Heard on the news this a.m. that some parents are allowing their kids, young kids, school age kids, 9, 10 years old, to have plastic surgery to combat bullying. I don’t know if I agree with this. First off, in my humble opinion, parents ought to be parents and teach their little darlings about understanding, compassion, difference, acceptance and manners. Just pisses me off that so many ill-mannered and mean little heathens are running around. And let’s face it, most of it’s cuz their parents don’t want to deal with them. Or, in some rare instances, the parents might be afraid of their little monster. I’ve heard of it happening. Anyhoo, moving on….secondly, again, in my humble opinion, I think it gives the kids a warped sense of who they are or that difference is something to be ashamed of. Yes, there are extremes, and depending on the degree of severity, those types of things should be addressed to maintain self image and worth. Like a cleft lip or huge ass birth mark on your face, okay, those are understandable. But, like ears sticking out? Eyes too big? Boobs too small? I dunno, I just think all that kind of stuff is kinda minor and can be overlooked. It’s just the some of society won’t let us. I guess it depends too on who you’re dealing with. Some people are just mean. Plain and simple. I had someone tell me that yes, I was right, but also if the parents had the money, to just them live. I just have an issue surgically changing something because someone else has a problem with it. And how many times do we only have a problem wih something because someone else does? Sigh, again, just my opinion. And my friend was entitled to his.
My brilliant daughter also brought up the point that eveybody goes thru some kind of bullying. It does kind of teach social skills, in a way. It can teach us to look the other way, to stand up for ourselves. Sometimes that’s easier said than done. I know. I was mercilessly teased about my big eyes and last name when I was a kid, but I didn’t turn into some homicidal maniac and I didn’t bully others. I married out of my last name and later in life, I got tons of compliments on my big eyes. But my mother always taught me to never stare or be mean to anyone who appears to be different, that I don’t know what that person’s situation is and to just be kind. That’s my whole point, I guess. How many parents raise their kids with that stuff these days? Oh, and the media and the crap that bombards these kids on a daily basis probably doesn’t help either. The emphasis on being pretty or perfect….it really is everywhere.
Bottom line is I guess what’s most important is the kids and getting them raised as functional and happy adults. And if that means changing something, okay, it’s your kid, your dime. Just make sure they’re okay with it, I guess.
Tough subject. Lots of “if’s”, “and’s” , “or’s”, “but’s”…but I stand firm on not agreeing with plastic surgery for children. If they’re too young, too much potential for physical and psychological damage me thinks. I just don’t like it.
Bullying is a completely different and serious subject. And this post is addressing my opinion on the plastic surgery, and the seeming lack of parental influence, not the torment that bullying causes. I don’t like bullying or people who are the bullies.
Not right or wrong, not meant to anger or offend anyone.
Just my two cents. : )
