I am so DIStraught!!!

[nym4588]

You're devastated? Take it down a notch, please.

When I was in 2nd grade, right before picture time, I cut a chunk of hair out of my bangs. I don't recall my mother having a bird over it, and I think she just filed it under "sometimes kids do dumb stuff."

 

[Aliceacc]

and we all wonder why my generation has serious self-esteem issues.

Wait a minute... an entire generation has "serious self-esteem issues"????

I'm sorry, I think you've been watching way too much daytime TV.

The high school kids I teach would be incredibly insulted if I even thought about characterizing them that way. They're a fabulous group of kids who will do a lot for this world down the road.

They go through the same self-discovery route that teens have gone through since way before anyone canned the expression "teenager"-- no more, no less. The same teenage angst, the same qualms about who they'll become and how they'll get there.

The onlly difference is that, thanks to the internet, they know they're not alone.

Yes, they have their momentary pity parties. Then they snap out of it and move on with their lives.

I agree that the OP over reacted. And that, if her 7 year old daughter were to see the post, it might hurt her feelings. But if she were to keep reading, she would see all the wonderful things her mom said about her beauty and kindness and caring. And know that mom is concerned for her daughter's feelings. And I seriously think her self-esteem would survive just fine.

Kids are a lot less fragile than some give them credit for.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I think this generation has self esteem issues- namely that their self esteem is too high! Everyone is a winner, everyone gets a trophy, etc.

I do feel badly for this generation as regards online bullying and school place violence though. Now, if someone hates you they can set up a Facebook page encouraging you to kill yourself or calling you a ****.

I got in my share of fistfights as a kid, never once did I worry that someone had brought a weapon to school.

 

[TDS533]

As one who cut her bangs when she was young just let me say, take a deep breath all will be fine. My mom and dad( especially bcz he loves long hair) were a bit upset but did not make big deal of it. Mom straightened what I messed up and believe it or not they grew out! Yes we all lived thru it and the story of the trail of hair that led her to me hiding behind the recliner is a great one. They will most likely grow out before school enough to have them cut into cute bangs and as for her costume, be creative still color her hair and then maybe do something fun like spike it or something, it will be fine. I promise.

 

[Alice Royal]

Wait a minute... an entire generation has "serious self-esteem issues"????

I'm sorry, I think you've been watching way too much daytime TV.

Did you miss the part where I said MY generation?

I'm not saying it's a national epidemic, but considering that the average fifth grader is already wearing booty shorts and a pound of cosmetics and that the average high school student has experienced depression in some form (and many have self-harmed)...I'd say it's on the rise.

I don't even have cable and the only TV I watch is Doctor Who on Netflix, lol. I get my facts from this thing called scientific research.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/...sCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false

http://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(10)00426-X/abstract

I think this generation has self esteem issues- namely that their self esteem is too high! Everyone is a winner, everyone gets a trophy, etc.

This is basically the reason why Gen Y and Z-ers are having so much trouble. Everyone is special, everyone is perfect, and everyone has a label they can slap on themselves to catch some sympathy (seriously, Google 'demisexual')...until you graduate and get off of Tumblr and realise that the real world isn't coddling you like your parents and peers did for all those years.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

You are "devistated" because of your child's "dorky" hair and because she wears glasses that don't show off her face? Maybe you should spend time focusing on who your daughter is and not just what you think she looks like.

I would not have said it this way but you might ask yourself why this makes you so sad. Perhaps you have some issues you should work on with respect to appearance.

 

[JoeA]

I'm sorry but I can't help but to laugh! And isn't Halloween in like...months? Maybe it will grow some by then?

And the reason I am laughing is because I can kinda relate. When my oldest daughter was around 13 or 14 she decided to dye her dark brown hair. The result? Ronald McDonald red

I came home and she was hiding in her room with a towel wrapped around her head. When she took it off I about peed myself!!

A few trips to the stylist and a couple of hundred $$ later...back to normal. Your daughter's hair will get there too

 

[momof2n2]

OP I have 6 kids 2b & 4g. I'd be upset if one of them cut their hair. But I'd encourage you to not focus so much on how it effects a hallowe'en costume. I'd just help her (if she feels she needs it) before school starts and love her like it's no big deal. Because - it's just hair. :

 

[tarak]

OP, my daughter did the same thing at that age. Decided she wanted bangs and didn't mention it to me. I printed a picture of Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby and took that and my daughter to the salon. She ended up with a short, short, short haircut that was adorable. There wasn't really any other way to fix it. I understand being upset - when my daughter did it, I thought she was way beyond the age where she'd cut her own hair. Your daughter's hair will grow back and hopefully she'll go to you first the next time she wants a new haircut.

 

[MartDM]

Maybe you should just wear the horns yourself.

 

[Aliceacc]

Did you miss the part where I said MY generation?

I'm not saying it's a national epidemic, but considering that the average fifth grader is already wearing booty shorts and a pound of cosmetics and that the average high school student has experienced depression in some form (and many have self-harmed)...I'd say it's on the rise.

I don't even have cable and the only TV I watch is Doctor Who on Netflix, lol. I get my facts from this thing called scientific research.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/...sCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false

http://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(10)00426-X/abstract
.

Nope, I din't miss anything. You said "my generation" and your signature says you're 18. So you're within a few months of the kids whe were sitting in my study hall 6 weeks ago and have since graduated high school.

Your first article tied consumption into teen self esteem-- that a number of British teens are defining themselves by what they have.

Your second tied psychosocial growth in teens into online communication. It mentions both the pros and cons of online communication in terms of an adolescant developing a healty self image.

Neither is particularly relevant to the discussion undeway. And neither is cause to characterize your generation as having "serious self esteem issues."

Are some members of your generation seriously self absorbed?? Absolutely. Do some suffer from self esteem problems? Of course. Both have been true of every generation we've seen and will seen. Niether is particular to your generation.

My apologies to the OP and the others involved in this discussion for the hijack.

 

[Cyrano]

Closed to let folks cool off and I get my red pen out