Old School vs. New School

A young starlet was recently giving relationship advice to other young ladies during an interview.  She said that girls should initiate the the first date, "Pick them up and don't be shy."  She also said, "Get it together girls, take control."  Okay, so I want to hear opinions from men on this subject.  Although I'm sure that guys will have absolutely no problem with this concept.

I was always told, "Never pursue a man.  If a guy is interested in you, he'll let you know."  So I never have and I didn't suffer from not being 'asked out' or approached by men.  I've never made the first move, never made the first phone call, never paid for a meal, and never 'gone dutch' on a date (in my single days).  It worked out for me.  And I plan to to teach my girls the same thing I was taught.

So tell me, am I just Old School?  Have the times changed that much?  The way I see it, men & women are pretty much the same as they've always been and some things never change.

Let me know what you think.

Sesame Street Speaks

I was reading on Facebook that a petition has been started for Sesame Street room-mates & pals, Ernie & Bert, to get married.  This has become an internet sensation.  There are people who suspect that they may be gay. Really?!  Lair Scott, from Illinois, began the petition.  He stated that "We are living in a culture where LGBT kids are committing suicide at an alarming rate and having iconic characters like Bert & Ernie getting married will show children that there's nothing wrong with being gay."

People expect a TV show to tell children about same sex marriage?  Shouldn't it be up to the parents/guardians to teach their own children about these things? Same sex marriage exists and whether you agree with it or not, you're going to have to deal with it when it comes to educating your children. But I think parents should have that responsibility, not Sesame Street. And I don't think children who watch the show are old enough to comprehend it anyway.  Here's one of many comments: "Sexual relationship content of any kind - heterosexual, homosexual or otherwise - does not belong on a show targeted to preschoolers!"  I tend to agree.

Sesame Street answered the petitioners with this statement on their Facebook page, "Though the muppets have lived together for over 40 years, they simply aren't gay and were created to teach tolerance.  Bert & Ernie are best friends.  They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves.  Even though they are identified as male characters and posses many human characteristics (as most Sesame Street muppets do) they remain muppets and do not have a sexual orientation."  So I guess they won't be getting married.

I say "Kudos" to Sesame Street.

Keeping Them Off The Pole?

I was watching "The View" the other day. During their 'HotTopics' they were discussing a fitness club in the UK that offers Pole Dancing classes to girls as young as 7 yrs old, and they post pictures on Facebook with parental consent. So I read the article. One parent said "It's fun and good exercise and they don't teach anything erotic, it's like gymnastics."   She also said her daughter had her 7th birthday party there and she loves it.

Let's take a look: http://theview.abc.go.com/video/hot-topics-pole-dancing-kids

Here's what I think:  We all know where pole dancing originated... the strip club. And as 'erotic dancing' has become more mainstream, fitness instructers have began teaching housewives how to pole dance to bring out their sexuality and to bring more excitement to the bedroom.  Now all of a sudden pole dancing holds no sexual connotation at all? Really?!!  What I want to know is (from looking at the video) why was one little girl wearing shorts & a sports bra? Where was her t-shirt? And what kind of music were they dancing to?
 
Just because you say something isn't sexual doesn't mean it's not.  Why do strippers use a pole if  it's not erotic? Why do wives pole dance for their husbands if it's not seductive?  Why on earth should a 7 yr. old be swinging around a pole?

There are many other ways to exercise.  There are other ways to build upper-body strength.  Gymnastics? If I want my girls to learn gymnastics... we know of and have visited a gym in our city where they teach gymnastics with gymnastic equipment and employ gymnastics instructors.

As parents of young girls it's our job to teach them about their body image, value & self-worth.  They already have a lot of confusing  messages coming toward them. We sould steer them away from those things that may further confuse them and guard against  those activities that may be too much too soon for a child. Maybe someone can help me see how this as a positive activity. I can't control how others choose to raise their children but I wouldn't advise this.  Some would say, "If you sexualize it, then you have a problem." But we live in the real world people, there's no way you can erase the stigma that comes along with pole dancing.

Comedian, Chris Rock once said his main goal is to keep his daughters 'off the pole'.  He added, if he didn't do this, then he has failed as a father.  Obviously, there are some mothers who disagree.  What say you?