Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, et al: Some teen role model advice
Justin Bieber punched a paparazzi; Chris Brown and Drake鈥檚 nightclub brawl resulted in innocent bystanders getting injured; Miley Cyrus is engaged but pictures of her close "friendships鈥� with other males keep popping up; Lindsay Lohan crashed a car and paramedics were called to her room when it 聽was thought that she was unconscious.
What鈥檚 next? Will One Direction go in the wrong direction or perhaps get lost? What kind of messages are modeling when the fact that a very pregnant Snooki has put away her platforms and opted for flats so that she won鈥檛 topple over is considered big celebrity news? I mean does anyone actually care about her footwear fancies? They must or it wouldn鈥檛 be making such big news on the top celeb websites.
What are we telling our teens (our future leaders) when we emphasize the foolish frenzies and faux pas of pop culture鈥檚 elite?
Gone are Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart and Henry Fonda. Sure Liz Taylor always seemed to be in the headlines, but would news of a fifth (or sixth) marriage or a wanton affair really make big news these days? Such hype pales in comparison to secret celebrity sex tapes, which seem to go viral in an instant. 聽Would our knowledge and understanding of these "Hollywood Heroes" be different if the instant gratification of the Internet had detailed their every move and misstep? Perhaps. However, maybe it was the clothes they donned or mood of the times that things seemed less provocative then and less shocking and seedy.
One doesn鈥檛 even need to flash back that far to notice the stark differences. Remember the days of David Cassidy devotion, or the heyday of boy bands such as 'N Sync and New Kids on the Block? Back then Madonna鈥檚 concert costumes made big news. In retrospect, Madonna鈥檚 frocks now seem less shocking in comparison to Lady Gaga鈥檚 see-thru sheaths. How many times has she been cited for indecent exposure? Freedom and creativity are important, but please, put on some clothes.
Perhaps all the instant gratification of getting the news and the gossip in real time has changed our role as parents. To try and keep up with all the information seems at times impossible. And while teen idols of today may be sassier, sexier, and more seductive than role models of yore, in reality, as parents we represent the most important role models in our teen鈥檚 lives. They turn to us for their values and understanding about the world around them. Our job is to provide support and understanding through caring and communication.
Most importantly, we must practice what we preach. They are always watching and learning from us. In the end, it doesn鈥檛 matter if a pregnant Snooki opts for flats over wedges, or whether Miley Cyrus even makes it to the alter. When we model the right road for our teens they are sure to take the best path with a few bumps in the road of course for good measure. Can you remember some of the detours off the path you took when you were their age? I know I can.
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