children

 Was wondering what you all have told your children re: wls/band.  My daughter will be 11 in June and is in 5th grade.  I've been so conscious not too make a big deal of the millions of weight loss programs I've been on--though of course she knows I'm obese.  I don't think I'm going to share with too many people initially about the band.  Any ideas?  What did you do?

Thanks for any ideas!

Marlena

My daughter was the same age as yours when I had my surgery . I waited until I was pretty sure it was going to work out before I mentioned it to her and my son . They were concerned but  I told them it was a fairly safe procedure and that the Dr said I would do fine and that I would be home that afternoon shortly before or after they got home from school. I answered any questions they had honestly  . They did really well.  I explained to them why it was so important to me to have the surgery and that it would help me be a healthier and happier mommy.:)

 Thanks for the response.  Did you tell them exactly what the procedure was?  

Yes and my son who was 12 is really technical about things so I told them how they did it and everything. They were actually amazed.LOL 

My son was about to turn 11 when I had my lapband and I was never secretive about it, he understood completely what I was doing as well as my struggles that led to it. My daughters however were 4 and almost 2 so they of course understood nothing. They have seen my scars and asked about the "owies", they have been with me for my fills, and recently my now 6 year old said "wow mom, you've had that stomach problem for a long time". I just explained to her that its not an owie, it doesn't hurt, and it is something that I will have forever. I'll be more specific as she gets older but I talk about my lapband at home openly so I am sure the talk will be more to explain why and how I dedicded it was the right choice for me.

I am having surgery in 8 days (crazy to say that) I told my 10 and 7 year old son's and explained that it was to help me lose weight in a safe and healthy way. I showed them a video from the weight loss surgery channel website with a doctor showing what the band looks like and an animated picture of how it is placed around the stomach. Prior to the video they both thought I was getting a rubber band placed on my stomach. LOL. I am a single mother and have to stay at the hospital overnight so I had to explain to them what was going on. Plus my kids are super inquisitive...the 7 year old had already asked why I've been having so many doctor's appointments.

 Thanks so much.  As usual your responses are so helpful!  I definitely want to be up front and honest with her.  The video sounds like a great idea.  I think she would respond really well to that.

Thanks again!

I am glad you posted this question. My friend and I are having surgery the same day and we have decided that we will not be telling our children before hand. I may change my mind but am not sure. Our girls are about the same age mine is 12 and my boys will be almost 8 and 9 when I have surgery in June. I will tell them that I am having surgery but not wls. They will see the change that I make with diet and increase in going to the gym. It is my hope that I will help give them the tools to use so that some day they don't face the decision of wls.

I told my kids. I have boys and they were 17,10, & 7 at the time. I didn't tell them until it was for sure a go and then I told the younger ones I was was having stomach surgery to help me lose weight. The oldest knew everything, of course.  They are boys, they were young, and it really didn't phase them much. We don't really talk a lot about it, not because I am keeping anything form them, but it just doesn't come up much. :)

Yes I told my 15 yr old son when I was going to have it.  He was going to notice changes esepcailly pre op diet, and afterwards and see how I was going to eat afterwards.

I thought it was best to let him know he was going to notice it anyways so it wasnt going to be no secert around the house that something was different.