Are you "Anxious Parents"?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2006
Are you "Anxious Parents"?
1765
Wed, 11-15-2006 - 8:24am

Today's MSN News features this article

Sabina

Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 1:09pm
My 10yo gets the occasional pedi/mani. With bright fun colors and flowers on her toes. Not particularly "grownup" if you ask me. It's a rare, special treat.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 1:10pm

I said that in Greece it is not something that kids do, nor where I grew up, but I imagine (I do not know) that professional teams here may have cheerleaders. I don't think it is fitting for little girls to wriggle their bums in short skirts, that's all. I realize that most Americans think it is a perfectly fine thing for little girls to do, so I am the odd one out here obviously.

To me, it is a big deal to put nail polish on a little girl, but again, I realize that most people don't find it to be a big deal.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 1:14pm
Anecdotal at best. For each instance you can show like yours, I can show one like mine. I never feared my parents. Yet I also didn't lie to my parents about my whereabouts. I had almost a 4.0 average, was involved in activities, never got "in trouble", etc.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 1:15pm
Cheerleading is not about wiggling bums in short skirts.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 1:22pm
I can only go by what I see. When I see cheerleaders, I see wriggling and short skirts. In general, I confess to being quite horrified by American mores in this area. So much for the hang-loose Danes, lol, with their supposed easygoing approach to all things sexual. Even the local dance studio where we were had the little kids all dolled up and wriggling their bums as early as 3 years old. It was supposed to be a very "nice" and upscale area, btw.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2004
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 1:30pm

I can understand that if you are from a different culture that you would not see the good and fun in cheerleading.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 1:41pm
It is just one of those things I could never get used to. You are quite right that I do not understand it, and the reason is no doubt one of different cultures. I see those women who cheerlead in Dallas, and so conclude that when 6yos cheerlead it is a baby version of what they do down in Dallas. I am sure it is both difficult and fun, but the point of cheerleading (at a game) is clearly to provide eyecandy for the audience, no?
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 1:41pm

What you've seen is not what cheerleading is about. There is so much more to it. And to do it successfully, it requires a great deal of talent, skill, discipline, strength, etc. When done as a sport, and not as "wiggling bums" it can be on the same plane as gymnastics.

There is, however, a poor stereotype that has been portrayed for decades, that gives cheerleading a bad name.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 1:45pm

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Maybe at the Dallas Cowgirl level. But no, the point, originally, was to "cheer on" the team. To lead the crowd in cheering on the team. To get the crowd pepped up and excited about the game. Which was important because teams play better when they've got a crowd excitedly cheering for them.

It then evolved into much more. And currently there is a huge cheerleading movement where teams (i.e. basketball) aren't even involved.

Saying the purpose of cheerleading is eyecandy is like saying ballerinas are just eyecandy; after all they're in skintight leotards that show every nipple fluctuation.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-15-2006
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 1:47pm
Internet is a big one. Internet predators.

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