Love for the Tweens

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Just a mere 24 hours after I arrived, it’s time to say goodbye to New York City.  Goodbye, NYC!  Til we meet again.

 

My presentation at the tween summit went well.  I spoke to about 50 parents about Operation Beautiful, Fat Talk, and the impact of Photoshopping on girls and older women, too.

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The whole day was really fun!  I got to meet lots of awesome women, including Deborah Reber, who wrote Chill:  Stress Reducing Techniques and Run for Your Life:  A Guide for Beginning Women Runners, and Jessica Weiner, who wrote Life Doesn’t Begin 5 Pounds From Now.

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I also met the awesome Jaime, who has created an organization in San Diego called Believe in She and it’s basically a yoga version of Girls on the Run!  Super cool.  Moms and their daughters do yoga together and talk about important tween issues.

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I think it’s awesome to know there are so many people out there, trying to help girls in women in their own unique way!  There’s no one way to solve our tweens’ troubles – different things reach different girls.

 

Summit lunch was Orzo salad with a side of veggies:

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Not enough for me so I went back for more orzo.

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Then it was time to sign books, which probably will never get old.

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And then – like a flash – it was over!  Time to hail a cab (which took three tries – apparently cabbies don’t like to go to the airport?) and head home.

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I am coming back with a stack of books!  Most of them are on puberty and development.  :)  I’m also excited to read Halo, which was written by an 18 year old girl named Alexandra.  Her publisher signed her on to do a trilogy!

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Airport food is a veggie burger and a salad.

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I am so dehydrated. Going to go slam water, board my plane, and head back to my Hubby and puppies. I miss them already!

{ 51 comments }

 

  • Kris October 10, 2010, 6:17 pm

    I need to mention the yoga program to my sis who lives in SD and has a tween. And, thanks for including body image for older women in your program too!

  • Hope October 10, 2010, 6:22 pm

    I think its awesome that there are so many different organisations trying to help tweens and young women find confidence in themselves. It is a beautiful thing.

    I can’t imagine how amazing it must feel to do a book signing!!

  • Samantha October 10, 2010, 6:27 pm

    Its wonderful to see you doing speaking engagements and spreading amazing words, hope and support along with other great orgs.

    But honestly, it makes me a little sad to see SO MANY groups aimed at young girls and so few aimed at young boys. I have boys ages 7 (almost 8!) and 4. The oldest was bullied heavily at school last year…in FIRST GRADE! We do a lot of fun, uplifting activities as a family, but outside of church/youth (which has been a blessing) there’s very little for him unless he plays organized sports. He opted out of those this year, and began aikido which is helping his self esteem, but it’s still sometimes a daily battle.

    • Caitlin October 11, 2010, 8:58 am

      I agree. Boys need encouragement too. I included them in the OB book for that very reason! I also talked to the parents about talking to their boys about the “Muscular Ideal” (the male version of the Thin Ideal) and showed them examples of male photoshopping!! Boys need love too.

  • holly @ couchpotatoathlete October 10, 2010, 6:28 pm

    I am so thirsty/dehydrated on trips — its like the travel sucks the life right out of me!

    I’m glad your talk went well, and I’ll check out all those links — it is great that there are programs and other people trying to make a difference.

  • Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine October 10, 2010, 6:30 pm

    Sounds like a great conference- and I love the love quote in your “about me.” So true! Have a safe flight home!

  • Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat October 10, 2010, 6:31 pm

    That is a quick turnaround! I’m glad the trip was a success. It’s so great that you go speak to these young girls–my relationship with food and my body would have been way different if I had been to an event where you spoke!

  • Dori October 10, 2010, 6:36 pm

    Interesting — usually cabbies seek out people with big bags in hopes of an airport trip because it is a guaranteed high fair. Also, it is illegal for them to refuse to take you anywhere. If that ever happens again, take down their medallion number and report them.

    The event sounds inspiring!

    • Dori October 10, 2010, 6:36 pm

      fair = fare. Oops!

      • Caitlin October 11, 2010, 8:59 am

        GASP!!!!

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) October 10, 2010, 6:37 pm

    Safe travels!!!

  • Exercise and Eat October 10, 2010, 6:38 pm

    You’re doing wonderful things! Have a safe flight:)

  • Liz October 10, 2010, 6:48 pm

    It is illegal for a cab driver to refuse to take you anywhere, especially the airport. There are actually laws strictly forbidding this! Next time, get in the cab first and then tell them where you are going. (can you tell I a)live in nyc and b) am not a big fan of cabs?).

    • Caitlin October 11, 2010, 9:00 am

      you and me both! i hate cabs.

  • The Wife of a Dairyman October 10, 2010, 6:50 pm

    What a great trip! What great things you are doing to help young girls all over the world:) Glad your trip went well!

  • Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) October 10, 2010, 6:51 pm

    You are such an extraordinary person Caitlin! I love reading about your work with Operation Beautiful. It’s neat to hear about some of the other projects, books, programs out there as well. I really want to start some sort of uplifting program for kids but don’t know where to start!

  • Tabitha (From Single to Married) October 10, 2010, 6:55 pm

    what a wonderful event! I agree – it’s inspiring to see women striving to help other women, especially teenagers!

  • hippierunner October 10, 2010, 7:04 pm

    I wish EVERYONE everywhere, especially young girls could have the chance to hear you speak! I can only imagine how much happier everyone would be. 🙂

  • Kjirsten-Balanced Healthy Life October 10, 2010, 7:07 pm

    That was a quick trip! Glad to see everything went well!

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss October 10, 2010, 7:13 pm

    Short but sweet trip. At least you seemed to get a lot of good business done! 🙂

  • Amanda October 10, 2010, 7:18 pm

    Sounds like an awesome event! It’s inspiring to hear all the good tweens are doing!

