Grupsters

Bear with me here. I was half listening to the Today Show today and heard this word. So I stopped for a moment and listened. I was appalled. Which led me to google the word. I came up with a few websites of interest-
http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/style/03/15/15hipparents.html
http://nymag.com/news/features/16529/
And also the clip is on the Today Show's web page found here-
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/

I could not believe the reaction something like this got. They are making a mountain out of a mole hill here. Grupsters refers to a group of parents who "refuse to grow up". The listen to Rock music and dress their kids in clothes from The Gap and Children's Place. They dance to Disco with their children instead of Barney. These parents have been called selfish and accused of wanting to be their children's friends instead of parents.

What IS the difference if they listen to disco instead of Barney! Is their some hidden hand book that says you are supposed to forget and never bring up all music that you listened to before you had a child. Are we supposed to assume completely different identities after the babies first breathe? These parents just want their kids to know who they are, where they come from. Its part of the child's heritage.

And seriously...... God forbid parents make there children wear nice clothes. Our culture has become fashion obsessed, yes I'll give you that. However, wanting your kids to have clothes that look like your own is not selfish. All parents choose what their babies and children wear. Some choose to put their babies in little puffy balls of pink and wear sports pictures on their clothes. So are they being selfish as well by assuming the kids want to look like cotton candy and little sports freaks?

I think these parents love their children. They are just showing it to them a little differently. They are having fun and interacting with their children. Isn't that what it is all about? Isn't that what all the studies say? Spend more time with your children. They are! And you want to criticizes them for they way they do it now! Oy!