Toddlers and Tiaras

[chikinmama]

Its a bunch of low self esteemed parents living vicariously thru their innocent little girls. these poor kids are going to grow up with such a distorted perception of beauty. my hens are better mothers than these women! some things should be illegal.

 

[Camelot Farms]

It is on DD's BANNED SHOWS list that is taped to the TV.

Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.
Those little girls dont want to be up there. Their mama's are just living vicariously through them. If it werent for the bag of toys that the kids get, you bet they woudlnt even stand up there.

Grrrrrrr.....

 

[redhen]

Quote:
The same reason you kids post the same senseless things over and over again in the games section.... Why do you guys do it?
Some food for thought..

 

[NellaBean]

Been watching it tonight. RIDICULOUS. These parents need therapy and these kids need a good spanking. Brats.

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
The same reason you kids post the same senseless things over and over again in the games section.... Why do you guys do it?
Some food for thought..

Thank you for saying that!! I so sometimes want to but don't wanna get banned!!

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

Quote:
The same reason you kids post the same senseless things over and over again in the games section.... Why do you guys do it?
Some food for thought..

Agreed!!

 

[chikinmama]

Were all civilized here, noone needs to be banned

 

[Ec_Prokta]

Quote:
The same reason you kids post the same senseless things over and over again in the games section.... Why do you guys do it?
Some food for thought..

Well, I don't post the same senseless things. Merely partake in the chatting threads, you see.

Getting back on topic, I'm wondering what the demographics of the people watching this show are.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
The same reason you kids post the same senseless things over and over again in the games section.... Why do you guys do it?
Some food for thought..

Well, I don't post the same senseless things. Merely partake in the chatting threads, you see.

Getting back on topic, I'm wondering what the demographics of the people watching this show are.

Wasnt talking about you, PK..

 

[Ferrret]

Alright, I'll play devil's advocate a little.
I can understand pageants for girls. It is a self esteem boost to get told that out of a crowd of lovely girls you are the best or at least in the top ranks. Many parents go through pageantry because they and their children enjoy it and they treat it as a fun hobby, like knitting or camping. The girls have a few times a year they can be dolled up and feel like the center of attention. They also receive scholarship money and cash awards that can go into a college fund. As a hobby it is fairly harmless and reasonable.

Some parents take hobbies too seriously, and they are the ones that get the focus of attention. Spray tanning your toddler and running them endlessly through a dance routine so it's perfect is unfair and damaging to the child. Allowing your preteen to have an alter ego for pageant time also presents a major risk for damage. I personally draw the line of reasonable behavior at physical alterations that aren't needed and/or are unhealthy for a child (ex: spray tans, waxing, snap in veneers, hair extensions, and manicure/pedicures) as well as unrealistic expectations (ex: If you don't win the pageant, you aren't good enough for anything). Those things are the most likely to cause a child to grow up feeling inadequate with themselves as they are (without the glitz and glamor) and can cause a child to develop some serious entitlement issues.
Overly involved parents should be taken back a few paces to look at what they are doing, but no one really wants to over step and tell someone how to raise their kids, and no parent wants to be told they are wrong in how they are raising their child. TLC, and any other network, is not going to do that, because normal, functional families don't get ratings, no ratings means no profit, and no profit equals out to no network.

Pageants also aren't the only place where parents get overzealous. Sports, dance classes, band, choir, any activity can have a demanding parent asking too much or a spoiled brat incapable of wrong doing. Some parents will also place specific expectations on their children's futures, i.e. my kid will go into the military, my kid will take over the family business, I'll disown my kid if they don't share my political views, they will marry who I approve of, etc.

Anyhow, we can converse and trash talk the things we see people doing on TV, but we should also remember that networks are only going to show what makes money, which tends to be the ugly, bad and downright awful. People can get a little too deep in a hobby before they realize what's happened, and many pull themselves out without needing intervention.