Question:
Whats an average weight for a second grader? How did WLS effect your younger kids?

I'm preparing my weight history and I can remember my weight when I was in 2nd grade but I cant remember how old I was or what an average weight was for a 2nd grader. And it got me thinking about how my WLS will effect my 3 year old daughter. How did kids that young take mommy being in the hospital and recovering? And what were their reactions to the dramatic weight loss and your new attitude and actions?    — curliequu (posted on August 23, 2003)

August 23, 2003
my kids are adults, but I have a 4 y/o grandson who lives with me and I take care of him on a daily basis. I did not go into detail with him . I felt he was way too young to go into talk about obesity etc. /Also concerned about maybe creating a predjudice in him . All I told him was I had to go to the hospital to get my tummy fiexed and when I came home that I had an owie. He insisted on seeing it and I let him look. He was very gentle and kind with me and extremely obediant during my recovery, as he wanted to help gramma. I know he sees that I am different in that he saw a preop pic of me and said Oh gramma that is a very old picture. I think he enjoys my extra energy. what a doll he is.
   — **willow**

August 23, 2003
When I went for Lap RNY I told my kids (then just barely 5 and almost 7) I had a meeting far away (it really was far away). When I got back, I was 'sick' for a little while (not really that long though). It has been 8 months and I've lost 100 pounds. Everyone has noticed but them. They have not made a single comment about the loss. It's kind of weird. Even when they hear other people say things, they are oblivious. Maybe it's just my kids, but they haven't noticed a thing. But I do notice that I am pushing the healthier foods and less TV time, and we are doing family bike rides now. So that's a good thing, glad I did it when they were young, because my 2nd grader was headed down the same road I had gone down, he's always been a little plump.
   — Kimberley E.

August 23, 2003
My child is only 2, but I felt that it was much better to have WLS now, while he is young. I was afraid if I waited until he was older, and possibly heavy himself, that having surgery would make him feel negatively about himself... by having surgery now, by the time he is aware of things like weight, etc, I'll be eating a normal healthy diet, and feeding him the same... I'm hoping that weight won't be an issue for us... as for how he handled surgery, well, he stayed with his grammy while I was in the hospital, and she stayed with us for a week post-op... he became much more rambunctios, and wouldn't obey any rules... I think he realized I couldn't do anything to stop him... after a week or two though I was back on my feet, and able to parent the way I always do, and he settled right back down...as for what a second grader should wear... I have no idea, I was already MO by that age.. sorry. Check with your child's pediatric office though, they could give you good guidelines, and also offer suggestions for helping your child if they are becoming too heavy. Good luck
   — Kelly B.

August 23, 2003
Oops.. I meant "what a second grader should WEIGH" not wear... typing too fast. LOL
   — Kelly B.

August 23, 2003
My kids are in grade school. When I went in for my surgery, I explained that my tummy was sick and the doctor was going to fix it. Since then, I have to eat "healthy" to keep my tummy well. The kids everyone once in a while make a comment about how little I eat or how I don't eat dessert, and I explain that I'm being "healthy". They haven't really noticed my weight loss, although they do hear others talk about it. It's been 8 months & 100 lbs. They were looking at a photo album from 2 years ago, and my youngest wanted to know who was in the pictures with them. It was me! She didn't recognize me from my pictures. She said I'm much prettier now.
   — CrystalBroj

August 23, 2003
The best way we found to deal with our two daughters and my WLS was to keep it simple but fairly honest. I'm the primary caregiver for our two daughters (who were 4 and 5 when I had my surgery). We decided to explain to them that Daddy's stomach was broken and was going to be fixed by Dr. Crum; they giggled when we told them that I would need to eat really soft foods (like a baby) while my stomach got better. The first time they saw me eating baby food, they thought it was hysterical. Because we had spoken to their teachers (my older daughter was in kindergarten and her little sister was in pre-k), we knew that they had other adults with whom they could express any concerns they might have. As they noticed my weight loss, I explained that because Dr. Crum was able to fix my stomach, I was able to get healthy by losing some weight; as they saw my activity level rise and the praise our friends and family gave me, they started to really enjoy seeing my loss.
   — SteveColarossi