BlogHer - Britney Spears - Comments

Milk on top of silicone...

Gloria Pan — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:48:03 -0600

...adds quite a bit of heft. It's not simple engorgement that has given Christina's breasts those odd angles.

hmmm

Denise — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:58:11 -0600

I thought her breasts were larger than before due to the fact that she's nursing a baby. That's the impression I got from seeing her on a clip from Ellen last week.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

Bless you, Nordette!

holly_jahangiri — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 14:56:24 -0600

"These are two people who had the perfect parent, and look what happened!"

I've missed your wit and sense of humor. (Oh, yes - you know me, but I'll let you figure out from where and under what pseudonym. Should be fun...)

Anyway, I had "the talk" with both of my kids (one girl, one boy) when they were about seven. I figured a pre-emptive strike was in order, before they were misinformed by teachers, friends, and the village idiot. (It really does take a village to raise a child properly; unfortunately, my village seems to be overrun by idiots these days.) It's not that hard, is it, to talk to your kids? About...anything?

Unfortunately, you can only do so much. At some point, they will come in contact with competing views and values, and at some point they start making choices for themselves. You can never tell which way rebellion will sway them, either - whether they'll rebel against everything you stand for, or choose to live by the values you taught them in spite of the fact that they'd dearly love to be independent of you and rub your face in it. Ah, the truth is usually some happily dysfunctional middle ground, and everyone survives it.

What I think is truly horrible is the public interest in the sordid details of the Spears' girls lives. Enough, already. By turning what should be shameful into a hallmark of celebrity, we achieve the exact opposite of what I hope we really want to achieve...

---------------
Holly Jahangiri
http://jahangiri.us/blog

A Related Article- "When Zoey 101 Becomes Zoey 102"

Author_Mama — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:14:41 -0600

Hi There,
I'm a nationally-syndicated parenting columnist and author of a new parenting book from Random House called CAN I HAVE A CELL PHONE FOR HANUKKAH? I saw this discussion and I thought you might like to read my latest column called "When Zoey 101 Becomes Zoey 102". It's posted on my "21st Century Parenting" blog at http://sharonestroff.blogspot.com/

Here's the article:

When Zoey 101 Becomes Zoey 102

But it can't be true. I mean it wasn't true with Miley Cyrus, was it? How could the 16-year-old star of Nickelodeon's squeaky-clean "Zoey 101" be knocked up? How could little Jamie Lynn Spears be trumping big sis Brit in tabloid cover-story potential? And - much more importantly - how on Earth am I going to explain Zoey's gestational state to my 5-year-old daughter, the self-proclaimed "predisent" of her fan club?

"Media is everywhere and it is a super-peer; it's raising your kids as much as you are," says Liz Perle, editor in chief of Common Sense Media. "It normalizes situations like this and makes it acceptable. ... Our children are introduced to things way too early, but it's up to us as parents to seize hold of the situation."

Still, from a parental standpoint, the pregnancy of Nickelodeon's darling seems more poignant, more threatening than your run-of-the-mill star scandal. And it is. Because it forces us to have "the big talk" with our kids whether or not we deem them (or ourselves) ready.

"Thank you, Jamie Lynn," says Dr. Judy Kuriansky, a clinical psychologist on the faculty of Columbia University Teachers College. "You have ruined the innocence of lots of kids and mothers who would rather not talk about this.

"But," Kuriansky continues, "if you don't talk about it, you're in even worse shape." And she's right, because whether or not we've ever even heard of 'tween goddess Jamie Lynn Spears, you can bet that our kids have. And so have all their friends on the playground who are passing this story around like a bad case of the flu.

In other words, while it may be tempting to respond to our Zoey-inspired crisis by making Jamie/Britney/Mama Spears voodoo dolls, such savage measures will not help our situation. Instead we must embrace the silver lining of Jamie Lynn's cloud: a classic teachable moment. Here are some tips toward navigating the (virtually inevitable) "Zoey conversation" that lies ahead with your kids:

Test the waters. OK, so the New York Times reported that Star Magazine and its sister tabloids have replaced The Baby-sitters Club books in the favorite 'tween literature category. But the outside chance remains that your child has not heard about "Zoey 101's" latest adventures. Begin your conversation therefore, by asking your child what she knows about Jamie Lynn Spears. If you're confident she's oblivious, quickly change the subject to more childlike fare.

Open the floor for questions. Should you determine that your kid is clued into the fact that Spears is with child, don't jump in with a prepackaged, premeditated lecture. Instead let your child's questions guide your conversation. This will help you avoid spilling more info than necessary while keeping the discussion age-appropriate.

