Hooters! It's Where You Have a Hoot!

isthisthemiddle A funny way to be welcomed into the city - it must have been a relief to see the sign move :) Media and ads have away of seeping into our everyday life. It's hard to shield our little ones from it! Sometimes I wonder if it forces them to grow-up too quick?

I cringe everytime I see the big orange sign and what it represents...It does portray the wrong view for women in our society. I do find it odd that's in the middle of the mall. But our mall is one of the largest in NA so it has lots of novelty shops.

It's very important to have a positive body image, eat the right food, and exercise. But this takes a whole new conversation at a whole new level.

Jen at the Den

It's an exciting time when they learn to read but it also makes it harder to hide things from them. I loved your post - I remember having those similar experience.

You are also right it is hard to hide the word hooters from them. It's even worse they start to ask "why?" The dreaded question it will have to come from me before the playground....

JennaHatfield

No, I don't think they are marketing to kids...However, it's hard to avoid when it's dead center in the middle of the mall. I've just stuck with the food being terrible - but when is the right time to have this conversation with your child?DesiValentine4

We talk about stuff like that as soon as the kids bring it up. So, if my son wanted to eat at Hooters I would tell him we don't eat there because they don't treat ladies fairly there. My son is three, though, so he would probably leave it at that :) victorias_view

I like that response - it's short and sweet. We are at the why stage so that might be were I run into trouble... DesiValentine4

Thanks! I'm great at diversion! I think 9 is too young to have that discussion. But at the same time when is it right the time? And isn't it better he talked with me instead of the school yard playground? It's one of those grey areas of parenting...:) HomeRearedChef

victorias_view I believe that now is the time for that discussion, since he has brought it up! And I also agree with you that it is better he talks with you and learns from you than learning from someone else. I know that my soon-to-be 9-year old grandson is very grown-up. He talks to his mom (my daughter) about many things already. Nothing graphic, of course, but his questions now require the respect of an answer. (sigh!)

Ah, the woes of being a parent...

~Virginia

victorias_view HomeRearedChef I agree that now is the time. As school people (I'm a school counselor, my husband is an administrator) I can tell you what he tells you he's hearing vs. what he is hearing are two different things. When kids ask us questions it is our chance as parents to control the message. Even if we feel they might be too young for the answer, they must have already gone down the road in their brain. We handle it with our son by answering exactly what he asks and not going too much into depth. My stepdaughter is 22, and my husband did the same with her. She says all the time that it was the best thing he did as a parent because she never felt in the dark.

Thank you! I'm thinking we will have a talk soon. The last thing I want is for my children to feel in the dark or learn from somebody else on the school yard. It is best to be up front. So I think the next time the conversations comes up or a question is asked - it won't be diverted. jmwclark HomeRearedChef