You don't have to answer this, but it's always been obvious that you are a brilliant concerned mum who sees what is going on and if Sarah, Jane, or any of the Ingham family were reading here now, what advice would you give them to help Isabelle, right at this moment in time and moving forwards?
To add: Sarah, remove the blinkers to see that we are not all creeps, weirdos and trolls and listen to someone other than your husband for once.
Thank you for your kind comment about me being a good mum, there are some days when I feel far from it, today is one of those days. My daughter and her dad have gone to the cinema to see the new Ghostbusters movie, I've spent the majority of the day crying... I have fought and fought for my daughter, and will do so until there's no breath left in my body but my god, is it hard. I feel if I was a good mum this wouldn't have happened, my baby that was stillborn wouldn't have died... yeah, today is one of those days where I mentally berate myself for just about everything that has gone wrong, and blaming myself for the lot of it. Your comment came at a time where I really need it, so thank you
As for advice, Izzy probably either doesn't believe she has an issue (as my daughter did, and still does to a degree), however there will be a layer deep down somewhere in which she feels like she has little control over her life (my daughter is autistic and her ED began when she was at school, she hated it and I removed her to home educate). Izzy is very like my daughter, the same age, both pretty afraid of the world around them, and most likely feeling they have to put forward an image so they will be liked. It's funny as despite being so similar in nature their upbringing as been on opposite sides of the spectrum, Saz and Greasy Beanie have spread themselves so thin, and given Izzy little freedom, whereas my whole life is centred around helping my daughter gain confidence, independence, and achieving everything she wants to in life.
Someone has to have a serious conversation with Izzy, several if the first attempt doesn't work. And they need to keep having talks about the dangers of restricting food, and get to the bottom of why she's doing it (there's probably several reasons, lack of control being one). If she won't listen Sarah or Chris have to contact their GP, who will most likely tell them they can't do anything without Izzy's consent, but letting the GP know there's an issue is the first step to getting help.
Sarah needs to remove all scales from the house, monitor if Izzy is spending long amounts of time in the bathroom after eating (my daughter hates being sick so doesn't do this). It will cause lots of fights and arguments, and it might seem cruel, but they have to talk to her every single day about what she's doing, it's hard and in the short term they hate you for it.
They need to make Izzy understand she needs to see a doctor, have bloods done and her weight checked. (This was the reality check my daughter needed, I got her there for a different reason and asked her if she would let them weight her, she weighted 10 kilos less than she did when she was 12).
Every single day they need to keep on at her, she will argue back, probably hate them, but if they love her they'll do it.
Every meal they need to check what she's eating, and how much. Start monitoring everything. Again, Izzy will probably be very upset, but if they don't convince her to see a GP this will continue, and the more weight they lose the more it spurs them on.
Thats just the start. I believe Sarah know, they may be a pair of morons but I do think they love their kids in their own way. The conversation around the gingerbread is the same conversation I, and many other parents, have with their keys ds on a daily basis who have EDs.
Sarah please, for the love of god, even if you don't want to take my advice Google Eva Mushy, she is fantastic and her website has tons of info. She has been incredibly kind and helpful to me. Reach out to her, read through her info.
My daughter has just got back from cinema, I asked her what she wanted for dinner, she said "nothing", so guess who's about to have one of those tough love conversations I've just spoken of....