Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Parents these days!

When I was a little kid, I'd watch the Miss America pageant in amazement that my mother wasn't on there. She was so much prettier than all the contestants. When she would diet to lose those "five pounds" I was mystified; she was perfect and beautiful the way she was.

Turns out not everyone feels that way. And, as luck would have it, there's a forthcoming kids' book by Dr. Michael Salzhauer "My Beautiful Mommy," which aims to explain to children why their mom is getting plastic surgery. Quote from the book review: "It features a perky mother explaining to her child why she's having cosmetic surgery (a nose job and tummy tuck). Naturally, it has a happy ending: mommy winds up "even more" beautiful than before, and her daughter is thrilled."

Wow. If that's not a... disgusting message to send your children, I'm not entirely sure what is. If an adult wants to have plastic surgery, so be it. But isn't there something to be said for teaching our kids that people are beautiful as they are, as opposed to needing to be fixed, tightened or straightened? (Not to mention the sub-message in this story that mommy is being fixed because her tummy is flabby from giving birth!)

Dr. Michael, what does YOUR mom think of your book?

No comments: