Dear Shopping Savage,
My 13-year-old daughter has been pestering me to let her wear makeup to school. In the past I have let her wear a little eyeshadow and lip gloss if it were a special occasion, but never full-on makeup like she's talking. What should I do? I know this isn't exactly "sartorial" but I'm definitely interested in whatever advice you can give me!
Signed,
Makeup Meltdown Mommy
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Dear M.M.M.,
Your question may not be sartorial, but it most certainly warrants a response. Over the years there has been a drastic change in the way young adults dress and act. So many seem so eager to grow up that they miss out on having a childhood.
When I was growing up, kids knew what it meant to be a kid. Countless hours were spent reading for fun, homework was done with paper and pencil, and after a nice hot bath, you went to bed exhausted from playing outside with friends. Play dates meant more than getting together to watch a DVD, video games were not considered exercise, and for long trips the car was filled with home-prepared food, books and family games not fast food wrappers, wi-fi and headphones.
The generation divide has never been so wide, but just because you can't fight nature, doesn't mean you have to nurture her request. Tell her if she wants to wear makeup she needs to earn the privilege. Use improvement in grades or helping out more around the house as the trade-off. And I wouldn't allow her to wear more than two products at a time.
Sooner than later though M.M.M., you're going to have to accept the fact that your "little girl" isn't going to be "little" much longer. Teenagers grow up a lot faster these days, so just take the time to talk to her and be as active as you can be in her life. See to it that she continues on the road to becoming a mature young woman who knows that she can open up to her mom, even if it is via text. You really know you've earned her trust when she accepts your friend request on Facebook.
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