My kids keep saying I have a fat tummy

[Coldcoffeekindamorning]

DC are 6 and 4. Wore a jumpsuit today as its bloody hot and when I took DC to the toilet in a cafe, I went for a pee too. My 4 years old pipes up "Mum have you got a baby in your tummy its so fat?" And then my 6 year old echos. I say that it's not nice to ask that question and explain that women's bodies are different from children's especially once they've had children. I tell them I'm proud of my body because I grew them both and everyone body looks different.

Inside though I feel awful. My BMI is around 25 so I am a healthy weight but I do have a small pot belly. I eat healthy, I fast, I exercise but after having 2 kids and finding it very hard to exercise after birth injuries (try 2 years healing and £384884844 of physio for my last child).

I've worked so hard to get back to a size 10 and I still feel shit about myself.My OH says that I look good but kids dont lie do they? They say what they see. Not really AIBU but I do feel so deflated and shit about myself.

My 4 year old grandson is obsessed with the word fat at the moment. He called me a fat pair of pants last week. I'm size 6/8 and not an undergarment. And tbf to a small child most adult bodies are going to look fat by comparison. So don't take it to heart.
I'd just be going down the line of it being rude to comment on other people's bodies so they mustn't say those things again.
I think that's all that's necessary at their age. The women's bodies stuff is likely to go over their heads at this point, and too much chat about that can backfire and have them becoming overly conscious or worried about their own. As can showing a strong negative reaction to the idea of being fat. Less is more.

I'd tell mine a grandma can be 30. And that not all women have kids, so she shouldn't assume every woman over a particular age is either a mum or a grandma.

You did not just……. Charming.

I translated as the poster being very over-weight and trying to convince themselves it's a positive it really is not 😂

My DS told me my tummy sticks right out yesterday - was tempted to drown him in the swimming pool!!

Discipline them. It’s rude to make comments on people’s bodies.

Jesus, some folks salivate at the thought of punishing children. It’s shocking.

thede kids are four and 6, it’s a teaching opportunity, this was a moment of curiosity, it is not an opportunity to punish.

Children say all kinds of bollocks. My nephew thinks I’m friends with dinosaurs because I live in London and so does a dinosaur? Obviously isn’t true.

OP you’d be mad to take comments from such young kids on board and provide reasons to them for why you look the way you look. They say so much nonsense at this age, why do you take this one so seriously? By all means explain it is rude to comment on people’s appearance, just don't take it to heart..!

ps: women always have a bit of a belly if they’re healthy and I don’t know about you but I have a fairly flat one for half my cycle and then an increasingly bloated / 5 month pregnant sort of belly from ovulation onwards. I’m a size 10 too

The have you a baby in there might be due to tv they watch or because someone else has and might be nothing to do with you having a belly. But exposure can cause certain questions so tv, adults around them making comments

What?

My comment was crass, misguided and insensitive. I apologise.

You don't have to be harsh but you do need to teach them that you do not have a fat tummy, you have a perfectly normal adult woman's tummy and that they come in a million different shapes and sizes.
And then teach them not to comment on other people's bodies, ever.

don't worry about it OP. my kids call me a big back all the time