The other day I was enjoying some tv surf time. It doesn’t happen very often so I love my time on the couch watching mindless tv cuddled up next to Dear Husband. I stopped on TLC to see what crazy was happening on Toddlers & Tiaras. Mistake. In the few seconds (literally, it was about 10 seconds) I was watching I saw a mom and her what looked to be 2 year old daughter. The mom wanted to curl the daughter’s pageant wig. Sitting on her couch she put the wig on a teddy bear and proceeded to curl what was an already curly blond wig and sought help from her toddler. She set the hot curling iron on the couch to comb the wig and while she was talking to the camera her daughter grabbed the hot end of the iron. There was crying and cool water was applied and the mom gave hugs, kisses and I’m sorrys. She told the camera that she was surprised that her daughter did that because she has told her before that the curling iron is hot. SHE’S TWO! The curling iron has a gold shiny barrel, it’s sitting on the couch and you don’t expect her to pick it up?!
I got so upset that Dear Husband made me change the channel lest I work myself into a tizzy.
Excuse me a moment while I step up on my soap box.
I don’t know who I should be more upset at. Should I be upset at the parents for subjecting their children to such a ridiculous hobby? These parents have no problem telling us how many thousands of dollars they spend on costumes, wigs, make up artists, etc. not to mention the cost of travel. Are you kidding me? What lesson are they teaching their children? Oh, wait. These parents aren’t really concerned with teaching their kids anything of value. The only lesson I can see these girls coming away is one of vanity. A lesson where it’s all about me. A lesson where whoever spent the most money and whoever is prettiest is always the best. A lesson of egomania. It makes me sad and gives me a queasy stomach.
Should I be upset at the people who put these pageants on? They have clearly created an environment where the only way to win is with spray tan, huge wigs, false teeth, false eyelashes, the list goes on and on.
Should I be upset at the producers of the show? They go into these pageants and film multiple families then take the most dramatic and over the top contestants for our viewing pleasure. Which leads me to…should I be upset at the viewers? It’s the viewers that drive the next season into production. It’s people like me who sit on my couch and watch because it’s a train wreck and I can’t look away.
Should I be upset at TLC? TLC has brought us such gems as John & Kate Plus 8, Kate Plus 8, Sister Wives, 19 Kids and Counting. I’m right there in the mix watching some of this crap so I realize that I am part of the problem. Remember when TLC first started? It was called The Learning Channel. Sounds like the only thing parents are learning now is how to exploit their children for cash and air time. There is good stuff to watch on TLC but they are on my radar right now so they are going to take the beating.
Okay, now that I have that off my chest I’m going to come down off my soap box and take a breather. I’ll be over it soon and move on to more important things like how to incorporate shredded coconut into oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. For some reason I have three bags of shredded coconut.
Something tells me that Toddlers & Tiaras isn’t going anywhere so the best thing to do is mock it. I’ll leave that to Tom Hanks.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPLWKBWkn3s]
rachyyy25
I watch this show on occasion and it makes me laugh. The children aren’t learning the values of life, and especially arent learning the value of money. They are going to grow up not knowing how valuable money actually is and they are going to think they are better than everyone.
Hugs, Kisses and Snot
Talk about raising a “me” generation. All of a sudden Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka popped into my head. That song she sings…I Want It Now…that should be this show’s theme song.
Thanks for reading!
ShaRhonda
Oh my dear, where did you ever find that video? We actually have one aquaintance and a very good friend that participate in pageants here in Oklahoma. One who was a feature family on T & T and went to school w/ my daughter…my daughter “told her “during” the show” how to act- LOL! Our other friend is actually quite graceful and talented and is in pageants only because of her own pushing not her parents. She actually is now an aspiring model and is hoping to make a career out of it. She has been to several of the pageants where T & T showed up and got to see some of the action. I am proud that my friend has a very grounded family and knows where to draw the line. I really do like your statement about the viewers. We are guilty aren’t we. I have them all dvr’d and watch and discuss w/ my 4yr old daughter. Should I? Something to think about.
Hugs, Kisses and Snot
I saw that video on Funny or Die (I think) a while ago and had to dig it up to share it here. Tom Hanks is just too hilarious. I’m glad to hear your friend is a success story and has a family to keep her grounded. I guess watching this show w/ your little girl would be a really good lesson on how NOT to act. Showing them that even those girls are trying to be pretty by acting ugly they start to become not so pretty anymore. It’s a good reminder for parents on how not to act too!
Thanks for reading!
Dawn Rumble Allen
Love that video! I tend to agree with you. Those pageants (local and otherwise) are just money makers. I have a former sister-in-law here in Tulsa who’s mom puts on the pageants and it really is just a racket. I hate seeing people pouring good money into them when there are so many other things out there their kids could be doing.
Like you said, they aren’t going anywhere. There will always be mammas who will spend the money. 😉
Hugs, Kisses and Snot
You are so right about spending money. Think of all the enriching programs that their children could participate in. Or even use the money to donate to local charities.
Thanks for stopping by!
Jen As Herself
I remember when I used to watch ‘A Baby Story’ on TLC and thought that was pretty intense! 🙂
Also, I am 100% in agreement with you on shows like Toddlers & Tiaras. It drives me batty to watch.
Hugs, Kisses and Snot
You’re right – A Baby Story is nothin’ compared to what they have now!
Thanks for reading 🙂