“assertive and courageous”
This is a Good Body Moment, brought to you by my 7:30 am bus ride.
You know those kids who have no filters? Who haven’t quite yet learned that the world is a sad, scary place and they probably shouldn’t approach strangers at the bus stop but they do anyway and make most adults feel really uncomfortable with their candor and chattiness?
I came across one of them today. He came up to me at the bus stop, after trying to talk to a young man in a business casual getup with no interest in engaging a chubby, preteen boy.
“Do you know the date today?” he asks, getting a little closer than I normally allow strangers.
“The 26th,” I replied, trying to seem nice but not too inviting.
“Oh boy!” he says, and walks over to a sign advertising an estate sale. “They’re having a HUGE sale! In two days!”
He goes on to tell me everything being sold at the estate sale, what movie he saw last week (Captain America in 3D), and that he went to a water park a couple days ago.
He stops chattering for a second, looks me up and down, and says, “at my middle school the kids make fun of me. They call me chubby and fatass. But you know what I say? I tell them to SHUT UP because I like myself the way I am and besides, I could just sit on them and break all their bones.”
I stifle a giggle at the thought of this not-actually-very-fat boy sitting triumphant atop a big pile of 7th graders. Then I smile at him.
“It’s very important to love your body,” I agree.
“Yeah!” he exclaims. “Liking yourself means that you are more assertive and courageous! Like me!”
Then he asks me if I like to cook (not really) and if he can have a piece of my gum (yes). We bond over a mutual love of body acceptance and Trident Layers.
I really, really hope this boy can hold onto these feelings throughout high school. He’s officially my new Favorite Person.
baby body renegade
