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Son’s girlfriend…

8 replies

LinaM20 · 27/05/2024 18:06

My 19 year old son is coming home from uni shortly and is bringing his girlfriend to stay for a while. We’ve not met her yet, but it’s his first serious relationship. He mentioned in passing that she used to have an ED and we need to leave all food to him.
i just wanted advice on how to approach this so we don’t mess it up and make her not want to come to our house anymore.
Do I just not mention food? Do I offer casually and not make a big deal if she turns it down? Do I just say, kitchen is stocked get DS to sort you something if you’re hungry?
What would you do??

OP posts:
PurpleJustice · 27/05/2024 18:07

I'd leave it to DS like he said 🤷🏽‍♀️

Captaine · 27/05/2024 18:08

Sounds very much like she still has an ED, and is trying to rope your son in as her enabler.

SoulMole · 27/05/2024 18:09

Captaine · 27/05/2024 18:08

Sounds very much like she still has an ED, and is trying to rope your son in as her enabler.

Not true at all. At all.

RubySloth · 27/05/2024 18:09

Can you not call him in private and just ask what he wants to do. No doubt family meals are out.

Captaine · 27/05/2024 18:10

But those with ED here and elsewhere will tell you that disobeying them or not pretending you can’t see the ED in action will unleash hell upon yourself.

I’d just let her get on with it, but be there to support your son when he gets blamed for it.

Trumpetoftheswan2 · 27/05/2024 18:19

I agree with speak to your son. Let him know that you will leave his and his gf's food (and clearing up!) to him, but what you will be doing eg cooking as usual for yourself.

Ask if there's anything in particular you should get in. Ask how they manage food at uni.

BoudiccaOfSuburbia · 27/05/2024 18:43

Same here, OP, 3 years of experience. She is recovering from an ED that has previously hospitalised her.

If I am cooking an evening meal I make sure it can be self served in any portion size each person chooses (e.g I don’t pre slice a quiche or cake). If it is something like risotto I leave it in the pan for each person to take as much as they like. I offer low calorie foods (veg / salad) alongside calorie dense.

I never comment at all.

Ask Ds what to get in for breakfast, and leave them to it.

I never ask questions about how she is doing, I’m not her Mum, I have no business asking Ds to talk to me about her private medical state.

I do listen empathetically to Ds, and I have asked him if it is a worry or pressure on him. He answered truthfully and perceptively And in a way that made me very proud of him.

Actually, the gist of it is that she seems to be doing really well, managed to reinvent herself at Uni and only relapses (is that the right word) during very high pressure times e.g exams.

She seems to eat fairly normally at our house.

She is a wonderful young woman, I compliment her new hair colour, or whatever, in passing but never ever anything body-based.

The rest of us eat normally and in a relaxed way, we don’t go on about “oooh, I shouldn’t eat this” or “hollow legs” or any other eating chatter as part of family life anyway.

LinaM20 · 28/05/2024 00:03

BoudiccaOfSuburbia · 27/05/2024 18:43

Same here, OP, 3 years of experience. She is recovering from an ED that has previously hospitalised her.

If I am cooking an evening meal I make sure it can be self served in any portion size each person chooses (e.g I don’t pre slice a quiche or cake). If it is something like risotto I leave it in the pan for each person to take as much as they like. I offer low calorie foods (veg / salad) alongside calorie dense.

I never comment at all.

Ask Ds what to get in for breakfast, and leave them to it.

I never ask questions about how she is doing, I’m not her Mum, I have no business asking Ds to talk to me about her private medical state.

I do listen empathetically to Ds, and I have asked him if it is a worry or pressure on him. He answered truthfully and perceptively And in a way that made me very proud of him.

Actually, the gist of it is that she seems to be doing really well, managed to reinvent herself at Uni and only relapses (is that the right word) during very high pressure times e.g exams.

She seems to eat fairly normally at our house.

She is a wonderful young woman, I compliment her new hair colour, or whatever, in passing but never ever anything body-based.

The rest of us eat normally and in a relaxed way, we don’t go on about “oooh, I shouldn’t eat this” or “hollow legs” or any other eating chatter as part of family life anyway.

Thank you. That’s really helpful and along the lines of what I was thinking. Not pre slicing things is a good call too. As where we live is quite remote it’s not like they can just pop to the shops to pick up whatever they fancy or get deliveries like they can at uni. I’ll make sure I’m stocked up with lots of options.

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