  • Dorry October 10, 2010, 7:23 pm

    Have a safe trip home! I love that you were part of something so important with girls at such an impressionable age – you are making a big difference and it’s so awesome!

  • rebecca lustig October 10, 2010, 7:27 pm

    aww this makes me so happy!!!

    and i love the love quote. without love, we’ve got nothing

  • Mara @ What's For Dinner? October 10, 2010, 7:54 pm

    I’ve read every last one of those books and they’re all wonderful in different ways. If you’re going to continue speaking to tweens/teens (which i think you should, since they’re SO impressionable) I’d suggest reading “Reviving Ophelia”… truly wonderful.

    • Caitlin October 11, 2010, 9:03 am

      I’ve read it – it’s great!!!

  • christina cadden October 10, 2010, 7:57 pm

    Sounds like a great trip!

  • Joanna @ landanimal.wordpress.com October 10, 2010, 8:06 pm
    • Caitlin October 11, 2010, 9:05 am

      That is so awesome!! I’m trying to get in touch with them.

      • Joanna @ landanimal.wordpress.com October 11, 2010, 10:03 am

        It really is. I was reading it and going “I want to be in that club!” Then I saw they mentioned Operation Beautiful and I thought it was too cool–considering I am an Operation Beautiful fan and a reader of your blog already.

        You inspire great things:)

  • Jennifer October 10, 2010, 8:08 pm

    i love that you are making your dreams come true….woo ooo, oooo, ooooo……and inspiring lots of others!

  • *Andrea* October 10, 2010, 8:22 pm

    i think it’s awesome what you do! especially as a young adult who has seen the effects of the media recently and how negative comments and messages have/are affecting so many college students/women. i know my mom did her best to instill confidence in me but she was also trying to find her own way in the crazy world we live in that criticizes adult women just as much as youth. so i think what you’re discussing is something all women need to address and it defintely starts with mothers and how they show their daughters to love their body and enjoy food and life. rather than bully others for their body or image or bully themselves for not meeting a certain ideal out there!

  • Jasmine @ Eat Move Write October 10, 2010, 8:34 pm

    Wow. I’ll check that Halo book out. I am always amazed by these young writers. What ambition. Truly a role model even for those of us 10 years her senior. Glad you had a great time, and what a wonderful experience.

  • Kate October 10, 2010, 8:59 pm

    So cool! Believe in She sounds like an amazing organization…I just friended them on FB to learn more! Thanks for sharing your weekend, what you’re doing is SO important to help these girls become strong, confident women.

  • eatmovelove October 10, 2010, 9:06 pm

    You must live close to NYC? Looks like a very worthwhile trip.

  • Shari October 10, 2010, 9:18 pm

    Looks like an amazing conference! So glad you – and the girls – had such an inspiring time 🙂

  • Jaclyn October 10, 2010, 10:11 pm

    Sounds like a fun day! I love Jennifer Weiner, I’m jealous, my thirteen-year=old-self would have absolutely loved to be at that conference! 😉

  • Jil @ Peace, Love & Munchies October 10, 2010, 10:16 pm

    Love your bio page – and that quote!! and it looks like an amazing time!

  • Katie @ Healthy Heddleston October 10, 2010, 10:19 pm

    Looks like a fabulous time, great job! So jealou you got to meet Jessica Weiner! Anndd Jaime’s skirt is absolutely gorgeous!

  • Camille October 10, 2010, 11:29 pm

    Oh my gosh, what a whirlwind trip!
    Glad it went well!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing October 10, 2010, 11:36 pm

    Sounds like a successful summit! That message is definitely something that needs to be more put out there..

  • Natalia - a side of simple October 11, 2010, 12:16 am

    So proud of you…you are inspiring so many! Girls need more role models like you, especially with today’s society.

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey October 11, 2010, 1:02 am

    What a great opportunity! I absolutely love the idea of the yoga class for moms/tweens. That is AWESOME!!

  • Me-Linh @ Sweet and Sweat October 11, 2010, 2:09 am

    I’m glad it went well. How fun to sign books!!

  • Dawn October 11, 2010, 3:57 am

    Hi Caitlin! Thanks again for helping me with my “bike butt pain” in the spring. I got a new seat and was fine. I have been following for a year, but I want to say that you should be one hundred percent proud of who you are, what you do, and how you do it! The article was irresponsible journalism. YOU are a most responsible blogger. And what if you ate less one day than someone might say is perfect? Or what if you ate more? You’d be human–not disordered, just your marvelous human self. I had to get that off my chest. Thanks again. Dawn

    • Caitlin October 11, 2010, 9:06 am

      Thank you Dawn!!!

      I’m glad your butt doesn’t hurt anymore!

  • Tina October 11, 2010, 6:35 am

    It’s amazing to me how many things exist now for motivating young girls to love themselves more. I hope everything continues to grow and their reach to spread. I would love this to be the more common message as my daughter gets older.

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) October 11, 2010, 8:11 am

    That is so awesome! I love that you are making such a difference in moms and their daughters’ lives. Keep. It. Up!!! 😀

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) October 11, 2010, 8:27 am

    I am so glad everything went well! Since I don’t run, that yoga for girls sounds really neat! I love things that motivate youth to do things together in a positive way anyway they can! Have a great Sunday Caitlin!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin October 11, 2010, 8:51 am

    That sounds like such a great event! I wish there had been more things like this when I was a tween!

  • Amber K October 11, 2010, 2:41 pm

    What an amazing opportunity! I’m sure you touched a lot of lives. 🙂

  • Mm October 11, 2010, 5:03 pm

    You did a meaningful thing!
    You really spread positive influences on those young girls to find confidence and strenghth in themselves.

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