Each day on my morning commute, I drive by a local elementary school and without fail am stopped by the crossing guard so she can escort the “children” to the other side of the road safely. Why is it that most of these ”kids” appear to need pimps, not crossing guards???
Let’s take yesterday, for example: A scrawny little blond wiggled her way across the street in a teeny-tiny shirt that read “Boy Toy” in sparkly letters–she couldn’t have been more than 7! She was followed by a tarted-up little diva wearing black velour track pants with the word Juicy emblazoned in white script on her ARSE.
Is this a Jersey phenomenon–all the wanna-be Mafia wives with their acrylic talons, highlights, Juicy Couture warm up suits, and luxury SUVs–dressing their children like mini-hookers? It looks like their kids are going to dance on poles instead of going into classrooms to learn.
Am I too out of touch because I don’t have kids of my own? If I had a kid, I’d be sewing some Little House on the Prairie calico print dresses before I’d let her out of the house in a pair of shorts that had writing on the butt. My kid would be the fashion pariah of the school…but at least she wouldn’t begging for pedophiles and other scary characters to take a look at her prepubescent body.
no no, you are not out of touch at all.
I feel horrible for these kids who are walking around like little… um, what’s the nice word for slut?
In fact, there was an article in this months Family Circle (and YOU feel out of touch) about kids dressing incorrectly (http://www.parents.com/teens-tweens/communication/talking-to-kids/provocative-teen-fashion/?psrc=fpfc0805p2).
Granted, I think we all went through a “phase” of one or another, but I hardly think that my grunge-wear provoked any double takes or promises of free candy.
No wunder kidz dese dayz kan’t learn nuttin’.
CWG says: i went through some phases too…but none involved bare midriffs and the like…
I remember my own mother telling me she didn’t think it was appropriate for me to wear black or get my ears pierced until I was 18 (not that this stopped me from “inventing” the emo-goth look in 1984…)
I do think it has a lot to do with where you live CWG — New Jersey is great for tomatoes, sweet corn and the beach, but I fear it is also the bad taste capital of the world.
There are only two reasons this could be happening, in my opinion:
1) Daddy’s little hookers are spoiled rotten and get every slutty outfit they want no matter how inappropriate; or
2) Their mothers actually think they look “cute” dressed up like call girls.
I don’t know which alternative makes me more ill to think about.
CWG says: it’s sick, right? parents need to step up and discipline their kids…god, i sound like my mother…
Never in my life would I allow my child or grandchild to wear such suggestive clothing in today’s world or any other world for that matter. There are too many weirdo and sick people in this world.
What are parents thinking?
CWG says: i don’t think the parents are thinking…that’s the problem.
Hey Jimsmuse, how about another possibility:
Too much “reality” TV garbage on the airwaves and in the teen magazines. These people are in no way role models.
“School Free Drug Zone,” anyone?
CWG says: yep, panny…i agree. tv is toxic…parents should parent their kids and not just be pals with them. don’t feel guilty or be afraid to say NO. i am so strict (firm but fair) at school–and the kids respond because they need and want structure.
Good gracious. A hoochie at age 7. That’s not good. What is wrong with people?! What ever happened to an iron-on t-shirt with rainbows and butterflies?
I blame this on Britney Spears’ mother.
CWG says: i wore lots of smocked dresses…and plain t-shirts. my dad didn’t even want us to have labels on our clothes because he thought it was tacky…i agree now, but i didn’t back then. the bottom line is that dad was right and i grew up to appreciate and understand that.
I told Chris that we will NEVER dress our baby or toddler in a BIKINI. I do NOT find that cute.
I’m with you, girlfriend, and I KNOW I am not old or out of touch.
CWG says: well, i think there are a few shots of tiny toddler me running around in a 2-piece, but it was the early 70s…and i haven’t worn one since. ha!
Having been shopping for my grandchildren…Holy Crow! Thank goodness my daughter doesn’t dress her children like thugs or hoochies! You don’t have to have children to recognize that these clothes are of extremely poor taste! Just say NO parents!
CWG says: i think it’s easier to say yes…less fuss and headache. but it doesn’t teach the kiddies anything…except that they can get what they want.
What I don’t like is when young girls where shirts that say Porn Star…they don’t even know what they’re saying…I’m sure none of them really wants to be a porn star…I just shake my head in disbelief. You can bet my kids will NOT be wearing that kind of stuff.
Who ARE these parents???
CWG says: i know…it’s really horrible. some parents today are raising a generation of morally bankrupt children. hayden–you should write about this and help!!!
Hi..love your blog!! I was sniffing around this morning and just wanted to take the time to say “Hi”…
Betsy
CWG says: hi–and thanks! ii’ll be sure to drop by your blog later tonight.
I have a 4 year old daughter and am appalled at what I see here in VA.
First, they have THONG underwear for little girls.
Then there are the velor sweatsuits – little mafiosas in the making.
I hate clothing that has writing on the butt. Ugh.
My mom has this thing where she buys things that are too short for DD. UGH!
