Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy
@scarymommy
Latest posts by Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy (see all)
- The Disney Reveal - May 14, 2013
- Met My Match At Disney… - May 13, 2013
- Sunday’s Baltimore Sun - May 11, 2013
Whenever a toy catalog enters our house, Lily snags it to pine over in her bedroom. She keeps her little stash of preschool porn on her nightstand, with the corner of her favorite pages turned down for easy reference. Everyday or so, I get an update of what she wants for Hanukkah or her birthday. Usually, the list is pretty consistent: An American Girl doll, some doll furniture or clothing, a movie or two, a new bike… check, check, check, check. Although I am slightly appalled at the cost of the American Girl, I can rationalize it as an heirloom that will bring countless hours of joy to her and possibly, her little girl. Plus, they’re just so pretty, and I want to play with them. I get all warm and fuzzy thinking about it.
Want to know what toy doesn’t give me the warm and fuzzies? Bratz dolls, and they now top Lily’s list. American Girl’s are pretty, you know, but just not fancy. And, let me tell you, my girl is all about fancy these days. Her favorite sweaters are studded with rhinestones, her sneakers are lined with a hot pink glittery mess and her toes need to be adorned with some sort of jewel or girly art to be acceptable. She literally sleeps in one white satin glove, à la Michael Jackson, because she’s passed out in the midst of all her fancy play.
Lily, I pleaded last week, pointing out Molly’s red party dress, look how fancy she is. Her dress is real velvet and her shoes are super shiny and her hair is so long and soft. We can get her a necklace and a little purse? American Girl Dolls are really special, I continue, and Bratz dolls are… um, not so much… Alright, she sighed. I’ll take her. [Crises averted] We resumed flipping through the AG catalog and Lily was once again filled with excitement and anticipation. Having just convinced my daughter to take the hundred dollar doll over the ten dollar one during a recession, I was filled with relief. We’d happily watch Mary Poppins and play with our timeless dolls and keep that crap out of the house for a few more years. Small price to pay for a classy kid.
Last night, Lily asked for a Hannah Montana video. I’m beginning to think I’m fighting a losing battle.
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Throw in the towel, baby. Throw in the towel.
To funny……..”white trash preschooler” :)
I hate, hate, HATE Bratz. Lucky for me, my 7 yr old is totally not into that crap. She likes iCarly, not Hannah Montana. And she’s not into Barbie…I’m a very happy camper.
my beans never really played with toys-it’s weird I know, oldest bean went from toddler cute toys to wanting clothes,clothes and more clothes..
The AG dolls are so pretty!
Bratz dolls are the shiksas that you screw around with before you settle down with a nice American Girl doll.
My little girl loves Bratz, Hannah Montana (although that is being phased out in favour of Wizards of Waverley place YAY!) but she is gradually getting the whole Bratz out of her system (PHEW!)
Agreed. Delaney loves them as well. I think they look like Barbie went to the Bunny Ranch and came out looking like a crack addict hooker.
Marinka-HAHAHAHA!!! How I HATE those Bratz! Thank goodness Peanut’s not into them. Hopefully, it will run in the family-my 11 YO niece thinks they’re ugly…
Preschool porn…How funny?
I understand…
I don’t know what to do about it but I understand!
When my little grand daughter asks for her preschool porn doll..
Gigi is buying it! :(
Pre-school porn! HA! Love it!
100% agree! My daughter started eye balling those bratz dolls a few weeks ago and i swiftly turned her around and changed the subject. They are wearing thigh high boots with their boobies hanging out!!! FOR KIDS!!! crazy, way to go mom for getting one more year of innocence :)
So funny! My husband is already lamenting the “horrible, girly” trends that our daughter will fall into. I tell him that the first time he finds himself partaking in a Disney Princess tea party with his little girl, and wearing a tiara because that’s what she wants him to do, he will be so happy to have a daughter that he’ll be able to forgive her inevitable love-in with whatever boy band is popular in 13 years.
Please – NOOOOOOOOO. Can we declare your house a Miley-free zone?
I convinced my son to get American Girl Molly instead of the diabolical spawn thing – MY SON! all boy son! I got my way and he did have fun taking Molly to girl’s houses to play but Molly had more than a fair share of testosterone. We still have Molly and Addy and they are like little kids we keep in a box,loved, never forgotten really but -you know- not getting any playtime. The Bratz sluts are incredibly over the top- That isle in the toy store makes me laugh a lot until I see a little girl all starry eyed over one, then I get pissed. Bratz BABIES! OMG! Baby sluts!BBAAABIES!!!That is when I accidently knock over the entire display and run for the door.
Those Bratz dolls are so ridiculous. With their Angelina Jolie-esque lips. WTF?
On one hand, I would *love* to have a little girl to buy dolls & dresses for, but on the other hand, I don't have to worry about Hannah Montana and the Bratz. PHEW.
IMHO, I would keep fighting the battle. She would thank you for it later. The harder we work to keep our girls simple, the better. I'm all about a classy lady and throw up in my mouth a little when I see a little 5-6 year old girl wearing short skirts and crop tops. WTH is wrong with their parents? You put your dadgum foot down!! YOU are the parents, people! The child does not dictate!! GAH.
I commend you on the choice of spending a fortune on a doll during our economic crisis, rather than folding on doll that should not be the hands of children. They totally send the wrong message to our little girls. I hate that.
I need to get off my box.
Go MOLLY!!
By the way, in the same sense, I try to keep violent movies/games, etc., out of my house. I didn't get good fighting chance when it came to toy guns, though. Sigh. My son's *other* GPs are avid hunters and think that it is okay to give their 3 year old grandson a BB gun. I adamantly put my foot down on that one. Instead, he got an air rifle and numerous toy shot guns and other rifles. Sigh.
