My Two Cents - Choices or maybe Barbie Tattoos

I started writing my Two Cents topic on choices then couldn't make a choice on where I wanted to go with it....this is as far as I got...

Over at Tutu's Bliss the Two Cent topic today is choices. I am a pretty indecisive person. I cannot decide where I want to eat when we go out or what movie to see when the choice presents itself. But I CAN readily tell you where I do NOT want to go or do NOT want to see. So where does that leave me? Nowhere.

And that is it. I guess I have no strong opinions on choices :) But I do have strong a opinion on tattoos on Barbie Dolls. Just so you know, I have two tattoos. I have no problem with anyone having tattoos...even covering their bodies. I wouldn't mind a bit if my child's teacher, coach or pastor had one. I have nothing against them and I wouldn't mind my daughters getting them WHEN THEY ARE 18. So why are they selling Barbies to our girls that come with tattoos?

After MUCH reluctance we let our 6 year old (and therefore our 3 year old as well) have Barbies. I grew up playing with them and looking back thought that they put too much emphasis on outward beauty (or, at least, the world standard of beauty). What made me change my mind? When they play with Barbies they are really engaged in fantasy play. They are creative. They are playing with each other. They are making things up. They are making beds, cars, and boats out of tinker toys for their dolls. They are learning to make choices (the pink skirt or the blue one :) All of these are great things for a CHILD to do. So why are we making them grow up so quickly?

Our kids should be allowed to be kids. In my opinion tattoos are not a part of being a kid. Thong panties on a Bratz doll is not allowing kids to be kids (we draw the line at Bratz). Why on earth do we want these things to be the norm for our little girls? Do we really want our precious little princesses to grow up so quickly? It's going to happen eventually. I would like to have to wait until she's 16 (yes,probably 16, because it will still happen before I really would like to) to deal with tattoos. That's my two cents. What do you think??