A FOAF recently redecorated her ten year old daughter’s entire bedroom ala Tommy Hilfiger, as per the ten year old’s request. I don’t know what blows my mind more–the fact that the daughter would think to ask, or that the mother would comply to the tune of what had to be hundreds and hundreds of dollars.
How could anyone encourage a young child to buy into brand name mystique like that? Do people really have nothing better to spend their money on? I mean, the cost of that bedroom put in a modest savings program would go a long way towards paying for college in eight years. I don’t think that people realize that kids learn thier prioritoes by modeling thier parents.
It’s ironic that I should find this thread on a rare occasion. I’m currently wearing the only Tommy Hilfiger t-shirt. It’s a little too big for me, so I’m using it for a nightshirt only. When I fit it, or in a while if I don’t, I’ll use it to wash the car.
Just so you know where I stand on Tommy Hilfiger. BTW, the t-shirt was a gift.
It’s all ridiculous, of course, but a well-placed brand name or two can go a long way towards not getting picked on in school. At the very least, you have one thing they CAN’T pick on you for if they’re wearing the same thing.
I remember showing up for school in a pair of “The Winner” brand sneakers and “Fife and Drum” jeans in 6th grade. It was a pretty horrible experience.
“Honey we’re recovering Christians.”
–Tori Amos - In the Springtime of his Voodoo
Hmmm, I have Tommy Hilfiger sheets - my mother bought them for me. They’re 250 thread count per square inch, wash very well and stay crisp and warm.
Do I care that they’re Tommy Hilfiger? Hell no! I care that they look good and the quality is excellent.
If I (or my mother) choose to spend money on well constructed items that aesthetically appeal to us, why should you care? Are you going to scream at me that I bought $180 shoes that can be resoled and will probably last for 20 years? Or that I bought a $140 DKNY sweater that will never go out of style and looks great on me?
Is it any of your business what people choose to spend their money on?
I’m hoping that this girl’s mother is teaching her the same thing my mother taught me: Don’t buy whatever’s cheapest. Buy the best quality and buy something you like - you won’t have to keep replacing it and you will enjoy it for years.
“All those who believe in telekinesis, raise my hand.” Stephen Wright
And you know, not that I’m trying to hijack this or anything, but I wish someone would give me five minutes in a room with the parents of those little idiotic narcissistic “my parents don’t have a clue as to how to raise an honest to goodness human being but they’re soccer folks” toads that do that to other kids. How DARE they pick on other children just because they can afford SUV’s, soccer lessons and brand name crap and we can’t? It’s unfuckingbelievable how cruel children can be to other kids over stupid shit like that.
And how HURTFUL it is to those kids, like mine, who have huge hearts, just want to be liked, get great grades, try to make friends with everyone, but can’t afford “Tommy”. I wish those parents would just fucking take a good look at MY son when he’s crying because one of the “cool” kids doesn’t want to be friends with him and calls him names. Give me FIVE fucking minutes in a room with that “parent” - I’ll rip his fucking heart OUT.
I am not objecting to the quality–I am objecting to the “Tommy Hilfigir” written in small letters all over them. You can buy high quality, 250-count sheets for a fraction of what the Tommy Hilfigir versions cost. And this is a bedroom, remember, not sheets–comforter, wall paper border, throw pillows, and God knows what else. I don’t think quality can be considered here.
As far as “enjoying it for years” goes, do you really think that Tommy Hilfiger is going to remain in style for years? Or that a ten year old girl is going to keep loving it? It’s a fad, albiet an expensive one.
Sure is. I may well have children of my own one day, and if I am going to be a good mother I need to watch what other people do so that I can learn from their sucess and their failures. Hell, the mother part dosen’t even matter. Just to learn to function in society we need to see what other people do and make judgements on it–otherwise, we all have to make it all up as we go along, and that wouldn’t work at all.
I have severe reservations about this. Kids pay attention to what parents say and do, and if one hand you say that trappings are not important and you should like people for what they have, but on the other you demonstrate that you are willing to spend large amounts of money to insure that they do have those trappings, they are going to believe your actions over your words. It is a tacit approval of the bullying that goes on because of a lack of brand names, and it clears the way for your child to participate.
This is especially true if there is anything else you have denied them because of money. That is, if you said no to band because you couldn’t afford it, but you said yes to Tommy Hilfigur, the message is that looking stylish is more important than doing things. If they see you walk by the Salvation Army guy after leaving the store where you bought the Hilfiger (or whatever) item and not make a donation, you are sending the message that looking good and being accepted are more important than charity.