Thursday, July 31, 2008

JoBro Mania!

JoBro Mania is in full swing at our house!

For those of you who don't know (have you had your heads in the sand?) the JoBros is the affectionate name for The Jonas Brothers - THE Boy Band of 2008. They are a group of 3 brothers, Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas, who sing up-beat, young teen pop music.

My daughter, Miss M first heard the Jonas Brothers in 2007, then she was thrilled when she learned they were the opening act for the Hannah Montana tour, which we were lucky enough to get tickets to see.

She quickly decided the youngest Jonas Brother, Nick, was HER crush. She has posters plastered on her walls, and uses allowance money to buy the magazines with articles about him.

Forward to 2008 - we have now seen the Jonas Brothers headline their own tour in March 2008, and again, just last week, in Hershey, PA. Miss M be-bopped along, singing her heart out to every song. Dancing in her seat. Full of smiles, and oh-so-grown-up.

And each and every time Nick sang, was shown on the large screens, or talked, she beamed. He was, after all, talking and singing, just for HER. (forget the other 29,999 screaming fans in the stadium)

After the concert, she danced outside our Explorer in the parking lot (since we were going nowhere for awhile) She chatted with some of the other girls, from as far away as Maryland and New York, singing and dancing to Jonas Brothers songs blaring from their or their parents car stereos.

She declared that night the BEST night of her summer.

Oh, the memories of being young and having a crush on someone famous. Shawn Cassidy was my first crush. I saw him in concert when I was the same age as my daughter, 10.

And I still remember that night, 28 years later.

Til next time, I'll still be

Being Brenda

Cosmetic Enhancements

I have to ask...how do you explain to your children why some people have their bodies cosmetically enhanced?

Now I know some (well, two) of the obvious answers: illness and accidents. Illness was how I explained Ashley Tisdale's new nose in Popstar Magazine photos as compared to her nose in High School Musical I and II to by 10-year old daughter. And Ashley herself helped emphasize that reasoning - nasal/sinus issues caused her to have the nose job - not vanity. By the way, both my daughter and I preferred Ashley's original nose better.

I am more interested in how to explain enhancements when it is someone you know, who is not famous, ill or in an accident - but has been cosmetically enhanced. Case in point, I took my two kids, ages 10 and 6 into their school last week to check on uniform requirements. As we were leaving the school, we saw another mom walking into the school. This mom has a daughter in my daughter's grade. It was quite noticeable to me, and pretty much anyone else who knew her last year, she has had some "work" done over the summer. Now, my daughter and son did not notice at the time, but I did. Which prompted my thoughts.

I am trying to instill in my children they need to love themselves and their bodies. It is not always easy with a 10-year old daughter. This summer, it has become quite obvious to her that most of her friends are developing and, so far, she is not. I have explained to her that all girls develop at different times, and in different proportions, and her time will come. But I wonder how I will explain this once she notices? (And it will be noticed as this mom volunteers regularly at school).

I know the obvious is to tell her that this mom was not happy with her body the way it was and had it changed. And that is probably the truth. I just wonder how many of the girls in my daughter's grade, including my daughter, will still feel comfortable with their slower development, in light of a parent who so obviously was not?

My heart goes out to this other daughter as well. Imagine the questions and comments she will have to field at the young age of 10? And I am sure it will be from both boys and girls.

In the meantime, I will continue to assure my daughter her development will occur - but on God's schedule for her. And remind her to continue being a little girl while she can, growing up happens all too quickly.

On a side note: I have resisted my urge to call my best friend, who also has a daughter in my daughter's grade, to fill her in on this latest scoop. One way I am trying to grow as a person and parent.

FACT OF THE DAY!

As I watched Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, I learned Bull Sharks are implicated in more shark attacks than any other species of shark. This is probably due to the fact that Bull Sharks are able to survive in both salt water and fresh water.

Til next time, I'll still be

Being Brenda