Advice for Parents by Doris Smeltzer

Eating disorder "proofing" ...

It was while speaking at the SEDOP conference a few weeks ago that I heard from another presenter about the many articles the Center for Change has available on their web site.  I decided to check it out and found a plethora of valuable information, especially for friends and family of those who suffer with eating disorders.

New mistakes

We are sitting in a circle, a dozen high school students and I. It is coming to the end of our time together and the 8x10' portable classroom is getting a bit stuffy. I open the door and wedge my purse between it and the door casing to bring in a bit of fresh air. Two young women are new to the group and have remained quiet except for their introductions at the start of our time together. One of the girls clears her throat and begins talking. Her shiny dark hair is pulled back into a bouncy scrunchy-held pony tail. Her dark eyelashes are so long they touch the bottoms of her eyebrows...I don't think I've ever seen such amazing eyes--there is a depth to them that astonishes. She pulls her red sweatshirt down to below her hips as her levi covered legs cross. She has a dazzling smile that brightens her face in a way that seems in discord with the sadness she speaks of. She tells us how she has endured teasing all of her life for her body size--a stunning revelation--her body size does not appear to be one that would attract attention.