DD (13) has spent half term with her younger cousin (9). She’s come home worried that my DNiece spent a lot of time feeling sad ‘because she’s fat’. DN is perhaps carrying a little bit more weight than she ought to but is by no means massive and is still on the smaller side compared to other children in her class (most of whom are properly overweight, sadly). DD is very athletic and slim (but not skinny) so I think DN has started to notice the difference in their body types.
Anyway DD has asked me how she should reply when DN says to her, “I’m really fat and I don’t like it”. DD doesn’t feel she can say, “you’re not fat” because DN is likely a bit overweight and knows it so would not believe DD even if she said it. She’s looking more for how to reply to steer the conversation away from the subject and / or a response that acknowledges that everyone is different sort of thing. She’s worried that this isn’t something that a 9 year old should be concerned about. Any ideas? I daren’t speak to my sister as she’s in denial that both of her kids are a bit heavier than they ought to be but would like to help my niece feel more positive about herself and for my DD to not feel conflicted when DN comes to her for support.