Raising a Hepburn in a Hilton World

I was so proud of my little Miss 11 today. 


We were walking past Supre, when she looked in the window, pointed at a pair of leggings and said, “I would never wear those. They are so tacky!” And you know what….she was right. These were those leggings that you see on teenage girls at the moment with the series of black slits down the sides. I’m not sure what the purpose of the slits are but I know one thing for sure….Miss 11 was right, they are the definition of tacky! And the pride that swelled in my heart when I realised that instead of wanting to look like the girls in those tights, my little girl referred to them as tacky was overwhelming!


I know, I know. I am sounding very superficial but herein lies the problem. I am an Audrey girl. Have been since I saw My Fair Lady when I was 10. And from then on I was in awe. My mum bought me books, I had a Breakfast at Tiffany’s poster on my bedroom wall when everyone else’s was plastered with Hanson or The Backstreet Boys and I even got a VHS box set of Audrey movies and documentaries for Christmas one year. I'm not saying that I was the epitome of class and elegance throughout my teen years. I went through my stages of rebellion like all normal teen drama queens.


However now, as a mother, I live in hope that I will successfully raise a Hepburn in a Hilton world.


I am sounding very judgmental and that is not my purpose at all. But as a teacher, and a parent of a tween (her words, not mine), I can see that this task is getting harder and harder.


The purpose of my blog is not to get all preachy, but indulge me for just a minute.


The music, the artists, the clothing, even the toys. They just all seem to be getting more and more….what’s the word, tarty?! Within the space of a year Miley went from young, innocent country girl to…..I don’t even know what to call her now. And my daughter watched that transformation. She went from wearing her Hannah Montana jeans to not even being allowed to watch Miley Cyrus on Video Hits. (Video Hits? I don’t even know if that's what they call it now!) We went to buy pyjamas in Big W for heaven’s sake and they were hanging next to the size 8 padded bras. Kids size 8!!! So I do steer her away from the black leggings with the slits up the sides and the padded kiddie bras, over towards the cute little collared shirt and jeans ensemble, and I'm not ashamed to say so.


When discussing this with a friend recently, she told me that I was being superficial. That I was teaching Miss 11 that clothes, looks and being cute and pretty are important. And you know what…..if that’s the case, then yep, I am. And proud of it!


Because I don’t think that by telling her that, “Yes, those leggings are tacky,” or “No, that girl shouldn't have her backside hanging out of the bottom of her denim shorts,” I am making her superficial. What I am doing is encouraging her to take pride in how she looks, to dress so that people respect her and to be a Hepburn when the world is trying to make her into a Hilton.

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