Tweens and Make up?

[foreveramadre]

So my 11 year old sixth grader wants to start wearing make up. Apparently she feels she is the "only one"  who doesn't wear make up.  I know that's not true but after attending a birthday party this weekend she thinks it is.

I told her yesterday she could wear tan eyeshadow and lip gloss. Then this morning I found her in my make up bag and she was putting on the works.  I guess she thought I wouldn't notice. LOL!   She wants to wear eyeliner, mascara, base, powder and lipstick.  Letting her wear make up at all seems ridiculous to me but I figured I would give in a little with the lip gloss and tan eyeshadow.  It's barely noticeable and after breakfast the lip gloss would be gone anyways!

There are tons of girls at her school that have their hair highlighted, nails done, wear make up and dress like there 21!  I don't know why their mothers allow this.  I don't know if they just can't say no, they really think it's just the way it is these days, or sadly maybe their living through their child. What ever it is I wish they would allow their little girls to be little girls. 

I know TV doesn't make our job easy, but isn't it still our job to tell our little girls "NO"?  For thier own good.  I really don't understand why we rush them into being little mini women.  It seems like everywhere you turn from TV, magazines, and clothing shops little girls aren't suppose to be little girls anymore.  Instead thier suppose to be boy crazy divas! 

This is why the make up thing makes me crazy. Sure it may seem innocent now but if I let her do this now because "her friends get too"  where does it end?  Next it will be clothes, dating, parties, ect... I want her to have better reasons for doing things then "my friends are doing it".

[kellbell09]

Dec. 8, 2009 at 1:07 PM

I would have done the same thing. Lip gloss and eyeshadow should have made her happy. There is a bigger problem. Your daughter is under massive peer pressure. You have to talk to her about confidence and being her own person. This isn't just about makeup. If it was than she would have been happy with lip gloss. I would still let her wear lip gloss and eye shadow but you need to talk to her about being an individual and making choices for herself.

[sati769leigh]

Dec. 8, 2009 at 1:18 PM

i wanted to be like all the "other" girls too. but honestly you are doing the right thing to not allow her to grow up before her time. there wil be plenty of time later for that stuff. i agree with the PP too about talking to her about peer pressure and baout being her own person

[foreveramadre]

Dec. 8, 2009 at 2:02 PM

I agree with what you both said and that's what i'm trying to do.  I just hate fighting the age old battle of "but so and so's parents let them....."

(Original Poster)