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Please Miley, Leave My Kid Behind
Miley, I like you a lot. I think you’re cute, you’re talented, and so far, you seem to have a good head on your shoulders. It’s a refreshing change from some of your pop star predecessors, who have learned that growing up in the spotlight is a hard thing to do.
Those of us who watch you are pretty harsh, really. We criticize everything you do. Risque
pictures in a magazine? Shame on your father. Racy pictures taken at a party? Shame on you. As countless others in your shoes have learned, when you do anything wrong, it becomes a scandal.
So I’m proud of how you’ve kept going, Miley. You’re 16 now, and frankly, you act it. We don’t see you hanging out in clubs while pretending that you’re not drinking alcohol. We don’t see you wearing overly revealing clothes or getting into fights, or arrested for drunk driving.
But, I did see you on the May issue of Glamour magazine. It was a nice picture. You looked very pretty. In fact, you looked quite tame for the usual Glamour cover, with a title of “America’s Most Favorite Girl Grows Up.” There was even a little sticker that said “Miley fans — free poster inside.”
And I couldn’t help but wonder which Miley fans would be old enough to read Glamour magazine. And which Glamour readers would really be young enough to be drawn to a magazine because it had your poster in it.
Which of your Hannah Montana entourage would want to read some of the other articles like: “25 Things You Do That Guys Secretly Love” or “The Sexiest Swimsuit for Your Exact Shape?”
And how many Hannah Montana fans actually HAVE a shape?
Years ago, I realized the danger of my child falling for a teen star. My next door neighbor’s sweet little five-year-old daughter had a big poster of Britney Spears on her wall. Not long after, Britney began her slow, painful decline. How do you explain that to your kindergartner? At what point does a mom take down that poster?
A few years ago, my daughter saw “Parent Trap” for the first time and fell in love with little Lindsay Lohan. I couldn’t bear to tell her the troubles that have followed Lindsay as she navigates adulthood.
By the time 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears left her show, Zoey 101, to become a mama, we no longer expected child stars to maintain that squeaky clean image as they grew up.
We’ve enjoyed Hannah Montana over the years, however, and we’ve enjoyed you too, Miley. But we know you’re growing up. So it’s not surprising that you’re moving on. Eventually, our children will do it to.
But when you move on to interests and activities that may fit for your newfound age group but that are way beyond the realm of your Hannah Montana fans, Miley, please don’t drag your prepubescent fan base with you. For them, that would be the worst of both worlds.
Pamela appears Tuesdays on TriangleMom2Mom. Read more about Pamela at her blog Crazy is My Life.
Crazy Is My Life
Four kids, two schools, a bazillion sports, a messy house and 90,000 133,000 miles on my four five-year-old van. Need I say more?
Pamela appears Tuesdays on TriangleMom2Mom. Read more about Pamela on her blog Crazy is My Life.
Comments
I hope Miley becomes the exception! One who seamlessly makes the move from adolescence to adulthood...oh wait...no one does that!
Can anyone think of a child star who made the transition easily? Think about it as far back as Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, etc.
Jodi Foster, Kirk Cameron & LeAnn Rimes are a few.... let's just hope that she has someone who will help guide her and remind her how much her decisions efffect others. That must be alot of pressure for someone her age! Let's hope she carries it with dignity!
I really dislike Miley Cyrus. Sorry to her fans out there.
I saw her last year on "Idol Gives Back". She and her dad were shown visiting a poverty-stricken family in Appalachia. Miley said something about how hard it was for those children to live like that. The very next day I was driving my son to preschool and I heard Miley's name mentioned on the radio. The dj's were talking about how she was about to turn 16 and already had her car picked out...a $126,000 Porsche 911.
If she's considered a "role model" for young girls, I find that to be very sad. She's very shallow and materialistic, which I'm sure is true of many other celebrities, but I don't think preteen girls should look up to someone like that.
My main issue with Miley is that she's dating a 20 year old. I can't remember his name, but Joel McHale likes to talk about it on the Soup show all the time.
Since my daughter was a preschooler when Hannah Montana became popular, we have been able to avoid Miley and Hannah. She's 7 now, but I started to see what Pamela did with Miley growing up and decided not to encourage Hannah and Miley to my daughter. So, while we don't forbid or discourage, I try to encourage other interests, such as American Girl dolls and books. So far, Laurel really doesn't have an interest in Miley.
"Can anyone think of a child star who made the transition easily? [From dineer526]. Sure. Justine Bateman (Family Ties) is a great standard bearer. For the young kids (now a little older), how about the Mowry Twins, Tia and Tamera. They are still doing Disney Channel movies (and some Lifetime series now); and an on-going model is Raven Simone (Cosby and That's So Raven). Sadly, that young girl/lady is falling behind in popularity as she is a clear antithesis to young Miley (and the others). Raven does no videos nor singing acts with provocative lyrics, provocative dress, nor does she appear in the night clubs drinking, smoking and the like. Practically in her 20's now, Raven also is losing in the 'youngster's popularity "game" ' as she does not have nor [attempt to] display the image or Madison Ave and Hollywood - sleek and slender, made-up eyes and so forth. No bulimia, no drugs, no men 10-15-18 years her senior groping her... Dare I challenge you to show your kids a real, visible child-actor success -- as North Carolinians -- Opie Taylor -- Ron Howard. (Sign me: Dad/GrandDad trying to do right)
Nice post, Ms. dineer526. Unfortunately, the "images" our kids/grandkids see are so different that it is hard for them to relate. Since Liz Tayor et. al.? Elinor Donohue (in "Father Knows...." and "Andy Griffith"). Some of the "Brady Bunch" kids have stayed out of jail and rehab.... All of the "Cosby" kids except one went to college, and two of those are still acting. Yet how can our kids relate to even those from the past 15 years or so?? "Raven" is a great model for some [kids]; nerdy to others. Leann Rymes is great, yet hard for kid to see she was "on top" and did not ever display a (excuse me) sluttish manner. The model (for our generation at least) -- Ronny Howard and the "Facts of Life" girls.... ~ Dadtryingtodoitright~
I think it is very hard to grow up now, whether you're a child star or not. But for those in the spotlight-- because of technology, they are in the public's eye so much more than they were in the past. Every kid has a cell phone with a camera and can capture a person's indiscretion. Then, it's easy to put it on YouTube and have the whole world see it.
In addition, these young performers have to be professional in their jobs. I fuss after my kids to sweep the kitchen floor on a regular basis-- I can't imagine the responsibility these kids have--staff that depends on them, concert halls that make money off of them, fans that demand from them. It's no wonder they struggle. I just don't want my own child to be tangled up in that struggle.