State the facts. As your child starts dishing out doozies, remain cool while answering the questions as honestly, factually and succinctly as possible. "Yes, it is true that Jamie Lynn is pregnant. The baby is due in the spring. I don't know if she will still be on 'Zoey 101.'"

Don't dance around the big ones. I know what you're thinking, "But what happens when my child asks me how a kid like Zoey could get pregnant in the first place?!" Of course, our knee-jerk reaction will be to run for cover at the first sign of this dreaded question, but we've already established that avoidance is not a viable option.

If you feel comfortable tackling this one on your own, go for it. If not, turn to the library for assistance. "Where Did I Come From?" by Peter Mayle and "What's the Big Secret: Talking About Sex with Boys and Girls" by Laurie Kransy and Marc Brown (of "Arthur" fame) are both great resources.

Reclaim the helm. While we've allowed our children's questions to shape our conversation up to this point, it's time to take back the helm. After all, in this age of the media-saturated childhood, our kids' value systems feel up for grabs, and we can't go down without a fight.

In other words don't end your Zoey chat without some heavy talk about good old fashioned values. So turn off the TV and look your children right in the eye as you clearly communicate the hopes, dreams and expectations you hold - and will always hold - for their present and future.

Sharon Duke Estroff is an internationally syndicated parenting columnist, award-winning educator and mother of four. Her parenting book, “Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah?” (Broadway Books) is now available everywhere books are sold. www.sharonestroff.com.

What's a parent to do?

alyssaroyse — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:52:26 -0600

I dunno, get the federal government to reverse the recent ban on funding sex-ed in schools unless it's abstinence only?

I'm using this as an opportunity. Not that I just enjoyed the conversation i had with my not quite 10 year-old daughter about the whole thing. Though i did enjoy the moment that asked her what she thought about all of it and she said, "makes me glad i'm not an idiot."

Now, I did talk her down a lot, plenty of smart girls with good parents get pregnant. And introduced the idea of getting carried away in the heat of the moment (using soccer as an example, when you say things you didn't mean to say because you are swept up in the moment....)

But all in all, it still gets back to good sex ed for me. These kids met in church, they have involved parents, and they are still pregnant. Kids have sex. They need to be educated about it. Period. And, at least in Washington State, the cannot have access to federal money unless they teach abstinence only. And that, my friends, is foolish.
___________
Alyssa Royse
JUST CAUSE
make some good news!
www.JustCauseIt.com

I'm just sick of the story

Dana J. Tuszke — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:28:20 -0600

I'm just sick of the story already. These girls didn't take their roles as, what else, "role models" very seriously. I imagine 16-year-old girls everywhere will be rightfully confused by this news.

I'm starting to think the pro-birth control programs at high schools across the country are failing today's teens. Obviously Jamie Lynn didn't use any, and she's got a tough journey ahead of her. I do hope she can raise her child in a loving and happy environment.

So, Jamie's Got A Baby. And?

theprisonerswife — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:05:52 -0600

First of all, poor Jamie's ordeal is not unique. There are millions of teens who get pregnant each year, yet we have a HUGE media circus when a celeb teen becomes pregnant instead of focusing this attention on preventing teen pregnancys in MEANINGFUL ways.

I think Jamie's situation is only compounded by the fact that she is Britney's litter sister. Had she been random teen actress # 22, CNN wouldn't be covering this like it's a terrorist attack on American families. No one even blinked when Beyoncee's little sister came up preggo. Matter of fact, she and the baby ended up along side Beyoncee in a WalMart ad.

So what a girl got pregnant. I don't blame her mother. There is only so much mothering you can do once your children reach an age in which they are working & thinking for themselves. Mama Spears had a pretty good run, though. Her daughters were doing pretty fine for a while, and then all this other stuff came into play: money, fame, media.

