Do you get the feeling that celebrities....

[Hillbeans]

think they're much better parents than the rest of us? I was reading today that Catherine Zeta-Jones never gives her kids any kind of juice, and on the rare occasion she does, it's like "their first taste of champagne". Also, Madonna said that her kids are not allowed to watch any television or eat ice cream or sweets. I also remember hearing a lot of celebrities make their own baby food (god forbid they use Gerber like the rest of us).

I know as parents there are things we don't let our own children do, but I wonder why they have to come out and say stuff like this in the media? Is it to make us other parents who give their kids juice or let them watch TV feel inferior?

 

[Beth76]

Eh. It sounds to me like they're just not fun.

 

[AllyandJack]

And they wonder why their kids end up being featured in a negative E! True Hollywood Story. I can only imagine what else is off limits or not allowed.

 

[LoraJ]

I read similar stories about parents here on the DIS.

 

[Planogirl]

I've seen people on these very boards claiming the same things. Remember the Bad Parents Club? That's one reason it formed.

 

[diznygirl]

It's nice to know what they think, but let's hear from the ones who really do the work- their nannies!!!

 

[WIcruizer]

Celebrities can think however they want. Tehy are the ones who often have children out of wedlock, or get divorced a year later. Nannies raise them while the actress is out filming movies and partying. But as long as they drive a Prius and give their baby all natural baby food, they're perfect parents. Gimme a break.

 

[mickeyboat]

It's nice to know what they think, but let's hear from the ones who really do the work- their nannies!!!

That's what I was thinking. It's easy to say "no ice cream" when you aren't the one actually saying no.

Denae

 

[Jennifer S]

It's nice to know what they think, but let's hear from the ones who really do the work- their nannies!!!

that's what i was going to say. Plus I'm sure they are entertained live instead of on TV.

 

[AllyandJack]

Maybe Madonna doesn't let her kids watch TV because she's afraid they'll be playing "Shanghai Surprise".

 

[mommaU4]

Since I don't personally know any celebs it's hard to say, but I would imagine they are just like the rest of us. Some are good parents, some could use some improvement. Maybe the ones who go on and on about how they don't allow this or that are the ones who feel guilty for leaving their kids and need to make themselves seem like great parents in print or on t.v.

One thing I think we can all agree on is that parenting is hard, celeb or not.

 

[lulugirl]

It amuses me that Catherine Zeta-Jones smoked while pregnant but letting her kids drink juice...big no-no! Yea, that makes her superior than the rest of us.,...

 

[eclectics]

Nobody raises their kids exactly the same. We hear about celebrity kids because the entertainment media hangs on their every word. I think every parent thinks their way is the best and all the other parents are wrong. It's not just a celebrity thing, although some of them will have a few more hurdles than the rest of us, but some also have some built in benefits. The only examples I truly feel sorry for are Michael Jacksons kids. I don't see many benefits for them other than some money. The poor things probably don't have much of a chance for a normal life.

 

[Planogirl]

Did any of these celebrities who talk about these things claim that they're superior? I don't get the scorn on this one.

 

[Chicago526]

Now lets be fair, I'm sure that there are plenty of celebs that DO raise their kids and not the nannies!

I think their wealth just puts them in a position that allows them to do certain things that we lesser beings don't have the resources for. Wether or not that makes them feel superior, I'd guess you'd have to ask the individual celeb on that one.

I personaly do not and have never cared what celebs do with their lives. Even those I admire for their talent, I only follow their profesional career and have NO interest in their personal lives.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I personally do not really care how any celebrity raises their kids. But I will say that Madonna saying no to anything surprises me with the career she has had. I admit I liked her music in the early 80's as a teenager, but come on -- she was quite raunchy. To hear her now you'd think she was Mother Teresa.

 

[Hillbeans]

Did any of these celebrities who talk about these things claim that they're superior? I don't get the scorn on this one.

Well, the reason I mentioned it was b/c Catherine ZJ was a celebrity who also admitted to drinking while pregnant (not a lot per se, but she said she had wine with her dinner while pg).

I just think she was making a "dig" on those parents who let their kids drink juice but it's ok for her to have wine while pg.

To me it sounds hypocritical in a way...

 

[mommaU4]

Well, the reason I mentioned it was b/c Catherine ZJ was a celebrity who also admitted to drinking while pregnant (not a lot per se, but she said she had wine with her dinner while pg).

I just think she was making a "dig" on those parents who let their kids drink juice but it's ok for her to have wine while pg.

To me it sounds hypocritical in a way...

I remember her saying that and I believe it was while she was making the movie "Traffic" or around that time frame, and in the movie she's pregnant and her character has a drink of wine on her doctor's advice.

She was questioned about it and her comment was about how French women drink a glass of wine occasionally while they are pregnant with no ill effects. In fact some or most of the French doctors see nothing wrong with it especially if it is able to relax the pregnant mom. Only in America is it seen as such a big deal.

Now whether that's medically accurate or not I don't have a clue. Not a doctor unfortunately.

 

[Hillbeans]

And that's just it....I didn't drink while I was pregnant, and I am pretty sure that if you have a few glasses of wine while pregnant won't hurt the child - and i'm also pretty sure that juice isn't bad either - as long as you're not giving your kids a gallon of it a day - moderation is the key.

Their quotes made me think of what Brooke Shields said when she had her daughter (and ultimately PPD). She "thought" she needed to be perfect and not let her daughter do x,y and z.....

I guess if Madonna doesn't want her kids to watch TV, so be it. I just feel it's extreme to NEVER let your child watch a TV show and then boast about it in People Magazine.

 

[kidshop]

Feeling inferior generally comes from inside the person, not from hearing about what someone else does or does not do. These things you mention are for the most part in the child's best interest, good for them! You just have to be comfortable with the way you have chosen to parent, since everyone does it differently.