Peaches and Cream Barbie! She was so beautiful. I still have her in my closet at my parent's house but her hair has been cut and the dress has definitely been played with. When I was little, all the accessories you could buy for your Barbies were beautiful evening gowns, pretty dresses, hats and high heels. Today's Barbie looks more like this:
Why can't Mattel bring the old Barbie back?! Now don't get me wrong. I LOVE Barbies and the creativity they bring and I cannot wait for Caroline to play with them one day, but I think I'm going to wait until she's a little bit older. I'm going to hold out hope that she loves the baby doll/make-believe stage she's in for a lot longer:)
I guess now that I'm a mom, I see everything so differently--especially as a mom of a little girl. With all the pain and sorrow in the world and all the cattiness that comes with being a girl, I just want to shelter Caroline and keep her little for as long as I can! I owe a major apology to my sisters, Dayna and Denise. When they both had their first children (girls), I was 18 and let's just say that I was one proud Auntie. I bought my nieces Barbies as young ages, painted their nails--at really young ages!!!-- put make-up on them, etc., without asking their moms first. And Dolly and I even taught Maddie the first few lines of Britney Spears' "Baby Baby". What were we thinking?! We thought it was so cute and funny to see a two year old singing "Oh, Baby, baby. How was I supposed to know..."Oops! Sorry, girls! We were so wrong and I know better now. I used to get so annoyed when you'd both say "Donna, I can't wait until you have your children. You'll understand then!" Girls, I get it now. A girl cannot fully understand the enormous responsibility of children/parenting until she has her own. Hopefully Maddie and Grayson aren't scared in any way:)
Again, please don't think that I'm going to be a legalistic parent who never allows her daughter to have or do anything fun whatsoever. I will and Caroline won't be a nerd who thinks that everything out there is bad or shameful. I can't wait to do big girl stuff with her in the future, but for now, I'm going to keep Caroline in her smocks, hair bows and mary janes....innocent!
What marketing schemes out there aimed at little girls drives you crazy?
23 comments:
Good post to start the morning off! Way to get me started!
There is a lot of JUNK in this world. It makes me so concerned for my boys, especially!
Coming from Danny's counseling world Pornography (I hate that word)is SO prevalent! More than we could even imagine---I mean NICE people CASUALLY look at it and think it is okay! It is in so many marriages. AND, many wife's just look the other way----ARE YOU KIDDING???? Sad!
Anyway...
I wouldn't consider us legalistic but then again I do get concerned when my Dan Dan watches DWTS and see's all those half naked dancers that wear outfits. I mean, can someone please tell me WHY you would need to wear a flesh color strap across your back or shoulders to hold your top up. JUST MAKE IT THE SAME COLOR!!!! WE ASSUME YOUR TOP IS NOT MAGIC AND JUST NATURALLY HANGS ON TO YOUR BODY! WHY MAKE IT LOOK MORE SEXY THAN IT ALREADY IS!!!! Sorry, just venting.
Anyway, as fun as DWTS is fun to watch for some people, I am mixed about it for Dan Dan and I find myself thinking, "Has it come to this. Me not letting my son watch a simple "ball room" dance show because the girls are half naked?????
Ooo, sorry to go off on this. I am just very concerned in raising my boys in this sexually sick world that sucks in our boys and degrades our girls.
Goodness am I getting old or what!?
It's not that you're getting old, it's that you're being a good parent in this fallen world. I feel sorry for Michael already sometimes. He's not going to be allowed to watch much tv at all! Too many things that sneak in there and get to your kids through TV. Oh, and I'm going to have to make sure that I UNSUBSCRIBE to the VS magazine (porn) that is sent to my house all the time too.
Now, I cannot believe the little strawberry Shortcake toy is named after "sex in the city." Are you kidding me?
How true! How true! BTW- Peaches and Cream was my favorite Barbie, too!!!
I remember I was obsessed with the color "peach" for years!!!
Anyhow, I couldn't agree MORE with you on this post!
I can't believe they made that puzzle! This is insane!
How about that Katy Perry song "I kissed a girl and I liked it" that everyone is singing?! Alex has never heard it, but some of her friends have and actually have it downloaded into their iPod!!! I told Alex how wrong it was, but still.......
