SWEET SIXTEEN PRACTICE – CAN’T WAIT – HEAR THAT MTV!

Episode 603 – “Meet Alex, a soon-to-be 16-year-old and an heir to a fortune out of Boston, Massachusetts. She doesn’t take life too seriously, except for when it comes to throwing down the best summer party in Boston.”

 
Episode 509 – “To be a true California girl, you need blonde hair, blue eyes and a great tan — and Savannah’s got it all. But good looks aren’t the only weapon she has in her arsenal; she’s also got lots of dough. This is Savannah.”

Episode 412 –“This Latino/Jewish prepster,” named Rachael, “is an only child who’s used to getting everything she wants. And what she wants right now is a party worthy of My Super Sweet 16. Her theme is a Winter Wonderland, because she loves the snow.”

Tune into the latest episodes of MTV’s Super Sweet Sixteen and you’ll get a taste of what money and the media can do for – or against – the image of a young woman. I must admit that my daughter and I find ourselves DVR-ing the newest episodes. Its entertainment and we enjoy it. Some parents may bar its household viewing. I allow it.

MTV Super Sweet Sixteen shows are not always on young women. They’ve managed to throw in a couple of young men turning sixteen, eighteen, or twenty-one. Male shows may be worthy of a mention, but they fail in comparison of quantity with women. Further, the ones I’ve examined portray the male differently.

Male Episode Quotes:

Episode 706 – “Bow Wow, hip-hop phenomenon who hit the charts at the young age of thirteen, is a hard worker, but he makes sure he has time to still kick it and be a kid.”

Episode 609 – “Etienne Maurice is seen by all his friends as the popular kid, and there’s a reason why: he loves to have fun.”

That’s what’s selling in today’s market. Women CAN throw bash-of-the-century parties. However, most are portrayed as spoiled and getting anything they want. Males manage to be glorified or responsibly presented.

Hey! Got boobs, and money? You’re in, but you need to act like a spoiled brat. First, you have to open up that wallet so we can take a look – just to see if you qualify. After all, this show is about glitz and glamour. Interesting!

I find myself not being able to do enough when throwing a birthday party for my daughter and it’s because of the way I was raised, not necessarily what’s in my wallet. Gathering family in the backyard for a celebration is a no-no in my household and family. Heck, doing so acts like any other ordinary weekend – nothing special about it. I’m not the type of person to throw pizza party or wing-ding birthdays. I wasn’t brought up that way, not part of my south Florida lifestyle. Growing up, everything was over-the-top and I got to pick the topping. Oh yea, my parents didn’t watch MTV. Parties were influenced culturally, not necessarily media-related. My father doesn’t watch television and didn’t have one growing up in Communist Cuba – try that for a lifestyle. That’s why I can reaffirm its totally cultural in my case. Gatherings were common and private, but parties were essentially deserving of being different and wonderfully explosive. I’m an only child – benefiting from one party of the year – every year. I must add that party planning was highly competitive in my family and community.

My daughter recently turned eleven-years-old last June and her party had all of the toppings just like me. She’s an only child too and each year I look to outdo the previous year. This time, my husband and I rented out the Fuze Box for a private party, hired a DJ, and gave her all of the extras, from 2,000 Mardi-Gras beads to sushi platters. If she wanted it, she got it. Over 150 kids, family, and friends showed up to celebrate and were scattered over two floors of fun. Did MTV influence me? You’ll probably say it did – and I’ll tell you that you’re right. Ever since MTV, I felt the need to step up the game compared to my parties when I was younger, but that’s because the next generation has different needs and styles compared to when I was a kid. I embrace the individuality of it.

BAD PARENTS! WASTE! OMG, YOU’RE HAVING A PARTY IN A NIGHT CLUB? I’M NOT ALLOWING MY KID TO GO THERE. WHO’S GOING TO WATCH FOR DRUGS? We’ve heard it all.

Look at these kids. Do they look as if they’re running home to watch Barney or Looney Tunes? No.
Times are changing before our eyes and MTV is part of it. This party is exactly what the kids wanted – and some may say what they needed – an outlet when not many resources are available for kids to have fun like this. If I was back in south Florida, this party wouldn’t even qualify as a party. It would be merely a hiccup of an event. However, for Albany standards, it’s one hell of a deal.

I felt as if I shouldn’t do this event because the significant negativity from parents who tried to steer us from hosting it. DRUGS, THE RUMBLES, WHO WILL CHECK FOR WEAPONS, THEY’LL HAVE SEX IN THE BATHROOMS, ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE THEM LIQUOR? I swear, you can’t make this stuff up. Even the school teachers were shocked and advised against it. Nothing is more motivational when I feel all odds are against me, especially when I feel as if I am right. Eventually, even the parents who offered great criticism changed tune about it. Only five of Janelly’s friends didn’t make the party because of parental ignorance. So my husband and I had 2.5% extra sushi, food, and cake. Big deal! We ate it.

On the other hand, Janelly deserved this party and that’s why we did it. Not sex, drugs, rock and roll, or MTV. This girl deserved it. Last year, we stripped her from all of her friends with a move to Albany from Florida. This was her first year in Albany schools and we worried about her transition. She was skipped a grade by the school district upon arrival and went from the fourth grade directly into the sixth grade. She’s the youngest sixth grader ever in the modern history of the school district. In the end, she finished the year with perfect attendance, again. That’s six years in a row, all of her elementary years. She graduated the sixth grade with the highest grade average of her school. She received too many awards from elected officials from all over the state. She played her first year in Little League and actually made the all-star team and started at 2nd base. Again, well-rounded, respectful, committed, and she deserved it.

Maybe eleven is not a historic coming-of-age year for any birthday, but I’m a modern mom willing to push the envelope and not conform to traditional scripture, values, or any generated code out there. It’s how I’m raising my daughter. It’s her job to earn these types of parties, and when she does, she’s rewarded. It’s my job to provide it, plan for it, and help demonstrate to her how to execute it – and have her involvement through it all. I’m teaching the business woman of the next generation. I’m giving her the independence to explore and plan her future by allowing her to reap the benefits when earned.

GREAT PARENTS, HORRIBLE PARENTS, SPOILED KID, GREAT KID, DAMMED MTV…WHO CARES!

So I need to get back to watching MTV in preparation for her party next year anticipating more complaints and controversy. Janelly wants a FOAM-BATHING SUIT-BASH kind of like the images below.

According to my all-liberal husband, he says, “BRING IT ON.” He totally supports his daughter and is already laying the groundwork to rent a large canopy and inflatable bounce-house boarder; the foam machine will be elevated to the top of the canopy, strobe lights installed, and thumping “Blade-Style” music. Bring your own bathing suit. We’re already recruiting adult supervision from the parents of the kids attending – parents must get in the foam too– just to make sure things stay fun and not get out-of-hand. Check back with me in about 9 months and you might just get an invitation, or feel free to join the others complaining about some good old fun.

Thanks MTV, but you guys really need to lay off the sexism, as the creativity of each show is inspiring enough. And you might just come knocking on my door before my daughter turns sixteen because she’ll have lots of experience at party planning. If you’re going to ask to film her party, you’ll need to exempt my wallet. We don’t host her annual birthday bash due to wealth or fame – not wealthy, not famous. Each year is a celebration of growth and accomplishments – all missing in each of your episodes. Without merit, Janelly’s 16 would simply become just another show. That’s not good enough for me – no matter how much money I don’t have.

http://www.mtv.com/shows/sweet_16/series.jhtml

Advertisement