I am having a Germaine Greer moment.
My teenage son has been asked by the mother of his best mate to hand out modelling agency cards to girls he deems worthy, at a big club event tonight. I am not happy about it. I don’t really know why.
What about the girls who don’t get asked? What about the blatant exploitation of young people? What about the fact that my son will start to think he is god’s gift with the added kudos and turn into Hugh Hefner? Would it be better if he was giving cards out to the boys as well?
Of course his father thinks “it’s the best job ever”. So am I reacting to that?
I told my son I thought it was inappropriate and his response?
“You’re just jealous, mum”.
Maybe he’s right.
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 am
Jealous of what? On the face of it, this all seems harmless enough but I’d be a bit concerned, as a parent. Something about the whole thing just feels wrong.
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:23 am
It makes me fizz. Exploitation of everyone concerned. You’re up against the teenager’s hormones / peer group / dad … But keep trying to make your son(s) aware.
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:06 am
My point EXACTLY Dotterel – I can’t quite pinpoint the problem and I don’t want to be a party pooper, but it just FEELS wrong. Lx
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:30 am
Gut feelings should not be ignored.
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:45 am
You are so right DD – gut instincts should NEVER be ignored Lx
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Mmm – I feel a bit uneasy about this one. I think it’s the “who he deems worthy” that bothers me most, but also not happy about the modelling either. I’d have a word with the mother who gave them to him (if I could summon the courage!)
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Feels dodgy to me… i have a 16 year old son and I wouldn’t like it. I’d also worry what other boys there would feel about.. would it cause trouble? but then I worry about all things to do with my teenagers!
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Yes anon – another issue – that other blokes would get pissed off and territorial….Lx
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
NAH, it doesnt sit well with me…slightly innaproppriate..feels a bit ike pimping for a bitch madam!!
or should l belt up!!
FFF xx
go with GUT!!
January 24th, 2009 at 3:07 am
Hmm. Quite a consensus of thinking here! My tuppence’s worth? Definitely not.
January 24th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
No. If he wants to do that as a career when he’s older, there’s not a lot you can do about it, but as a 16 year old, No. (and we all know why so I won’t even bother to explain.) More importantly to me though, is the mother who thinks this is ok. Even if she owns a model agency, she should get her own son to do it and leave everyone else’s out of it.
Afterthought – the girls that fawn all over your son…will he ever know whether it was because of the model thing or because of him?
January 24th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
OOh understand your concerns now !
January 25th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Luckily because the contract hadn’t been signed – he didn’t go. I will explain why I don’t want him to do it the next time – but as usual I am mostly up against his father who thinks it’s the best job ever! V difficult Lx
January 25th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I have fear already of my girls getting into some awful fashion world career and the accompanying massive weight/image issues.. anything that encourages it is dead wrong in my book. Especially as teenage girls would just see it as massively flattering..
BM x
January 25th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Think you are probably right, trust your instincts.
January 26th, 2009 at 1:23 am
wrt to your ex, of course he’s gonna think its the best job ever, most men would. I think he’s just being encouraging because if given the chance he would probably like to do it too! Doesn’t make it right though.
January 26th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Good point Claire L x