No matter where we send our children to school, church...wherever...these secular and liberal influences are everywhere! So many other children are influenced by it and seem to have the need to "share" it with everyone else!
Dolly, you have a porn subscription? Wow, I wouldn't have tagged you as someone who was into that.
I know what you're saying, Donna. I was just talking to someone the other day about t-shirts with sayings on them. Now,I have been known to buy them for Max...things like "Ladies Man", "smooth like butta" etc. And trust me, before I buy them I'll think about whether or not it comes across too sarcastic. I don't want my son wearing things that are so sassy with a major attitude. I do think the girl's tshirts are worse though - they say some of the most sassiest things I've ever seen! I wouldn't allow my child to say some of those things...why would I allow her to wear them?
I already feel pressure to let Max watch certain shows, and I'm afraid it will get worse as he gets older because so many parents cave in because every other kid is allowed. That does make me nervous about the possible tension/arguments that could come up when Max wants to watch something that his friends are watching and I don't allow him. Oh well...it's just part of parenting.
I cut all of my Barbie's hair too...why did we do that???
Toni!!! Don't get me started on that Katy Perry song. I am outraged by it and the care free attitude Americans seem to have about it!
Oh and btw, Pussy Cat Dolls singing at the Kids Choice Awards?????? Nickelodeon are you nuts!!!!! Apparently so!
The PCD were so sexually nasty at the American Music Awards (I think it was that awards show) that Danny and I turned it. I made my children turn it too, when the PCD were singing at the KCA.
Jennifer I agree. There is so much pressure for our children to watch certain shows and I remember how it feels to have to say, "I'm not allow to watch that." Augh!
I'm laughing Jennifer! Just so nobody takes Jennifer seriously, NO we don't have a porn subscription sent to our house but Victoria's Secret may has well be.
Thinking about all the shows we weren't allowed to watch growing up....there's a long list and these shows are nothing compared to what's out there today. Actually, we were only allowed to watch the Cosby show (as a family) and It's a Different World after that (I thought that show was so cool) on Thursday nights and then TGIF on Friday's and one cartoon on Sat morning. We really weren't allowed to watch TV on school nights. Oh, and I forgot Family Ties and America's Funniest Video's on Sunday nights.
Donna, I agree. It makes me so mad too! Yesterday in our Bible Study we actually were discussing this and one mom had a great idea. She was in Belk and was upset at the (non-modest) clothing for sale in the 4-5T size...she asked for the name and number for the buyer of that department and called her up. It is a great way to actually do something that could make a difference. If we just leave the store, they will never know.
Donna, your post is so true. I don't have girls, so I only have the "lack" of clothes to choose from for boys. But the one thing that makes me sick is the Kidz Bop music commercials. Have you seen those? This company takes adult songs and has kids sing them (like it somehow makes them more appropriate if a child sings it.) The commercials show little girls shaking their hips and dressing very inappropriately. The boys are shown as rock stars. Disgusting.
I agree with Denise - the Pussy Cat Dolls at the Nick awards? Hello? I wouldn't even let my kids watch it.
It is funny how different we view things once we become parents. If we don't protect our children though, no one else will.
Great post and comments ladies. I agree with how society has little girls look like grown ups at such a young age. Let children be just that - children!
Donna, why did you stop playing with your Barbies at 11? You can play with my collection anytime (just kidding). I was babysitting on Monday and the little girl had me play Jasmine and she was Sleeping Beauty - so precious and I indicated to Glenn how girls are so incredibly differnt than boys. Aaron sat on the sidelines playing with cars.
Good comments, everyone. I am really fired up now!
Jennifer, I am laughing at the "Ladies Man" shirt and the other one. I would seriously buy those for RA. Why is it funny on a boy but if a girl had one that said "Man Eater" it would be really unappropriate?! Oh, and I also used to shave my Barbie's legs in the bath tub. Plastic would come off in shreds. I guess I thought it would grow back?
About the TV: I think we are going to implement my parent's old rule when our kids get into grade school....No TV on week days/nights. Maybe there will be some special occassions, but I want our kids to play as much as they can.
All I have to say...Don't even get me started!! Good post Donna!
