Thank you, Roskilde
Summary of article in Billed Bladet #49, 2015.
Written by Ulrik Ulriksen.
Yes, Mary visited a Christmas Seal home and met three of the children living there. These homes are predominantly for obese children who as a consequence of their obesity have social issues, or whose social issues result in obesity. So the purpose is to get them to slim down. Ensure they meet and hopefully become friends with children in a similar situation and thereby help them to open up. And as a result of all this strengthen their self confidence. - It works to a high degree and has for a century now.
So she went to Kildemose in northern Zealand, where 24 children in the age 7-14 are housed and where they live for up to several months.
Here she met 12 year old Lucas, who has been at the home for a relatively short period and he told Mary: "I've seen how it already develops me and I become much more glad. And not so easily crossed".
Lucas is there to lose weight - (and as one can guess to change his outward behavior).
Mary: "How much have you lost in the five weeks you've been here"?
Lucas: "So far almost eight kilos".
Mary also met 10 year old Emma-Sophie, who is also there to lose weight.
(I try an translate the quotes as close to how the children, being children, express themselves).
Going for a walk in the area with Mary and another girl Emma-Sophie talked about herself.
Mary: "How do you hold on to what you must do"? (I.e. diet, exercise, positive thinking).
Emma-Sophie: "You simply put focus on the food and the exercise and you must simply want this, and if you didn't want it, you shouldn't be up here".
Mary: "What's the most important thing you have learned"?
Emma-Sophie: "That even if you perhaps not think you are that nice looking, or think you are different, you are actually in some way just like each other. There is something you have in common with each other".
Mary: "That's right. That's very well put. We all have something to offer and we are all valuable. We all look differently and we are all different in a way, but that's what makes life different. Imagine if we were all the same. Imagine how boring that would be".
And here the second girl, 14 year old Laura comes in. She's not at the home to lose weight but gain more self-esteem after having been bullied.
She responds: "I've never really thought about that. I've got this habit that each time I think a bad thing about myself, then I also think about three good things about myself".
Mary who apparently connected with Laura: "That's a good tool to have. It's really nice/good. You are beautiful, you are lovely, you have a lot to offer. That one must remember. All the things you've learned here you must remember. You are fine as you are. The most important gift is that you believe in yourself and that you are good enough, and you are".
Mary: "How about your class, do they know you are here at the Christmas Seal home"?
Laura: "Yes, they know. I've send them a letter".
Wen it was time to say goodbye Mary said: "Remember to believe in yourselves, because you are so lovely. You are courageous girls".
Emma-Sophie said afterwards: "It's pretty cool to be told we are courageous. She's really sweet".
For more Mary see here:
https://app.box.com/s/9a3a2gt7ubh185xnuuqx7px8u6qu1ske