When I had my first daughter almost seven years ago, I was not in recovery. When I conceived her, I weighed 180 pounds, and when I delivered her I was 239.  As I continued to balloon up in my pregnancy, I found myself using handicapped bathroom stalls more and more. After she was born, I learned how to navigate my way through stores and shopping centers with her in a baby carrier seat, and later, the stroller.

It was difficult to learn how to do everything with a baby—putting the child in and out of car seats and shopping carts. But most of all, going to the bathroom in a public place was a chore. The bathroom had to be large enough to fit the stroller, and it needed to have a fold-down changing table.

It was difficult getting into a bathroom with my 200-pound self, plus the baby, the stroller, and the baby gear. Twenty-five months after having my first child, I had a second daughter. It became even more interesting to navigate the bathroom.

By this time, child one was potty training. Ah, the joys of potty training when you are out and about town! Now I had to fit a double stroller, two children, and my 200-pound body inside one stall. Inside the stall, I had to navigate. I needed to take the baby out of her car seat carrier to change her diaper. And I needed to be able to maneuver around the stroller inside the stall to help my older daughter onto the commode.

I came into recovery when my second daughter was seven months old. Within eight months of eating abstinently, I was in a 130-pound body.  Although my weight came off quickly, it took me a while to break the habit of always waiting for the handicapped stall.  We no longer needed it. All three of us can fit inside a normal-sized stall.

I recently flew on some very long flights with my family. My children are now four and six years old. I have a lot to be grateful for when I hear, “Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom!” Have you ever tried to fit inside an airplane bathroom? I am happy to report that in my right-sized body, both my daughter and I can fit in the airplane bathroom and I can be of service to her. Recovery from food addiction has given me this gift.  I no longer have to take the handicapped stalls from those who may really need them. Thanks FA!