Oh my goodness. Friends, there is SO much every day.
Tween girls.
Read this from one of my favorites, Caitlin Murray’s Soul Snacks, Little Girls Are Not Adults. Her Ig is @bigtimeadulting.
She’s dryly hilarious and spot on. I did this age of parenting a long time ago, but it seems like yesterday. If you’re in the mommy (or daddy) demographic you’ll relate big time.
When one of my daughters was in middle school, there was a fashion trend of low, low hip hugger pants with thong straps sticking out of the top. There were also super short bell-shaped mini skirts, tight tank tops, and tube tops. When I remarked to another mom (apparently much cooler than me) that this seemed like inappropriate school wear, she looked at me like I had just hatched as a parent…and said gravely, “there’s nothing else to buy for young girls”. Weird since she knew I had the two girls, and I obviously bought them clothes. I get that public schools support kids’ clothing choices, and should not ever make an issue of girls’ being in any way responsible for boys’ attentiveness. But still. Clothing is a manner of self expression. What are we allowing/encouraging young girls to express?
I raised six kids – two of them are girls, and we survived ages 9 though 18. Some of my granddaughters are approaching tween age, and I really sympathize with the moms and dads. I have clients who’s kids are there. I know how it feels to be a loving, sort of style-conscious, moderately cool, but not cool enough mom. I know I messed up sometimes, sometimes too strict, sometimes clueless, but even being time-crunched and distracted here and there, I knew to try to make sure kids were allowed to be kids, and not little adults. There’s more than enough time to be an adult, and some of it kinda sucks.
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Do not get me started on Megyn Kelley’s disgusting remarks about the distinction between Epstein’s/Trumps’s young girls’ ages, and whether they were 8 or 15. They were all children. You can look for all of the commentary on that. Here’s a literal child taking the time to make a video to explain it.
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Caitlin and I segue to this:
Just in time for Christmas.
The Controversy Over New Skincare Brand Rini Marketing Products To Children, Explained
Skincare products for little girls as young as 3?
The children’s’ skincare line, Rini’s launch sparked critical reactions on Instagram. “I struggle to find the right words to articulate how disappointing and dystopian this is”, from Sarah Adams, founder of Kids Are Not Content, an organization advocating for children’s safety and privacy online. Bella Davis, body positivity content creator, emphasized the harmful impact of the “societal emphasis on “perfect skin” to “diet culture”.
Ultimately it’s all about money, and pushing kids into consumerism. Kids are flocking to Sephora with their mothers, who usually are at least mildly supporting the purchases of skincare crazes like the trend for Drunk Elephant skincare. As if they are not already barraged with advertising for products they’re convinced they need to have, like Stanley cups and Labubus?
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Time-crunched you.
I don’t have kids at home and even I’m getting sick of these exhortations: You should workout x number of times a week, do strength and cardio. Mobility and flexibility. Lift heavy. Get 10,000 steps, walk 30 minutes a day, 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep (ha), a half-gallon of water, creatine, protein…
The question isn’t, “What’s the right way to get strong and fit?” (There is no right or wrong way.)
The question is, “What’s going to keep you feeling good, staying strong, moving consistently?” Is there a place maybe for a yoga mat in your home? Is there a set of steps? Do you have a pair or two of kettlebells or dumbbells, some bands?
If you have a partner who’s supportive, are you willing to say clearly what you need?
If you have kids you are postpartum for a lifetime – and there is a period of time (like YEARS) that it seems like it will never end.
You’re allowed to ask for what you need to make yourself and your health a priority. Being a healthy mom isn’t selfish, it’s ESSENTIAL
To the men reading this: she needs a fully committed partner.
To you: Embrace the freedom to choose what will work for you in your life now. No shoulds.
x
Polli
I genuinely want to know what you think of this (or any week’s) Get Up Keep Moving newsletter. I think about so many things all week, and I can’t wait to share them with you each Monday!
