What would a 10 year old say?

Posted in Family Food Tips, Healthy Kids on January 31, 2023 by

A conversation happened at my daughter’s summer camp in August of 2022 between Eve and another camper. This conversation gave her pause so we talked it through and continue to have open conversations about nourishment and body image at home.

Thankfully, Eve appreciates her 10 year old body in its changing ways, as all bodies are shifting constantly. Her experiences of being labeled as skinny, prior being labeled as having a higher BMI during COVID, made me want to hear her perspective on the podcast    in addition to her really wanting to use the microphone and record with me!

Here’s a snippet of that camp conversation.

“Eve, are you a vegetarian?”

“No, why?”

“You look like a vegetarian.” 

“What does a vegetarian look like?”

“Skinny, like you.”

Have you ever helped your children navigate a conversation like this? Even adult children? What about with friends or a partner? If so, I’d love to hear about it.

Having Eve on the podcast this month was impactful to me, especially as the American Academy of Pediatrics released guidelines on treating overweight and obesity in children made me angry. I talk more about why on my Instagram post which can be found here.

Given January is the month of being ‘dry’, resolutions, programs, changes to our whole being as suggested by nearly everywhere we turn – from social media to friend groups to national organizations for kids – let’s try to remember a few things. Our bodies change and this is normal. Our kids’ bodies change and this is normal. You’ll hear how Eve reacts to the AAP guidelines on the podcast and she is spot on.

Try to keep in mind not using these words around food or body image which has been my standard list, though added to, for a long time: good, bad, sorry, should, can’t, healthy, clean, diet, and any of the latest diet buzzwords. I hope this helps, as Eve reminds us on the podcast, to not compare or hold ourselves to shoulds. Our worth is so much more than how we look, how much we weigh and what we decide to eat and drink.

2022 Wins!

Posted in Other Things on December 15, 2022 by

This year I learned to embrace wins in my life. I even have a special journal titled ‘Robyn’s WINS’. Taking note of my wins has been a harder task for me occasionally shadowed by self doubt, fear of vulnerability, and imposter syndrome. I’m working with a business coach this year and she encouraged me to have a ‘wins’ folder in my email, but we took it one step further and created a written journal as well. There is something about putting pen to paper that truly resonates with me. 

2022 wins have included…

  1. Bringing on Emily Pardue, PHMNP. Emily joined the practice in February and has been building her outpatient psychopharmacology practice ever since. She is a total gem and remains empathetic, collaborative, and truly organized! We complement each other well in areas of the practice outside of patient care. The link to Emily on the podcast is here. 
  2. We’ve decided to stay virtual, for now. In the past I had a hard and fast rule to not see a new patient virtually, ever. The pandemic changed this process completely. Most of my patients have asked not when we’re going back in person, but how long we’ll be virtual. We’ve decided to meet folks where they are and want to be, continuing to practice virtually for the time being. 
  3. The NPRD podcast began season two and has reached over 3,000 listeners in 42 countries! Talking to other colleagues, learning from them and sharing their knowledge through the podcast outlet has been incredibly rewarding. Yes, this is work and marketing, but it certainly does not feel like it! 

The biggest wins of course are all of you – our patients and clients. Also, our readers, listeners and followers. Thank you for sharing your journeys, care, and struggles as we are honored to be here with you. We’d love to read and hear of some of your wins. In the meantime, wishing you happy holidays and a peaceful, joyful and winning 2023.