The media needs to deconstruct themselves instead of this woman's parenting skills (although she WAS reaching with that book lol). The media loves to hoist people onto pedestals, only to try to knock them right off and broadcast it on YouTube.

~~~
Come See Me: http://theprisonerswife.blogspot.com

I agree...

ExpectingExecutive — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 01:37:09 -0500

I have mentioned to my step-daughters (ages 21 & 23) on more than one occassion, Britney Spears' actions of late remind me of an overwhelmed new mother (twice over) suffering from Post Partum Depression. It is obvious to those who have walked/trudged that path.

I only wish the best for her and her children.

Erin
Expecting Executive
It doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes a village to support a parent(s) raising a child.

It's nice to hear everyone's

Super Jive — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 23:43:44 -0500

It's nice to hear everyone's thoughts on this...I'm glad to hear people taking the topic seriously. It makes me think about where I'm at in my life with being a mother.

Gena, great comments. I would zap her away, too, actually. Getting out of LA would be the best thing, I'll bet.

***********
Your Pop Culture Librarian also writes almost daily at I, Asshole.

Post-partum depression

Suzanne Reisman — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 23:00:25 -0500

A friend of mine recently said that Britney's erratic behavior reminder her of what a close friend of hers acted like when she had postpartum depression, and my jaw dropped because it made a lot of sense to me. Spears is young and sheltered, and alienated from those who might have been able to help her. She had two kids in a very short period of time, and postpartum just seems to fit the bill. For the first time, I felt truly sorry for her. My friend's friend was lucky: she was surrounded by caring family who refused to let her shrug them off, and she got the treatment she needed. I hope that the same thing happens to Britney, whether it is postpartum or something else that has caused her to implode.

Suzanne Reisman, Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS)& Other Rants

Me too. And I'm just as

kperfetto — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 17:40:48 -0500

Me too. And I'm just as shocked as anyone. Not that the fame, money, hanger-ons is any excuse for her behavoir -- I know someone right now: a young, single mother who hasn't a clue and thinks she can still party all night and drop the kid off with someone else.

Available Light & Five Dollar Radio

Great thoughts Gena

moddivorce — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 17:20:50 -0500

Just think if all of our youths had been captured on film!!! I'd probably want to delete a few incidents and I had great parents and no childhood fame!

When I mentioned Britney as a powerful woman I was referring to her fame and notoriety, which could be used to influence young girls and women in a positive way. Not to mention the insane amount of money she has that could be used for good instead of evil.

Anywho, it's a shame to see such an ongoing train wreck that is her life and it's sad that she does seem to be all alone.

The Road to Adulthood Is Painfull...

Gena Haskett — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 10:10:57 -0500

That photo of the leeches swarming around the car got me to thinking. There is a person in that car who is going through various forms of hell at the moment. If she was not a celebrity we would be a bit more rational or compassionate about her situation. Or not.

I don't watch regular news but despite my best efforts I know she professionally embarrassed herself on stage, she has a substance abuse problem, had her kids taken from her and I'm guessing there is gonna be something else some time in the next few weeks.

Hell of a lot of stuff to face isn't it? And when her so-called support team is dependent on her for income and access to the good life who is she going to turn to?

What tools or skills does she have to cope? When you have been working since 12 years old and you don't know anything but the business how do you become an adult? Most of us get to do that in relative private.

She hasn't even fully explored her teen years yet. That might be why she is in trouble at the moment. Only problem with that is she is 25 years old and has two kids.

If I was all powerful mystically being I'd zap her to a hidden rehab center and part of the day she would have to read books by women who also when through hell and came out the other side. I'd even make her write a book reports just to make sure she read the content. The other part of the day would be rehab, self-parenting classes and forced nature walks.

Tree hugging would be optional but therapeutic.

Gena - Out On The Stoop

Wishing I could hope

Cat H — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 21:50:57 -0500

Sadly, I see, and have always seen, Britney as more exploited than powerful. Even back when she was dancing on that stage with the snake draped across her shoulders, I never could shake the sense that she was essentially pushed out there, expected to maintain this incredible facade of a glamourous, successful "woman" when she was barely more than a child.

I agree with zchamu, unless someone who cares about her welfare (and whose judgment isn't clouded by his or her own self-interest) is able to help her, I think she'll continue to publicly self-destruct.

Don't get me wrong. I think she is a very talented person. But one who's not been able to develop a strong sense of her self as a person aside from her public persona.

As for the "should we care" question: Who knows whether we should or not, but she is a famous person (by her own choosing) and, it is understandable that people are interested in what happens to her.

I'm one of the few...

zchamu — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:04:36 -0500

That actually has a lot of sympathy for Britney. The girl has never had a real life or a real relationship. She's grown up with this warped perception of the media as being something she cannot live without. And she's grown up, it appears, without anyone who truly cared simply about her as opposed to her talent or what she could do for them. She has no concept of what a "real" life is.

I'm very afraid that in 30 years we'll be talking about her in the same terms as Marilyn Monroe.. a star that shone so brightly that it burned itself tragically out far too fast.

ThreeSeven... attention deficits at work.