It's been dreadful. I had no idea for about 9 months, she became expert at throwing away food surreptitiously. She was already slim, and just layered clothes.
She passed out one day, and admitted to skipping meals.
Then came the very aggressive refusals to eat. Food thrown at me. I wore a lot of pasta.
Long story short, she wanted the help ive arranged, school was ditched, and she is trying very hard.
No more apps on her phone. And she comes to me if she has a wobble. In return I make meals which she finds easier to eat as long as they are dietician approved and enough calories.
Im terrified for her.
She actually struggled through a meal with noodles (not safe),.sauce (satay, peanut butter, not safe), veg, and chicken! Choosing it over her safe option (egg, jacket potato, sour cream, beans)..then burst into tears shaking.
She wanted to show me she was making an effort after a bit of a tough morning.
I dont feel much like a nice mother right now.
Ive got her a microwaveable soft toy, that smells like lavender to hold on her tummy, which she seems to like. And im trying to not let her see how upset I am.
The flip side of all this healthy eating, weighing kids push against obesity, is that some sensitive souls will cut out snacks...then breakfast...and spiral into this. She was not overweight!
She is beautiful, artistic, a bit perfectionist, sensitive. She did start drawing again. Im seeing glimmers of spark back there.