Ah, the life of a single mother.
If she’s asking for a Hannah Montana video, that’s definitely a sign of losing the battle.
Good luck with that one!
Yes, Bratz are obnoxious. And, for the record, I don’t think you’ll ever win the battle if Lily can watch Bratz on TV. Those Bratz dolls look like tween prostitutes. They are the reason young girls think they can dress like that and it should be acceptable. Oh, I better not get started or I will never stop.
BTW, same thing for HM. If you want her to quit craving that stuff, you gotta get the tv show out of your house. Just my opinion.
would it help to tell her that her cousin sara likes molly and the american girls much more than those bratz?? she had a very brief interest in bratz but luckily it passed quickly and inexpensively and she settled on the beautiful, but expensive, AG dolls…but then again, she never fell asleep in white gloves…you may be in deep trouble.
I had one of those dolls when I was a kid, and n=my daughter does play with it today!
That first picture…you know there are young girls that actually dress like that. why?
it is scary though, you know? When I had my Chrissy doll she never dressed like a slut. Why do they all dress like sluts now? What’s up with that?
I remember I used to have a crush on Leif Garrett, but I didn’t go insane crazy over him like kids do nowadays with Hannah. What does Hannah have that every girl wants? I’m so clueless.
Was I the only one that was in love with Leif Garrett? LOL
My girls like Bratz… much to my dismay. Little Miss was even a Bratz cheerleader for Halloween.
We’ve been getting the AG catalog for years but until this last time, neither one of my girls showed any interest. Now Little Miss is all over the Samantha doll!
I am not looking forward to this battle. I am hoping that by the time Claire is old enough to want dolls, Bratz will be history. One can hope, right?
You know, I have no problem telling my kids exactly why I won’t allow Bratz dolls, but I will allow Barbie.
Barbie has a job. In fact, she has several careers, countless movies spouting good friendship values, and is an American icon.
Bratz dolls talk about having a boyfriend, shopping at the mall, and wearing hooker clothing while they wait for someone to take care of them. Oh, and I actually told my 6 and 3 year olds that I didn’t like them because they encourage using sex as a means to gain objects. Which then led, of course, to a quick description of what sex is… Not my brightest moment, but, well. Par for the course…
Yeah, the Bratz are one thing. They’re slutty little teenagers, which is not too far off the mark by today’s fashion standards. But the Bratz Babyz are sick. Slutty little toddlers? Babies as sex objects? I draw the line at that. Totally inappropriate. Thank God we’re outgrowing the Bratz phase.
I laughed when you referred to Lily’s stash of preschool porn. :)
I draw the line at Bratz. We'll do Barbie & Hannah Montana, but those Bratz ho's are not coming to play at my house!
We don’t have the doll issue in this house with two boys. Legos seem to take over though…and those Lego kits ADD up.
Funniest. Title. Ever.
And Marinka totally cracked me up.
I refuse, refuse, refuse to buy my daughter Bratz dolls. Stand your ground mama. Just say no to hoochie mama dolls.
Yep, throw in the towel, it’s so hard to get them away from toys we hate but the more we pull back, the more they want it! I hate that!
Ugh. Bratz are a big “No way, not gonna happen. Ever.” in our house. Luckily I’ve got boys that doesn’t seem to interested in dolls.
Stand Firm! Bratz and the My Scene Barbies are not allowed in our house. We do not buy their videos or clothes either. Unfortunately, I have seen enough Hannah Montana to rot my brain. If I could do it over, I would have blocked Disney Channel 7yrs ago instead of just last summer.
I lost this battle, but I haven't thrown in the towel yet. I'm going to AG way with my 2 preschoolers. However, I'd bet money that my girls will receive Barbie and Princess cack from their aunts & uncles.
My girls just came home from their Dads after heading to New York City’s American Girl Store for the holiday weekend. And while the bratz are WAY more trashier, my 6 year old had purchased thigh high tights for her look alike American Girl doll… only she had them on her arms and hands like long gloves. I’m not telling her a thing. Oh…and Hannah who’s like 16 is dating someone 20 or more. I can’t take it.
keep up the good fight – I don’t allow brats or hannah montana or high school musical stuff in my house at all!
Thank God I have three boys! I couldn’t handle the girly crap and I will survive with the guns and boy stuff!!!!
Preschool porn?! LOL. I have a couple little ladies myself. I know what you mean.
Keep fighting! Those dolls are awful. I call them Ghetto Barbies. Put your foot down, hard. I think she’ll thank you later.
Tell her they are demonic and Satan lovers make them. I told my kids that for everything I never wanted them to have. My Mother of the Year sash will be in the mail.
Bratz and Hannah Montana? Poor woman! You have my sympathies.
Oh my gosh! We just had this talk…
I’m so dreading the moment my daughter finds the Bratz dolls entertaining. I am hoping they will fall like the stock market just so I don’t have to deal with those half dressed things.
However I think you are correct it is indeed a losing battle. Good luck with yours!
I tried to sell my daughters Bratz dolls at my garage sale. Not one buyer. Not one.
You know what? I never thought about that before but they do look rather skanky, don’t they?
they are kind of freaky if you ask me…glad we missed that phase.
Ugh. I hate those Bratz dolls. At least Hannah Montana is just silly and she covers herself up – she doesn’t dress as bad as the Bratz!
I set the rules a long time ago and Bratz dolls will never enter this house. They never have and never will. BTW, my dd is going to be 10 in a few weeks.
I agree with the preschool porn!