelings. We met our cameras and produced a photo series to promote love and body confidence. She referred to it as an “anti-bullying shoot.”
This girl my child is strong. She is channeling her pain to assist others, and that bravery is what renders her genuinely beautiful. I will continually remind her, each day, of her identity until she recognizes it fully once more. And I will be by her side forever.
