Reese Witherspoon Had Better Make Appointments Now For Her Kids
Â
Because you know they are going to need therapy after this little tidbit got out:
On being made fun of:
“Those are sort of formative experiences. I wouldn’t want my children to miss out on any of that teasing and bullying. Don’t you think it kind of makes you who you are — when you don’t make the soccer team?â€On kids today being overpraised:
“That’s the thing that drives me crazy about today: Everybody wins the award, everybody’s the MVP? No! They’re not, OK? I distinctly recall the two weeks of crying because I didn’t make the volleyball team. But it made me interesting, you know?â€
No, Reese, it made you weird.
Are all parents in Hollywood crazy? I actually kind of liked Reese until I read that. I understand the point of not wanting to protect your kids from everything that comes down the pike, because that just produces kids who have a very warped view of life and what they feel it owes them. As much as we as parents might want to, we can’t–nor is it healthy–to protect our children from everything. And yes, I agree with the not every kid is an MVP part. I mean, when they’re little, it’s one thing…everybody plays, everybody wins. But by the time they get to teenage years, they should be well versed in the fact that not everybody can win, not everybody is cut out for every sport, and somebody has to lose.
However, while most parents recognize that a certain amount of bullying is inevitable, it isn’t something that is desirable. We don’t want our kids to be bullied, and will even go so far as to stop those actions in some way, whether it be dealing with the other person in some way or teaching our kids ways of coping (and yeah, in my case that meant my dad teaching me how to defend myself). And this is like comparing apples to puppies, because not making the soccer team is a far cry from bullying behavior…unless, of course, the bully is coaching the soccer team. Yeah, run into a few of those.
What possesses people to say these things in public? Um…HELLO? Those kids are certainly going to get bullied now, because after all, it’s what their Mommy said she wanted. And what’s she going to say when her kids get home and tell her about an incident? “Well, honey, you’ll thank me for it later. It builds character!”
Congratulations. If your goal was to make sure your kids have a normal childhood, welcome to Fail.
Pink Stripe WordPress Theme Designed by Joni Mueller &
Jeez Reese, out of touch with reality much?
I think it’s just that simple really — she has a skewed view of reality because hers is so different than “normal” people’s, regardless of what she’d like to think.
While I can agree with her reasoning regarding the winning/losing and MVP thing, bullying is something else. Teasing, yeah, it happens and it’s heartbreaking and you teach your kids to take it on the chin. Bullying, OTHO, is mean, hurtful, and a far cry from teasing. Someone might tease you for wearing glasses, but a bully will beat you up for it.
Since when does any parent desire their children physically harmed by another?
Comment by crazymom — February 12, 2008 @ 11:47 am
Are you people mis-understanding her on purpose? Did she at any time say she wanted someone to bully her kids? I don’t think so. “Those are sort of formative experiences. I wouldn’t want my children to miss out on any of that teasing and bullying.”
Comment by jeg446203 — February 12, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
I think she’s dead on absolutely fucking correct.
Sorry, but that’s life. You don’t get to win at everything. Sometimes people don’t like you, sometimes you come in at last place, and sometimes you get punched in the nose.
I’ve always been disgusted at the whole “Everyone is special, everyone is a winner!” nonsense. Especially in children, it gives a false sense of self importance. Besides, if everyone wins by default at whatever they do, if everyone is constantly inundated with this ideology that they’re just as good as the next person, then why ever try to improve? Why strive to be better at anything?
Now as for the bullying, I have to say I hate a bully more than anything else. Never in my life have I tolerated them, even if they weren’t bullying me. But it does build character to stand up to a bully. They exist everywhere in life, not just in school.
People have to learn to deal with bullies eventually, and where better than in school while you’re learning everything else? You’re there learning the skills for social interaction later on in life the same as you are learning facts and figures. Standing up for yourself when needed is a part of that.
I understand the urge to want to protect your children, but you can’t bubble wrap the world. Kids get bumps and bruises, these too prepare them for life later on. Part of raising a child is preparing them for all the things to come, successes and failures. If you don’t do your best to provide them with all the tools they might possibly need, you’ve failed as a parent.
Comment by Anonymous — February 12, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
#3:
Didn’t I say that? Pretty sure I did.
In fact, I said everything YOU said, except for the first sentence.
Comment by k — February 12, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
#2:
Somebody, somewhere, is going to interpret that as, “Well, she doesn’t want her kids to miss out on teasing and bullying? Great…I’ll make sure they don’t!”
I recognize that a certain amount of teasing and bullying happens and there’s nothing you can do about it. However, WANTING it to happen is another thing entirely.
Comment by k — February 12, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
K, did I say I was arguing with you? I’ve been called out for disagreeing with people before, but never for agreeing with them.
The only part I don’t agree with is your apparent interpretation of the quote from Reese, that she WANTS her kids to be bullied.
She sounds to me like a realist who knows it’s likely to happen and she realizes it’s just a part of growing up.
Calling her crazy for that? Sorry, I don’t get it.
Comment by Anonymous — February 12, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
And to add to my above statement regarding this quote.
“I wouldn’t want my children to miss out on any of that teasing and bullying.”
Sounds to me like she’s simply saying she doesn’t want her kids to miss out on any aspect of their adolescence. It’s not like she said “I sure hope someone kicks my kids ass!”
It’s a minor distinction, but it’s there just the same.
Comment by Anonymous — February 12, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
#’s 6 & 7: Did I say I was arguing? Did I say you said I said I was arguing?
I’m just having a spirited discussion. It’s cold here, I have to do something to keep warm. Besides, I’m bored. D isn’t here to do her C/oh/$ thing and I don’t have anything intellectual to read. I’ll have to find a book soon or my brain wil turn to mush.
I’m saying that there are certain people who would read that, who WOULD say that if she wants her kids bullied then they’ll make sure it happens.
But then, what do I know? As a parent of teenagers, I’m reminded on a daily basis how much I don’t know.
Comment by k — February 12, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
Did I say you said that I said that you said… ahh fuck it.
Stay warm K!
Comment by Anonymous — February 12, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
lutz!
Comment by k — February 12, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
The anons make me feel stupid
Wait, I already felt stupid. Sorry, I take that back.
Comment by D — February 13, 2008 @ 7:40 pm