Pop Stars Are Not Role Models for Your Child. You Are.

Bless that Rihanna.

Not since Madonna and Ga Ga has someone caused such consternation regards what she wears or, more to the point, doesn't wear. 

Last week, at Paris Fashion Week, she was photographed wearing a mesh top and no bra. Yes, everyone, her Lady Lumps were front and centre.

Now, what Rihanna thinks of bras I don't know. I'm not a massive fan of the buggers myself, and there is no greater feeling than removing one after a long day (especially the scaffold ones I have to wear these days). However, the fact that she has a rather admirably fine pair of them, well, good luck to her. She's a grown woman, she is clearly confident enough to pull it off without a hint of embarrassment, and frankly, boobs are such that you may as well make the most of their flashability before they droop. There is only a short window of opportunity. 

The media had a field day though, and, as per usual, the same "how dare she! She's a role model for Britain's youth!" was voiced loud and clear. 

Well, the thing is, I don't agree. 

When Harry from that crap band my daughter likes goes out merrily shagging anything with a pulse and a Lady Garden, there is mild tuts but he's treated like a legend. Rihanna celebrates her lovely figure and pert bosoms and she gets widespread condemnation. 

The thing which annoys me is not just the blatant sexism, but the fact that there is a suggestion that, down to Rihanna, a load of young impressionable girls will be no doubt going to their local shopping centres with their own burgeoning breasts on show. 

How, though, is that Rihanna's fault?

There seems to be a suggestion, linked to the media, that Pop Stars and TV folk are suddenly responsible  for what our children do. It's their fault if your child goes out inappropriately dressed. Or if they have daft tattoos too young. 

Yet it's not their fault. It's your fault.

Celebs are not there to parent or guide our children. They are not there to show them what is right and wrong. 

I'm finding, as Mini gets older and starts to get to the Tween age (she's 7 in April), that she likes a wide range of celebs and their music or TV shows. She loves Perrie from Little Mix, and as she is blonde too (although I'm not sure Perrie is as naturally blonde as my daughter), Mini wanted to dye the ends of her hair just like her favorite pop star had last year.

This is as close to dressing like Little Mix as my daughter gets

If I had of let her do that, whose fault would that have been? The whole putting chemicals in her hair thing? It would have been my fault as her Mum. 

She also likes Rihanna and Katy Perry, and although both dress the way they do which is, if not age appropriate certainly makes the most of their figures, there is no way on earth I would allow Mini to wear anything like what they wear. Especially not the vest with on show boobage thing.

It's not the job of these people, who we will probably never meet and who, most times, are guided by a need to be in the newspapers and on gossip sites to tell our kids how to behave.

It's about time we told the media that too. Stop making excuses when parent's fail to have the sense they were born with. 

So, next time you blame a celebrity for your child's behavior or dress sense, take a moment and take responsibility. There is such a word as no after all. 

The Great Train Robbery

This is a post that was brought to me for write up by my far busier middle sis-in-law, and on behalf of my lovely niece Jess.


My niece, Jess is on the cusp of exciting times. She's at the UCAS form stage, ready to mark down where she wishes to spend the next umpteen years of her education, studying to be a Doctor.


Now, studying to be a Doctor in this day and age of fees and living expenses etc is not cheap. However, just getting round the country to even go and view these possible universities is a costly expense in itself.

Mini Moments: I got 99 Problems and a Teen Shouldn't Be One.

The Child Formerly known as Mini is at it again.


I know kids grow up fast these days, but this is ridiculous.


Recently, Mini, she who is usually reasonably behaved (when compared to her brother), has decided in her infinite wisdom that, now she is fast approaching four, she is "bored" with the Toddler years, and can't be arsed with being a tween either.


No, instead, she has skipped to almost teen like behaviour.


She doesn't like to get dressed on weekends, preferring to slink round the house in her hooded dressing gown, with the hood up, and her fringe swept over one eye (it having now grown out). 


She has also decided that, rather than ask for something to snack on, she'll just wander to the fridge, open the door, stand peering inside, whilst sighing presumably at the lack of sweets and cakes (due to the diet), before slamming it and bogging off back to her sofa. 


Yes, its not my sofa anymore, its hers, as she proves by reclining across it, hugged in a blanket, remote in hand (even though she has no idea how to actually change channels with it, thank heavens).


She has also embarked on "Operation Annoy Younger Bro". Which she does by forcibly removing any toy from him, or book. Tickling him. Following him around the house poking him. Which has the secondary outcome of Littlest screaming at the top of his voice, and me getting a migraine at least 3 times a day. 


She knows what she will and wont wear-eg. she wont wear anything I pick out.


Its quite daunting. She even pushed me into the Hairdressers to get her hair cut cos its "minging Mummy", except I had left my bank card in my other purse and had a tenner on me, so couldn't let her have it done. 


She greeted me at Playschool with "Oh I wanted Daddy, you'll have to do. Where's my sausage roll?". Delightful. 


Now, I know they do have to get older, its a fact of life. But seriously? Not this fast. I feel old enough already without my daughter being on a mission to be 4 going on 14. If she's this bad when she's only practising, well, I'm done for.


Mini, please be a baby for as long as possible. Trust me, once you're older, its all down hill. 


Having said that, she does have delightfully babyish moments.


Like today, whilst in Wilkinsons with her Daddy, when, having spotted a display of toilet rolls, she shouted out, top of her voice "Daddy look, loo roll. For Poos". 


Out of the mouths of babes, indeed.