When TikToker Margot (@margotjosefsohn) was a kid, her mom forced her to lose weight before family vacations. Her mom would start prepping her to lose a few pounds about two weeks in advance of their trips to Europe to visit their extended family.
“Sometimes, she would even start like a month before the trip, but she would pull out all my clothes that I was wearing for the trip weeks before,” said Margot.
“As I was trying on the clothes, it was kind of to see what outfits I was wearing, but also to see how the clothes fit me.”
If the clothes had a baggier fit, she wouldn’t have to lose as much weight before the trip. If the clothes were tighter on her, she would have to lose more weight. So, she would sometimes sneak into her closet and pre-stretch her shirts and pants so they looked looser.
She would refrain from eating for a few days before the trip so she could eat a few big meals in front of everyone later. To everyone else, it looked like she was eating normally.
Her dad had some idea of what was going on, but she never told him the full extent of the situation. There were many mornings when Margot would walk with her dad to her grandma’s house in Paris. Along the way, the father and daughter duo stopped at the food vendor stands to get crepes.
After inhaling the crepes, they walked to her grandmother’s house and pretended that they hadn’t eaten yet. There were even times when she was able to quickly stop in a shop and grab a donut or croissant.
When it came to food, she had the most freedom during the family vacations. For a brief period each year, she could get away with eating foods without her mom watching her like a hawk.
These small moments of freedom helped her get through a difficult childhood. In the comments section, several TikTok users expressed sadness and frustration on Margot’s behalf.
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“As a normal mom, I try my clothes on my daughters before our trips, and if they are too small, I simply buy them new clothes. I’m sorry and hope you are healing,” commented one user.
“I’m so sorry. It’s awful when parents project their pain onto their children. You deserved better. Sending you love and light,” wrote another.
“I would never do this to my daughters. I’m sorry you had to endure food scarcity in the guise of beauty and familial judgment,” stated a third.
Overall, childhood comments about weight and appearance can leave lasting impressions. What one parent may view as motivation, another child may carry around for years as shame.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
