Question

Evaluate the mother’s behavior in the following scenario. Is she helping her daughter solve her problems? Melissa is eleven years old and in the 5th grade. She began developing physically at age nine. Melissa feels different because she is taller and heavier than her friends and because her figure has teenage curves. Melissa wants to go on a diet. Her mother encourages her to continue eating as she always has, perhaps even more than she did when she was younger. The mom cooks bean burritos with guacamole and other foods that contain healthy fats. She eats this type of food in front of Melissa. “I am too tall and too fat and too ugly,” Melissa tells her mother, “and it is your fault.” Melissa’s mom is considering taking Melissa to a counselor so she will have someone to talk to about her body concerns.

Answer 1

When we are teenagers we can become very insecure with our body, especially when our body is very different from the body of other people of our age. This is what is happening with Melissa, who has a more developed body than children her age.

Melissa's mother realizes that she is insecure with her body and tries to influence her to eat healthily through delicious foods, she knows that Melissa's body is still going to change and she doesn't want her to have problems with it. Despite Melissa's mother's attempt to influence her to eat, Melissa is more unhappy and blaming her mother for it. For this reason, Melissa's mother takes her to a counselor, so that she can be guided by a professional about her problem. All Melissa's mother did for her was to try to help her through this difficult time.

Answer 2

the mother is trying to do what is best for the girl and wants to help her