I do not allow my children to watch from during the week. So on the weekends, I will rent an appropriate movie from Netflix for them to watch. Even Disney Channel is sometime so inappropriate. I have had to get on Madde to change the channel. I feel it is our job as parents to filter the things that they see and do, and teach them to make wise choices with what they watch, see and do! I sing "Oh be careful little eyes what you see...." (THEY LOVE IT)
So, Dayna and Denise...Do you accept my apology? I pour my heart out to you both and beg your forgiveness and it doesn't even phase you? Are you that mad about it?
Amen!! Definitely know what you mean about understanding it all now that you are a mom, it changes things. Working with youth at church has really opened my eyes to what is out there too...and how many parents are oblivious (and getting mixed up in it themselves...have 2 families broken due to porn and 1 family broken over infidelity! argh!!). We may be in the minority but we need to raise our children to know what glorifies God and what doesn't, some is so black and white.
One of my favorite barbies was the peachy one too, she was so pretty!!
Forgot to add that I put Winnie in some shorts the other day and they were totally too short. My first thought looking at her was that she was wearing daisy-dukes, not good not good...and she is only 16mos old!!
Preach it Sister!!
Have you seen the book The Secret Keeper? It is for Moms and little girls, it teaches them how to be modest, and want to be!!
I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to stop a girl in the mall wearing a skit that has a hem at her chin and her shirt is a thread of yarn!!! Where are those parents and what are they thinking????? Someone please tell me. I don't care if my daughter is 16, 25, 45, 99 she will NOT wear those clothes that are "slutty" looking. No siree!
Great post!
Sweetie, I did forgive you. I know it was fun having nieces when you were a teenager.
Remember "who let the dogs out?" Okay I'll admit we were a bit tough on that but it is funny now.
Good post and comments!
I can not stand the way some of the clothes make little girls look like they are trying to be 15.
I am still buying 6/6X for Caroline, but I dread the day we have to go into the bigger sizes.
I agree...I agree 100%. Like Denise, I was so mad whent he Pussy Cat Dolls sang on the KCA the other night. The next day i had to hear Adam say Pussy Cat Dolls over and over again. We finally told him he wasnt allowed to talk about them anymore. How do you explain to a 7 year old boy why...especially when they were just on Nick! AGGHHHH!
And Jennifer - Amen on the boys shirts. Adam also has the "smooth like butter & "chick magnet" shirts, but I get so mad at the ones that say disrespectful and rude things on them like "I am bored, you must be talking" or "do I look like I care" Oh my!
I DITTO pretty much everyone. I blogged a while back on some hat for Gracie that said FLIRT! I thought it said something else..it was Tinkerbell for gosh sakes! That just ticked me off to think of encouraging young girls to FLIRT at such a young age. What are we telling girls? That the ultimate goal is to nab a man? Start flirting early? I'm rambling, but...Preach on! I'm with you....
I'm giving you a standing ovation on this one, Donna! We've discussed this before - I can't stand to see toddler clothes that say "DIVA" - that's permisson, in my opinion, to be trouble. I'm not a mom who wants her kids to stay little for ever, but I definitely don't want her to be forced to grow up too quickly, either. Here's an article I read shortly after AK was born, and I re-read it occasionally just as a reminder: http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2006&month=04
Vicki Courtney's blog is another good barometer of what's going on in this area - check out her April 1 post...disturbing!
I want to read both of these women's books, too!
Oh my goodness- this already makes my blood boil (no one even mentioned BRATZ dolls!)and reading all the posts make me feel great knowing that we are all out there all over the country and we are unhappy about how much sexual material is out there for our kids.
When Madison was really little we were in a toy store, on the barbie aisle, when she (loudly) announced "This Barbie doesn't glorify God right, mommmy?" I was motified and so proud all in one!
We must be vigilent to protect our kids and to teach them. I don't think any of you guys are being legalistic or weird at all. I won't even walk with my family past the VS in our mall - so go Dolly!
As for notifying people - do it!! When the Dukes of Hazzard movie came out, our Lynchburg Toy-R-Us had up (as soon as you walk in the door)a poster with Jessica Simpson in her Daisy Dukes and boobs falling out. I called the manager who sent me to the regional manager and 1 day later it was down. We need to speak up!
Sorry for being so long!!
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