I am blessed that my girl loves wearing dresses, but I have to explain to her not to show people her panties when she sits and plays and when she and her friends like to lift their dresses to discuss the various Disney characters on their panties.
CWG says: thongs for kids?!?!?!? for what reason?????
It scares me what the young girls wear, or don’t wear nowadays. Thankfully my own girl has class, by the bucketfull and I don’t think I’ll see her wandering the roads (ever) wearing anything that would encourage pervs to ‘read’ her clothing.
CWG says: gee, daff…maybe because you PARENTED your daughter.
good job, mum!
Amen, sister!!
I am in total agreement. I do not let my little 6 yr old dress in things that I deem inappropriate. Writing on the butt, skirts too short or sparkly writing. The thing is, is that its the parents chosing what their kids wear not the kids…what you described grosses me out.
CWG says: good…you’re a responsible parent! children aren’t mini-grown ups…they are kids and need to be taught what’s acceptable and what’s not.
They should not even SELL this stuff for kids. I was shopping for a friend’s young daughter and saw *sexy underwear* in the little girls department. This is wrong and disgusting on so many levels that it made part of my brain start ticking and I felt close to finding out who designed such s#$t and tracking them down and pulling a Kill Bill on them. It makes me sick. You don’t see too many kids around here wearing slut-clothes, but once in a while you see it. Parents who let their kids dress like that are obviously products of a progressive civilization, because a couple of centuries ago they would have been eaten by the stronger people.
Not that I have strong feelings about this subject.
Holy crap…you just wrote what I feel. There are way too many kids that wear the hoochie clothes around here and it is pretty pathetic.
Another thing though…have you seen middle school dance routines and recital outfits?!?! Seriously, parents are paying people to teach their kids how to dance like a slut (well around here anyways). If I had kids they would be yanked out of dance class so friggin fast their heads would spin if I saw them shimmying and being all provocative. And the songs they dance to are just as bad…Solider Boy–seriously does not need to be in a dance class for children.
haha that’s my 2 cents…
Loved this post and all of the comments. Couldn’t agree more. We have passed on the bikini for our daughter – though like you, there are pix of me as a little kid in one. Nowadays, there are too many weirdos and you never know which creep is out there with his digital camera planning on posting the pictures on his creepy website.
Just saw a commercial last night that said it all; it was a new Dove soap company commericial, who featured this small girl, probably like 9, who was staring at a poster on the street of a scantily dressed tween…flashes of all these other “pretty” girls that she’s seen in her lifetime in advertisements….the last scene of the commericial is the girl all slumped over sitting in front of the tv (alone) looking severely depressed (the commercial wanted to get across; “she has enough to deal with in her life…here at Dove…”) and I thought it was a horrible commericial- I have a 9 year old, and the only 2 channels we get on our tv are plenty enough! to show some questionable attire on the female gender. It’s scary out there, but knowing there are other women who understand the true meaning of beauty (and uh – not from Dove ) – but like you – is reasuring (to say the least)-
Bravo!
glad to find you – your outlook is interesting and fun, and true.
Haven’t seen that commercial, but it seems like a turnaround. Last year Dove had a campaign featuring real women of all shapes and sizes, which espoused a very different message.
Is it possible the one you saw was trying to say that young girls have enough over-the-top stupidity and ridiculousness to deal with and their choice of soap shouldn’t be one of them?
Clarification: by “deal with” I meant something akin to “filter out.”
http://www.dove.us/#/features/videos/default.aspxcp-documentid=8354359/
Here’s that link for the commercial- hopefully Dove IS making a difference- they could really have some great tag lines with this one: “clean up your child’s life” “let Dove create a clean environment for your daughter”…the possibilites are endless!
I, for one, do not let my kids sit and watch tv, and it’s possible that a mom or dad who has a young daughter will see that ad, and really think! about what they are allowing their daughter’s to be “exposed” to (pun intended)-
The commericial was well done, but it’s just sad to see that a soap company has to help kids think positively about themselves from the inside, instead of their mom or dad.
Example is everything.
Oh my goodness, I had to come back here after watching Dove’s short film called ‘onslaught’
BRAVO DOVE- BRAVO!! Finally!!! someone in the media that’s huge speaks out-
The only problem, that actually doesn’t compare to this awesome campaign, is that Dove uses Palm oil, and that production is devestating forests in Indonesia.
If only they could think of a better way to harvest the oil-
a forest isn’t as important than a girl’s soul…you can replant a tree.
so, was i maybe in the right?
I don’t think you’re out of touch. I think you’re just sensibly observing the results of an extremely toxic culture in which children are sexualized and women are objectified.
Sorry about the snottiness in my preceding comment; I drank a little too much wine, I fear.
Curly babe, remember THIS ONE?
All I can say is AMEN. And put some damn clothes on, ladies!
I’m totally on board with you here. I’m constantly pointing out such things to Bunny and then giving my “downfall of society” speech. Who are these parents buying such things for their kids? They need to be beaten with a stick… with a nail in it.