Rosalind Wiseman's Blog, page 51

Should I Get a Nose Job?

Rosalind Wiseman answers a question from Abby, a teenage girl who hates her nose. She has been relentlessly teased by girls and rejected by boys for the last three years, and is now considering a nose job. Will having the surgery make her more confident and popular, or will it just cause more problems?

My Parents Constantly Call Me Fat!

Rosalind Wiseman answers a question from Maeve, whose parents constantly make disparaging comments about her weight. She's experimented with several unhealthy habits to try and lose weight, but has reached her wits end. How can Maeve achieve a healthier body image while dealing with her parents' incessant put downs?

I Really Want to Have a Baby!

Rosalind Wiseman answers a question from Mandi, a 14-year-old girl desperate to get pregnant and have a baby. Will the complications of pregnancy and challenges of being a teenage parent be too much for her? Or is she ready and willing to deal with everything that comes along with a newborn?

Waiting for the World to Change, One Step At A Time.

One step forward, two steps back.  Lately it seems like each time society stands up to the media industry it is forcefully thrown back down, each time spiraling deeper into the abyss.

Over the past few weeks I have been in a profound "I give up" rut.

Inspired by my elementary aged brother, Tab, I emerge in a rant/rave fashion.

Rant.

A few short weeks ago I watched incredibly talented children provocatively gyrate on stage, performing an over-sexualized dance to Beyonce's "Single Ladies." a

Guys Need Guidance, Too

Every week I receive numerous emails from kids and parents around the world who are having a difficult time navigating personal and family issues the arise in the tween and teen years. It's a constant, profound reminder to me that young people deal with very big issues and that they think through them with more nuance than we often give them credit for. It is often surprising for people to hear that fully half of the emails I receive are from boys, since we often seem to accept as a cultural ...

Family Circle: Ask Rosalind, June 2010

Q. My son is a stellar athlete and student and has lots of friends. We've always had a zero-tolerance alcohol policy, but lately he's been binge drinking. He says he'll be on his own at college next year and we should accept that he's going to do what he wants. What should his consequences be now?

A. I think your son's accomplishments are blinding you to how he's rationalizing his behavior. So tell him that your rules still stand. But you have a bigger problem. You need to get him into...

Rosalind's Pick: Vintage Veronica

Book: Vintage Veronica, by Erica S. Perl

I just finished reading this charming book, and I thought I should share it with all the book-loving fashionistas out there.

Vintage Veronica (Knopf, 2010) is the story of a shy, overweight, teenage loner who loves vintage clothing.  When she finds work at Clothing Bonanza, a local vintage shop, she's sure she's found the summer job of her dreams.  But after meeting the mysterious stock boy and befriending two crazy sales girls, her summer takes an...

The Single Ladies Dance Outrage & the Crisis of Girls' Sexualization

Last week's spectacle of eight and nine year old girls gyrating to "Single Ladies" is still eating me. And to be honest, I'm still not exactly sure why.

What's the big deal here, really? Isn't this just another grating example of girls' sexualization, fodder that seems to arrive weekly? And who cares if some little girls want to try some big girl dancing? As one of the girls' parents told Good Morning America, the outfits are "actually no different than when kids are going swimming — they go i...

The Public vs. Private Problem

Rosalind Wiseman answers a question from Teri, a  9th-grader who is considering changing schools.  She's been at a private school for the past 3 years and has had trouble making real friends.  Teri wants to change schools, and hopefully meet some new people, but she's worried that the new school (which is public) won't give her the quality education she feels she's getting at the private one.  Should Teri stay at her private school or leave for a chance at real friendship?

My Daughter is Already a Follower!

Rosalind Wiseman answers a question from Anita, a parent concerned that her pre-teen daughter is already becoming a follower.  Because her daughter seems so eager to please her peers, Anita is worried that her daughter will join in on bullying or worse, that she herself will eventually become a target.  How can Anita teach her daughter that it's better to be a leader and not a peer-pleaser?