September 16, 2007

TEAMWORK

I just really loved this article: Soldier Loses 160 Pounds in Order to Meet Weight Requirement

Especially this part:

Pfc. Trippany's father, an infantryman with 24 years of active-duty service, had a solution. She moved back home, started a special diet and began her body transformation.

"I did Jenny Craig for the diet and then for exercise I would walk four miles per day. My dad wanted me to keep a 3.6 mile-per-hour pace in order to keep my cardio up, so every day, for 17 months, my dad drove behind me in his truck while I walked," said Pfc. Trippany.

"My dad even moved the family refrigerator out to the garage and bought another refrigerator for the food I was allowed to eat and put that one in the kitchen. There was no way for me to sneak food as the family fridge had a key lock on it and I didn't have the code. So, I was really on lockdown."

I think that parents often need to let their adult children face their own challenges and tackle their own demons. The helicopter parent phenomenon is a little creepy. But I love the fact that, once she came to her father for help, he took her seriously and really helped her. He spent money for a new fridge and countless hours trailing her in the car because he loves her and wanted to help her reach her goal. She said she wanted to lose the weight, and dad busted her butt to help her do it.

I just think that's really good teamwork.

Posted by Sarah at September 16, 2007 03:05 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I would say that the "helicopter parent" thing isn't an issue here. She went to her father who did everything he could to help her. Maybe a little more than most people would have (especially with the refrigerator thing. LOL). But he didn't follow her to college and try to make her change things. He waited to be asked then pitched in. That's the real difference. Many parents don't wait to be asked - they just waltz in and take over everything.

I was wondering how she would fare after she left home, but it seems she's been able to keep the weight off. That's excellent. She sounds like a person who needs lots of activity to keep herself from overeating. Her father had her in a very controlled environment, but it looks like she was able to make the leap to being on her own when she got to a certain point.

Posted by: Teresa at September 16, 2007 04:41 PM

Crap, I guess I wasn't being clear. I meant lots of young people these days ask too much of their parents. But they want their parents to give them easy solutions and superficial help. I didn't mean that this was an example of helicopter parents; this is an example of what kind of help a parent really can and should give. She wanted help losing weight and her dad did all he could to really help, not just listen to her whine and tell her she's beautiful how she is and that society just needs to accept her. That's why I like the story: it's NOT helicopter parenting.

Posted by: Sarah at September 16, 2007 05:49 PM

LOL - I see what you mean now. And you're right. Her father went above and beyond and made sure she did what she needed to do. I have to admit, I don't know if I would have done quite that much!!! Like I said though - good for them both!

Posted by: Teresa at September 17, 2007 11:49 AM