Toddlers and Tiarra;s (pageants, baby, game, parents)

[michiganmom48]

This show is on tonight and I think TLC is doing another show starting in FEb about children in beauty pagants. THese little kids with spray tans, eye lashes and bathing suits really upsets me. I know there are parents here who think this is okay. I thought is was funny last week as a MOm says how much her 2 year old loves it while screaming on the floor. What exactly is the benefit for the child.

[Chippery]

Good question. IMHO It's just for the parent (commercial baby pageants.)

It's clearly not the same as little Susie wanting to walk around the house in Mom's high heals.

[maciesmom]

I think most of this is sick and some of it borders on abuse.....JMO of course.

[michiganmom48]

I would really like to hear from any MOm out there who has their daughters these contests. I would like to hear what the child gains. I would just like to hear the reason.

[momof2dfw]

My 10 year old saw some of it last week and was laughing at it. As the mother of two girls here is how I've been with them: I put them in dance at the age of 2 because it was one of the only things that involved physical activity for a girl AND it gave them some good social interaction and the chance to have to listen to another adult. I was NOT a "dance mom" and there were plenty of those. A few years later when sports were available for them to participate in they both picked soccer. Okay fine. We did rec soccer and they both enjoyed it and one still plays and likes it. I actually make sure this child stays in something that is pretty physical because of her asthma. We basically have let them try different things and have always encouraged the FUN part of it while still adhering to the "team commitment" and all.

This past year BOTH girls wanted to do cheer................. urgh, NO, "I'm NOT a cheer mom". But I let them. The oldest was thru the school and the youngest for the peewee football teams. I got to experience these "cheer moms" firsthand. For the oldest there are some that they FORCE their daughters to do cheer. Two of them are on the school team because if they did not their mothers would FORCE them to do competitive cheer and they don't want to be THAT into it. The oldest one is actually taking some lessons right now to prepare for try outs for next year. Only because it is HER interest are we doing it. She was telling me after last nights lessons there is one girl in her class that you can tell does NOT want to be there. She said the girl is actually very good but she is just NOT "into it" at all. My own daughter said, "her mom probably is making her do it. I kept thinking I'm glad it is not like that with us". That's my girl

The youngest............ URGH! The peewee cheer moms are THE WORST!!! OHMYGOSH!!! My daughter has actually dropped out and we allowed it. Our children have NEVER quit ANYTHING before the season was over. On this............... we agreed. When there are supposedly GROWN ADULTS that are the ones responsible for this "team" that don't want kids on it THEY don't like........... it is BAD!!! I just look at them and shake my head and know how miserable their life must be if they are having to live their lives thru their children. Grown adults that will PURPOSELY talk down and rude to a CHILD and snub them and then act like if they mess up on a cheer during a PEEWEE FOOTBALL game it is the end of the world........... not a "FUN" environment or experience for any of the children. I swear the cheerleaders on this "team" practiced more than the football team. These are the moms that are "INTO" this whole "tiara" thing for their little kids. There is no FUN in their lives whatsoever. If my kids are not the ones "into" it I am NOT going to spend my time trying to convince them to do it all of the time. Talk about a MISERABLE household. NO THANKS!!!

[bibit612]

I can't believe TLC is putting on something like this! Everytime I catch a trailer as I switch channels, I see the face of Jon Benet Ramsey in those little girls, and a wave of nausea, sadness and fear comes over me! Watch some lunatic mother kill one of those girls because her own lost the contest!

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by bibit612

Watch some lunatic mother kill one of those girls because her own lost the contest!

My youngest daughters "cheer director" that was one of the mothers thought it would be MY daughter that would cause them to NOT win 1st place in the Peewee football cheer contest because we could not make it on time to practice on Sundays after church. She wouldn't change practice by 30 minutes so she could be there on time instead of late. She just preferred that she not be on the team because of it. Right............. the only girl on the team that could do a flip. If they will talk pretty ugly to a 9 year old it won't take much for one to go completely nutso to hurt them physically and THAT is what pisses me off about the whole thing. Grown adults that are so wrapped up in this crapola that they would HURT a CHILD over it.



Oh, and they didn't win 1st place either. My daughter was already off the team by then. LOL!!!!

[crazyma]

tlc- is turning into The Loony Club

[cherry251]

It teaches confidence and how to care for yourself; it can teach responsiblity.

While I don't think all kids belong in pageants, some really love it.

[maciesmom]

Originally Posted by cherry251

It teaches confidence and how to care for yourself; it can teach responsiblity.

While I don't think all kids belong in pageants, some really love it.

I would guess that any number of things can teach this. Honestly, I am not a fan of pageants - not my thing, but I could see some benefit to older kids if they enjoy that sort of thing.....whatever. I just really can't see the benefit of toddlers competing for ANYTHING.... l can't see a justification for this, no matter how much I try ....