You’ve heard that joke “no dating till you’re 30” right?
Well, it’s official…I am not going to let my daughter leave the house, let alone date, until she’s thirty! Have you guys seen the stuff that’s going on in the world today for tween/teen girls? It’s scaring the crap out of me!
Just this week alone I have seen/heard about 5 different stories/articles that make me want to send Rylee to a convent before she turns 5. {That’s no big deal right? Back in the day, girls were becoming nuns at very young ages. A lot of them even became saints.} Allow me to explain…
1. This all started Sunday morning as I was sitting in my kitchen looking through the Sunday ads and I came across this Sears ad…
Really Sears? This is how you are marketing to “Juniors”? I’m guessing it’s all 20% OFF because there seems to be 20% less clothing that when I was a teenager. I’m sorry, but when Rylee is old enough to be shopping in the “Juniors” section, she will NOT be wearing shirts like that. No way. No how. Last time I had checked, Sears was the place to go and buy Craftsman tools, appliances and lawnmowers and where my grandma bought bed linens and towels. Sears was not a place to go buy provocative clothing for teenagers.
2. I hear from another blogging mama about how she has a friend who’s 9 year old daughter went in to her doctor for a routine check-up and was given a pregnancy test because apparently there have been recent instances where 9 year olds have been pregnant. My jaw about hit.the.ground. Are you kidding me!? Pregnant 9 year olds? Oh yes, it’s true. In February a 9 year old in China gave birth to a baby boy. While I’m sure she did not get pregnant on her own free will, the alternative is certainly not any better. And if there was no foul play afoot here…holy moly. Kids are learning about sex younger and younger. I remember in the 5th grade how boys went to one class and girls went to another and we were shown a slide show on the changes bodies go through, then given a free sample of deodorant. Gone are those days, eh?
3. Then I happened to see this article about how “XOXO makes teens look like they want more than hugs and kisses.” At this point, my blood was boiling. As a woman and mom in the marketing/advertising industry I am simultaneously disturbed and disgusted. The author of the article goes on to say how she got in contact with the ad firm that developed the campaign for XOXO and quotes the Senior Director of the firm as saying “XOXO is the brand every boyfriend wants their girlfriend to wear” {I’m sure it is} The author was told that the target demographic for this clothing is 21 to 28 year olds. So, with a little quick math (impressive, I know) I figured out that age demographic is…me. Last time I checked I don’t know any 21 to 28 year olds that dress like that or shop in the Juniors section at department stores. Maybe it’s because I’m not into the party scene. Maybe it’s because I’m a mom. Maybe it’s because I have a professional career. Who knows. What I do know is that XOXO’s “back to school” campaign is targeting a much younger wider age range. I think they know it too.
4. I happened to read a blog post from another fellow mom-blogger about how she was buying her daughter a training bra at Kohl’s and right next to the training bras were barely-there skivvies in sizes built for wee ones. Now, I remember my first pair of thong underwear…I was a Freshman in high school if I remember correctly. But there was nothing “sexy” about them. There were for utility purposes only, ie: no panty lines under my homecoming dress. The chonies this lady saw right next to the training bras built for 10-12 year olds were lacy and skimpy and ambroidered and be-jeweled and most definitely not for utility purposes only. These things sound like the undies I received as gifts at my bachelorette party. Certainly nothing I want my tween-age daughter wearing!
5. This last one sent me over the edge. I subscribe to some parenting e-mails and I received one that had a link to this article about a dance studio in Canada that offers pole dancing classes to…kids. As young as 5 years old. Say WHAT!? The owner of the studio is actually quoted in the article saying how much kids love the pole and it’s hard to get them off of it because they are such “naturals”. Like the author says in her article…even if the kids themselves don’t associate the pole with something sexual, I really don’t want to get the call from my kid’s teacher telling me that during recess, she was showing all of her classmates the newest dance moves she learned!
I don’t necessarily consider myself a prude by any means. Sometimes I wear certain outfits because they make my boobs look good. I wear bikinis {read: I used to wear bikinis, before I got the “mom-gut”}. I remember in high school when I thought I was being so scandalous wearing ::GASP!:: a halter top (that completely covered my belly and was not low-cut in any way, shape or form).
Personally, I think I have a cute kid (I know, I’m biased). I think know I’ll be in trouble when she’s a teenager. I don’t need hooker-type clothing and pole dancing lessons helping that out. Thinking about Ry becoming a teenager might just send me over the edge.
All this stuff? Freaks me out.
What do you think? Am I being too protective? Sensitive? Worrying too much? To quote my middle school self…Should I just take a chill-pill? Any great words of advice or encouragement to help tide me over for the next 10 to 15 years?
Please?
