Body Happy Kids - Interview with Body Image Campaigner Molly J Forbes

Today Zoe speaks to Molly Forbes, mother, writer, speaker, podcaster and body image campaigner.  She uses her platform to raise awareness and try and bring change around the normality of the diet culture within our society and its effect on our children.   They talk all things body image, as well as parenting, social media and more, a really thought provoking and value affirming episode.   KEY TAKEAWAYS It is intrinsically important to all of us to embrace and normalise our bodies, especially around our children. As a journalist, Molly has many different roles including in radio and as a presenter. After moving to Devon, Molly focused on social media and blogging, she mostly spoke about the realistic motherhood experience and this is where her following started. In doing this she realised she had negative associations about her own body and she was conscious that she didn’t want to raise her girls to feel this way. She spent time researching the topic of body image and then began writing more about body image, mental health and how these topics intercept with motherhood. Becoming body confident is an ongoing process. It is about recognising the messages around us and not allowing them to ‘seep in’. You need to have internal resilience but we also need to change the culture we live in. After coming to terms with all of these messages as an adult Molly turned her attention to how body image and culture impacts children. It’s so important for adults to think about how they react to their own body and the things they say about it around children – they absorb everything. Don’t body shame yourself or other people. Molly now creates workshops and ‘body happy’ spaces for children to be in. And is starting to run masterclasses for parents (you can sign up for the first one below under valuable resources!)   BEST MOMENTS   “Giving an alternative to the glossy, picture perfect version of mother we often see”   “My daughter asked me why I was weighing spinach and I didn’t have an answer for her...if this is what I have to do to make my body look like this then maybe this isn’t what my body is supposed to look like”   “The mainstream narrative is still that thin is best”   “We’ve never had a plus-size princess”   “It’s quite liberating not thinking about your body”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Molly’s IG:@mollyjforbes Molly’s Podcast Body Cons The Body Happy Kids workshops for teachers and youth leaders that Molly runs:  https://www.freefromdiets.org/body-happy-kids-workshop The first Body Happy Kids Masterclass (for parents and any adults who are ever around kids! Happening 30th Jan 2021 - waiting list now open):  https://www.freefromdiets.org/masterclass https://www.freefromdiets.org/shop www.petalscharity.org www.tommys.org www.arc-uk.org www.sands.org.uk (Additional resources from Molly Forbes under 'Additional Resources below)   ABOUT THE GUEST Molly J Forbes Body happy mum. A writer, campaigner and creator of workshops and podcasts. Molly’s IG:@mollyjforbes Molly’s Podcast Body Cons     ABOUT THE HOST Zoe Cresswell Devoted mother of two (and a big hairy dog), UK trained midwife, doula and personal trainer, specialising in pre and postnatal fitness. Zoe was born in the UK and before moving to Dubai in 2013 and worked as a midwife in central London, both in a birth centre and a very busy NHS hospital. Although late to the scene, Zoe is an aspiring athlete having won numerous triathlons and representing Great Britain where she placed within the top 10 on the world stage. With her husband James, the couple will soon be launching their cloth nappy company, Bop & Bee, where they hope to inspire families to swap a few disposable nappies a day for the more planet friendly option of cloth. Zoe’s goal is to share her knowledge and experience, tell real life stories, manage expectations and open up those often difficult conversations. Zoe’s own motherhood journey has been full of twists and turns as she put everything on hold and went through numerous miscarriages and rounds of IVF.   CONTACT DETAILS Instagram : @zoecresswell_me Facebook: Zoe Cresswell LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-cresswell   ADDITIONAL VALUABLE RESOURCES Books that are a great introduction to the subject of body image / health / weight stigma and how it intersects with other social justice issues. For Adults: Health At Every Size by Lindo (formerly Linda) Bacon PhD Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings  Train Happy by Tally Rye Big Fit Girl by Louise Green Just Eat It by Laura Thomas PhD Happy Fat by Sofie Hagen  The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf Body Positive Power by Megan Jayne Crabbe Anti Diet by Christy Harrison MPH, RD   Books that are great for kids / teens:  You Are Enough by Harri Rose (for teens and adults)  Celebrate Your Body (and it's changes too!) by Sonya Renee Taylor (a body positive guide for girls aged 8+) Jemima Small Versus the Universe by Tamsin Winter It's Okay to be Different by Todd Parr Her Body Can, by Katie Crenshaw and Ady Meschke Shapesville by Andy Mills and Becky Osborn   Podcasts:  Body Cons (Molly's!) Don't Salt My Game  Food Psych Appearance Matters  Train Happy