How should I explain surgery and process to kids? - ThinnerTimes

Mia · 04-17-2008, 12:12 PM

I plan on doing it just a couple of days before so that they do not worry in advance.

One of my girls is almost 6 and the other 3 1/2 years old. And I don't really know how to explain all this to them. I don't think I will go into details about the surgery but I will have to explain my recovery and the food rehabillitation...

If you had kids, how old were they when you went through the process and how did you handle it?

Any input would be greatly appreciated...

soon2bthin · 04-17-2008, 12:25 PM

My 3 year old son thinks the doctor in Nashville cut my stomach to make me feel better. He still after 9 months is cautious of my stomach and will pat it and say he has to be careful not to hurt it. Sometimes when he is eating something he will try to give me one and then say "momma cant eat that it will hurt her stomach". Aren't kids just precious? I am sure your 6 year old may have more questions though. My step son who is 12 told his mom (Nextbigloser on here) that I had somekind of surgery to make me skinny. I thought that was funny too. Good luck with telling them.

Godsblessedme · 04-17-2008, 12:59 PM

my kids are 15,5,3 and i told them i'm having a surgery that will eventually make me thin and healthier.

OMG the day i came home from the hospital believe it or not it was my 15 year old that was so ignorant, she said "mom your still fat what happened did you not have surgery"
Duh i told her

Andie · 04-17-2008, 02:05 PM

Well mine were 4 at the time...I had hernia's repaired as well so I just told them my doctor was fixing my hernias and my tummy. Then I also told them that I was going to change the way I ate so I could be healthy and lose weight. When they eat they try to get me to eat theirs from time to time and I just say no thanks, I'm watching my sugars and don't want to have that or I need to eat my protein first. They are 5 now and love the new "healthy and skinnier" mommy!

I_love_Hello Kitty · 04-17-2008, 05:19 PM

My kids were 4 and 7. They stayed with my Mother-in-law while I had the procedure. I did not tell them anything. When they got back I told them while they were gone, I had a stomach ache that was bad and the doctor is making me eat differently. They still don't know I had the surgery. One day when they are older I will explain it to them.

Momof3 · 04-17-2008, 06:54 PM

I'm not telling my kids..

I have 3 - 2 are step sons, 15 and 9

my daughter is 4

I dont want my business getting back to the ex-beast, I mean ex wife.

I've had enough drama in my life with that woman, lets just let her wonder.

she'll probably tell folks I have cancer or AIDS or something...

ROFL

Zenomia · 04-17-2008, 07:12 PM

I have 3 children, at the time of surgery they were 8 -5 - and 3. I explained to them in simple, easy to understand kid language what I was doing.

I told them I had spent my life making really bad food choices, going on too many diets and I really ended up messing up my body. I explained that there was a surgery that could "HELP" me get my body back under control...that it would give me a TOOL, to help me eat right, not overeat, and most importantly STAY HEALTHY. This explaination allowed for them to ask questions they wanted, which I answered simply based on their age level... It also made them more aware of the FOOD choices they were making. Like going to McDonalds was always Fry's and Soda...Now they choose apples and milk/or juice. It's a little thing, but it is important to teach them GOOD eating habits NOW!! It's obvious these things stick with you for a lifetime...who doesn't remember the "CLEAN YOUR PLATE" rule? Lordy, I heard that ALL the time!!

The kids now are HUGE in encouraging me to make HEALTHY decisions. They are ALL over me when I snack on foods I shouldn't or eat WAY to much of the "not so bad" stuff. They are one of the MAIN reasons I had this surgery, and I would NEVER have kept them OUT of this important PHASE of my life. They not only get a healthier MOTHER - but a NEW VIEW on FOOD and What TO EAT and why.

Each to their own...I hope you find your path!

AToM · 04-17-2008, 07:57 PM

I have a 4 & 6 year old and they knew the word surgery - I just don't think they knew exactly what it was. I told them I was going to the Dr for a few days and he was going to make me healthier.

The 6 year old (girl) was a little taken back by my 6 incisions - but they called them scratches. All in all, no big deal to them but I had to be very careful and make sure my boy didn't jump on me while I was laying in the bed or sitting in a chair.

I did find out that both of them told all of their teachers, and one of our neighbors, so it did leak out to some people I wouldn't have normally told.

katzz87 · 04-17-2008, 10:37 PM

My kids are/were 15 and 18 years old..and I think it was somewhat harder for them because they knew that surgery was major! I didn't make a big deal out of it...we had conversations when they had a questions. They understood that I was on so many meds that this is what I HAD to do to make myself live longer.

I'd just "fill them out" on what they want to know about it. Just my 2 cents...

Mia · 04-18-2008, 07:36 AM

Wow! You guys are all wonderfull... You have given me a lot of "food for thoughts"!

I am not sure how I will tell them, but I know I have to tell them. This is a major life change for me and in many ways, I want them to take example on me... Especially my 6 year old because she is already a little overweight...

I soooooooo don't want them to have the same issues with weight and food! I really like the way you went about it Zenomia; I might choose that road...