"It's so great to boss people around."
"It was awesome having cameras follow me…I'm awesome and I deserve
it."
"This is how it should be every time I enter a room." [teen as she is
carried in on a litter]
"I had to show people how rich I am."
Do these comments make you want to throw up? Of course, and what's
worse, they're real! These bratty statements are actual quotes from
the latest MTV reality stars: girls and boys whose super-rich and
apparently super-tactless parents give the little darlings anything
they desire for their sweet sixteen parties. Throwing elaborate
televised bashes that cost upwards of $200,000 and indulging every
whim of their prince or princess, the parents show who rules the
household (the kids) and what really matters (getting your fifteen
minutes however you can, in this case, by buying it). What a great
life lesson: If you've got it, flaunt it, and it's okay to trash
people in your quest for pseudo-fame. These kids make Paris Hilton and
Omarosa look like beacons of etiquette and accomplishment.
Sure, MTV's newest reality show, My Super Sweet Sixteen, which
premiered last January, is designed to be over the top and outrageous.
That's the whole point. It's the reality TV equivalent of a bloody
train wreck: You are appalled, but you just can't avert your eyes. The
kids are so obnoxious and so clueless as to how awful they sound, that
you stay glued to your tube just to see what horrifyingly selfish
thing they'll say or do next.
Never seen the show? It centers around a spoiled teen or two, trailing
them as they plan their sweet sixteen party, make outrageous, selfish
demands, shed tears, throw tantrums, and torture their peers with
lines like, "You're not important enough to be invited." Oh, and then
there's footage of the actual party, where the guest of honor may
enter riding on a litter, behind the wheel of a luxury car, pulled by
horses, or shuttled in a helicopter. The featured entertainment might
be Kanye West, Ciara, Rihanna, or Diddy, the king of nouveau rich
tasteless excess himself, to name a few. At the end of the night, the
kids are presented with sweet sixteen gifts such as luxury vehicles
(some get two!), jewelry and even homes. Their overindulgent, self-
satisfied parents, portrayed to be every bit as awful as their kids--
the truth, or the result of careful editing we don't know--gloat in
the background. I guess money can't buy happiness, but it sure can by
popularity.
Before you get too jealous of these pampered kids, consider how tough
they have it, with their every whim catered to, their every foot-
stamping demand met. As one teen put it, "Being rich is hard work!"
Indeed.
The materialism and extravagance of MTV's show is a far cry from what
the average teen can expect. Thank goodness, or we'd have a nation of
brats, which couldn't be farther from the truth. (TIME magazine's Anne
Marie Cox wrote of MTV's teens in a recent article, "Their blingy
flings are not celebrations of accomplishment; they're celebrations of
self.") Even debutantes, those clichéd well-to-do southern belles,
hold a coming out ball ostensibly not to show off, but to be formally
introduced to polite society. What's more, these debutante balls are
often charity occasions, "in which the parents of the young ladies, as
well as all attending, must contribute a certain sum of money to the
cause at hand," according to Wikipedia.
Maybe MTV could take the hint…but doing good works doesn't make for
good TV; spoiled, privileged, selfish brats do. Indeed, Cox says,
"What used to mark the end of childhood now seems only an excuse to
prolong the whiny, self-centered greediness that gives infantile a bad
name. Far from joining polite society like the debutants of the past,
the kids gleefully rip through social graces, alienating friends and
sacrificing tact all in the name of creating a VIP room filled with
people too young to drive themselves home." Yuck.
So what's the parent of a teen to do when he or she doesn't have a few
extra hundred thou lying around? How about inviting a few close
friends and family for an intimate, meaningful sweet sixteen party?
Make the day extra special by presenting your teen with some nice
traditional sweet sixteen presents that won't break the bank, will be
appreciated and won't be tossed aside the moment something better
comes along. Here are some timeless sweet sixteen gift ideas to
celebrate this important right of passage for a child who actually
deserves the recognition:
Pearl Necklace: This timeless classic can carry your teen from high
school to college to her first job and even to her wedding. She'll
treasure it and pass it on to her daughter some day. Round freshwater
strands are affordable and can rival the quality of saltwater akoyas.
Pearl Ring: Another timeless treasure, the pearl ring is sweet and
demure…and unique. Unlike a diamond ring, which has wedding
connotations, or a gold ring, which can be too flashy, a pearl ring
gets just the right kind of attention.
Pearl Jewelry Set: Why not get her a complete pearl jewelry set?
She'll be ensured of having a matching bracelet, pearl earrings and a
pearl necklace that she can mix and match for any occasion.
Diamond Studs: A little pricey, but worth it, as diamond studs are a
jewelry staple she'll wear forever. If responsibility isn't your
teen's strongpoint, CZ studs can look just as good, and at $40 or so a
pop, it won't matter much if she loses them.
Charm Bracelet: A teen favorite for decades, charm bracelets are
special because they can be personalized. Add a slipper charm for your
ballerina, a horseshoe for your equestrian, a pearl charm for a June
birthday girl… keep adding charms on every special occasion and soon
she'll have an unforgettable keepsake.
Frame: A beautiful frame made of brushed stainless steel, wood or
mother-of-pearl makes a great gift. To personalize it, fill it with a
photo of you and the teen, a poem that reminds you of her, or her
birthday horoscope.
For boys, magazine subscriptions and gift certificates to the teen's
favorite store, or even sixteen of something (16 CDs or 16 movie
passes, for example), can make the day special. Best of all? No Diddy
required.
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