http://www.clublibbylu.com/party.aspx
Posted on 01/17/2007 4:20:52 PM PST by Ptarmigan
NEW YORK, Jan 16 (Reuters Life!) - Heard the one about a group of seven-year-olds picked up in stretch limousines to transport them to a friend's birthday party?
Or New York's designer candy store, Dylan's Candy Bar, that charges $1,200 for a 90-minute party for 20 preschoolers?
Or the sleepover party at New York's upmarket FAO Schwarz toy store on ritzy Fifth Avenue where a store spokeswoman said prices start from $25,000?
http://www.clublibbylu.com/party.aspx
It's "Bonfire of the Vanities" all over again, but with greater excess.
okay.. that should have been a IMHO! . . .
But really maybe. . .it is not just pity here; but rather a general sadness seeing children and childhood transformed so quickly; if not before one's eyes - so to speak.
We have heard and certainly seen what are the new 'tweens'; the next rising teens; who save for their ages; bodies and bra size; would be indistinguishable from those already 'teenagers'. Watched yesterday; a ten, almost-eleven-year old, shop for her next party. . .(an into the limo event) and wondered; as she tried on her clothes; drop earrings etc. . .how much shorter can we make childhood?.
Seems my answer at least; came in this story about the 'little ones'. . .the good news being that some Parents are saying 'enough'.
The boundaries; the 'rites of passage'; the dress and lifestyle; that used to distinguish the child from the adolescent; the adolescent from the teen in full-bloom and they, in turn, from the 'young adult' or even adult; no longer seem to be there to contain (and protect) many children as they grow along; and grow up.
And this I do think this is sad; if not 'a pity'. . .
You mean New Yorkers!
Their parents' money -- they get to spend it as they please.
I still don't spend much on my children's birthdays. When I was growing up we didn't have a party every single year, only for milestone birthdays. That is how I do parties with my girls, the other birthdays are for family and maybe one special friend. We will do an outing of their choice and they get to choose the menu for their dinner. Sometimes they choose just to have a family game night. But other than that, I cannot imagine shelling out 1,ooo's of dollars on a birthday. Insane
But other than that, I cannot imagine shelling out 1,ooo's of dollars on a birthday. Insane
It's a matter of scale. There are many,many people in NYC making much, much more than $1,000 an hour. Can you imagine spending an hour's pay on a birthday?
ping
You had it good. My folks used to let me pick out my presents by lowering me on a rope into the Goodwill box.
Some people are like that. What does he do now?
You're right. Think of a world full of little Paris Hiltons.
"I can do what I want...I'm Paris Hilton!"
Makes you wanna cry, doesn't it.
My birthday is on Halloween so it was truly built for a kid's birthday party! We'd have a costume party at the house complete with games, etc., and then go trick or treating....then come back for cake and ice cream. Great stuff.
I was probably 7 or 8 years old before I realized that everyone didn't go trick or treating on their birthdays too! Went to one party of a little friend of mine and when I came home my mother asked me if I had a good time and I said yes, but we didn't go trick or treating. Mom said, "Honey, it is July...."
I fully admit, however, to having a bit of a privileged childhood and a few extravagant parties on the "big birthdays". But the difference that I see not only between then and now but even between upper middle class families back then was the context in which "extravagant" things were done.
If the kid runs the household and "things" are either substitutes for absentee parents, guilt gifts, symbols of unexpressed love OR tools to ward off tantrums.....well, then you have the young adults mentioned in this thread that are featured in MTV's "Sweet 16"....and worse.
But the way I was taught was entirely different. My brothers and I were taught the value of money, the ethic of hard work and apparently the quaint notion that money doesn't make you any better than anyone else -- it certainly didn't buy class or decency.
Perhaps it was the WWII/Depression era parents I was blessed with, but they viewed everything as a potential lesson or teaching opportunity for the kids. Sure, we had an allowance, but we also had chores and when we were teenagers, we had to pay for just about every living expense out of that allowance -- car insurance, gasoline, phone bills, clothing, toiletries, etc. If we didn't budget right or went on some kind of foolish spending spree, tough luck...you wouldn't have gas, the phone would get cut off and with no insurance, your car would be parked in the driveway...Mom and Dad didn't bail us out, either!
In this day and age, however, money doesn't seem to be anything but a new form of pacifier. It truly isnt the kids' faults here -- it is the parents. They have absolutely no common sense about the damage that they are doing.
I see lots of my friends now giving their kids cell phones and cars and limitless credit cards, etc....but not taking the opportunity to teach them budgeting skills. Then when the real world pops their kid in the face, they run to bail them out every time and wonder why things aren't going so well for their little darlings. There are times I have nearly bitten my tongue clean through.
Oh well. Just my two cents.
For sure it does. . .
. . .and while many influences and/or 'confluences'. . .seems Madonna set the stage here; or rather lowered it. . .
Then the Madonna, wannabe's came along. Now Britney; Paris. . .Nicole and a host of Hollywood et als, compete in their 'trash culture outreach'. . .
(Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee. . . Wondering what the 'new' Grease; will do for her. . . maybe nothing. Maybe we will hear. . .Look at me; I am Britttt - ney(?)
Or the opposite. :-)
"Hiring a stretch limousines to transport seven-year-olds to a birthday party is soooo nouveau riche."
You know the world has gone to hell in a handbasket when people get famous just for being skanky and raunchy....no talent needed. In my day, we frowned on those types. What happened to make it acceptable? I'm still wracking my brain.....
What happened to make it acceptable? I'm still wracking my brain.....
The Hilton name is well known because of the hotel chain. It's assumed that she's rich in a way that few people are rich, and folks have always been attracted to an inside look at how they imagine rich people live.
The MSM said that rich people eat the poor, but dislike their taste and spit them out. Hence their wastefulness. Being rich is EVIL!
I think being rich can certainly MAKE someone evil.
After all, the love of money is the root of all evil.
I can't imagine having more houses than I can live in, more cars than I can drive, etc. It just seems such a waste to me.
Rich people could do so much good with their money and they choose to waste it like this? Unbelievable.
The 'what' is Liberalism. . .and the Libs of course, are the who that make it happen!
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