The Journey of self-acceptance is best when taken with others

OK...I know I continually return to the resource I've written about a few times already, but it really is that good. In Off the C.U.F.F.: A Parent Skills Book for the Management of Disordered Eating Dr. Nancy Zucker has so many practical suggestions for how we as parents can navigate the so often tumultuous terrain of our child's eating disorder that, I believe, it is worth the blog time I'm giving it.

I am also aware that there are many other valuable resources out there that offer similar guidance so I definitely do not want to give the impression that this is the "be-all/end-all" on the topic. But there was just one more point from this book that I feel compelled to share with you.

The 16th and final chapter talks about the Journey of Recovery. The entire manual focuses on how one goes about turning our critical inner voice into a "healthy guide." Although it seems pretty self-evident at this point, it was reading this book that helped me have a major "ah-hah" moment:

I realized just a few chapters in that when I think of how I'd be different in my thoughts and actions around accepting my body and modifying my own pre-Andrea's-death eating and dieting habits I tend to imagine myself making these alterations in a vacuum--all alone. I experienced a beautiful awakening when I realized that this could have been an adventure of self-acceptance taken with my daughter...and my husband. With all of us supporting and encouraging each other and changing our attitudes and behaviors together.  

Dr. Zucker surprised me by stating outright something similar in her final chapter:  

Thus, the essence of recovery [for your child] is self-connection, flexibility, and acceptance. The goals for you during the course of this program are self-growth, self-connection, flexibility, and acceptance. Hmmmm...Your goals and the goals of your child are the same. The more you and your child continue to work on enhancing these features, the more comfortable you will be with yourself, the more solid your child's recovery will be, and the deeper your relationship shall become.  

I thoroughly trust the truth of these words. 

Blessings until next time, 

Doris

Comments

[Jennifer W]

I enjoyed this post. I have two daughters with ED.

[Blend]

Nice post! enjoyed reding...