[Workshop replay] #9. Parental Bodily Autonomy = Kids' Environmental Safety

This is the eighth of nine workshops in my foundational series, The 10 Core Beliefs of a Body-Positive Home —

#9. Parental Bodily Autonomy = Kids’ Environmental Safety

Before you dive in, make sure you catch-up on the first 7 sessions of this 9-part series (found at the bottom of this post).

In this session, we’ll discuss:

• How to understand why body autonomy is foundational to self-actualization—and why it matters for both parents and kids

• How to recognize the implicit messages our personal choices send about bodies, food, health, and worth within a shared family environment

• How to navigate common conflicts of interest that arise when a parent’s needs, values, or choices don’t neatly align with what may feel safest or most protective for a child’s emerging body image/relationship with food

• How to conduct a thoughtful cost–benefit analysis when autonomy and environmental safety are in tension

• How to identify and reduce potential harm while still honoring your right to make decisions about your own body (special focus on intentional weight loss, fitness identities, or dietary restrictions)

Very on brand, my technical imperfections continue to abound…this workshop has full sound and visuals, but the screen share was not working for the first 10 minutes or so, so you will hear me speak for a while without the slides changing. Hang tight, as we do go back so you can see them.

Be sure to watch parts 1-7 first:

[Workshop Replay] #1. All Bodies are Good Bodies & #2. All Brains are Good Brains

[Workshop Replay] #3. All Feelings Belong

[Workshop Replay] #4. Health is Such a Tricky Word

[Workshop replay] #5. Fat is Nothing to Fear

[Workshop replay] #6. All Food is Good Food

[Workshop replay] #7. Eating is an Inside Job (With Adult Scaffolding)

[Workshop replay] #8. Know How to Notice

Upcoming Workshop offerings:

On May 15th, we’ll conclude this series with a talk about INCONVENIENT ACTIVISM — because there’s an aggravating amount of advocacy required just to protect kids (and ourselves) from body shame. You need skills to set boundaries, negotiate new norms within the family, and stand up for body respect—in school, at the doctor’s office, and beyond.