I'm just amazed that parents don't care what their kids listen to...

[Mickey's Minion]

Just a vent - no need to be flamed here...

DD went to her gf's b'day party tonight - the b'day girl got Lady Gaga's CD as a present. When I walked in they were blaring it & singing it @ the top of their lungs. At 12!!
The mom of dd's friend didn't have a clue who Lady Gaga was & thus had no idea that the songs were bad - so I took the lyrics & showed her.

I'm just wonder if the mom of the kid who gave the gift is just clueless too or just doesn't care? The child (who I've never met before tonight) is invited to dd's party next week - it'll be interesting to see if we get the same present or not - I'm afraid it may end up in the trash during the party.

I don't think I'm really on top of things (hip or whatever the terminology is nowadays) but L.G is on tv ALL the time - maybe they don't watch tv

Not flaming you, however, I do think you were in the wrong to bring the lyrics to the mother of the birthday girl. I think that is butting in just a bit too much. A quick "have you listened to the lyrics" would have been fine to alert the mom this may be something she might want to look into. But actually getting the lyrics and showing them to the mom- a bit over the top.

As for Lady GaGa and 12 year olds - I in the camp that 12 year olds don't actually process the lyrics. I was a married adult before the "aha" moment happened with some of my childhood favorites.

As for Lady GaGa herself, have you heard her early music, when she went by her real first name? She is classically trained and has a pretty decent voice.

 

[MoniqueU]

My DH took my 13 year old to see her with 1 other friends a few months back. I have no problem with it. My girls 12 and 13 read the twilight books a few yers back before they became super popular, they watch gossip girl. Sex and guns and other stuff doesn't bother me at all. My kids know what sex is and they know what guns are. We keep the news on pretty much all day and they see what is going on in the world and it does include stories of sex even from our former president.

iI also can't wait til my son turns 17 so he can go buy his own video games, I think that is ridiculous. He can drive a car but can't buy a halo game unless I physically go down there and biuy it for him? Stupid

I would give shooter games to close friends or if my son said it would be something they would like.

I wouldnt give a CD to someone mostly because everyone has their own taste in music and most prefer an itunes giift card. Also there are some of theose parents out there that get really offended that I am not june cleaver and am so laid back.

I also text my kids during school hours to pass on pick up info to them. I need my very own bad parent thread.

 

[allison443]

Just a vent - no need to be flamed here...

DD went to her gf's b'day party tonight - the b'day girl got Lady Gaga's CD as a present. When I walked in they were blaring it & singing it @ the top of their lungs. At 12!!
The mom of dd's friend didn't have a clue who Lady Gaga was & thus had no idea that the songs were bad - so I took the lyrics & showed her.

I'm just wonder if the mom of the kid who gave the gift is just clueless too or just doesn't care? The child (who I've never met before tonight) is invited to dd's party next week - it'll be interesting to see if we get the same present or not - I'm afraid it may end up in the trash during the party.

I don't think I'm really on top of things (hip or whatever the terminology is nowadays) but L.G is on tv ALL the time - maybe they don't watch tv

OP I guess this occurred when you walked in at the end of the party to pick up your dd?
In that case, the "damage" was done...the kids were already singing it before you got there, so they heard the lyrics. How did all the kids know the lyrics to sing along...I doubt they learned it that night from the cd.

What did the mom do when you showed her the lyrics? Did she ask the girls to stop singing? Did she turn off the cd?

 

[Minnie*J*]

Just a vent - no need to be flamed here...

DD went to her gf's b'day party tonight - the b'day girl got Lady Gaga's CD as a present. When I walked in they were blaring it & singing it @ the top of their lungs. At 12!!
The mom of dd's friend didn't have a clue who Lady Gaga was & thus had no idea that the songs were bad - so I took the lyrics & showed her.

I'm just wonder if the mom of the kid who gave the gift is just clueless too or just doesn't care? The child (who I've never met before tonight) is invited to dd's party next week - it'll be interesting to see if we get the same present or not - I'm afraid it may end up in the trash during the party.

I don't think I'm really on top of things (hip or whatever the terminology is nowadays) but L.G is on tv ALL the time - maybe they don't watch tv

Would you really throw away a birthday gift someone gave your child at the party while the child/guest is still there? That is a really hurtful thing to do to someone else's child.

I listen to some of Lady Gaga's songs, so therefore my 3 and 8 year old also listen to them. I don't think that means I am clueless or a parent that doesn't care. I am very conservative when buying a present for another person's child, so I probably wouldn't buy this cd for a birthday gift. However, I do think you overstepped by bringing the lyrics to the other parent as I think it is up to each parent to determine what is right for their own children to listen to. And I am sorry, but if you would really show your child that is ok to throw away a present that someone gave her AT THE PARTY, you are teaching her worse things than having her know a couple Lady Gaga lyrics.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Just a vent - no need to be flamed here...

DD went to her gf's b'day party tonight - the b'day girl got Lady Gaga's CD as a present. When I walked in they were blaring it & singing it @ the top of their lungs. At 12!!
The mom of dd's friend didn't have a clue who Lady Gaga was & thus had no idea that the songs were bad - so I took the lyrics & showed her.

I'm just wonder if the mom of the kid who gave the gift is just clueless too or just doesn't care? The child (who I've never met before tonight) is invited to dd's party next week - it'll be interesting to see if we get the same present or not - I'm afraid it may end up in the trash during the party.
I don't think I'm really on top of things (hip or whatever the terminology is nowadays) but L.G is on tv ALL the time - maybe they don't watch tv

I bolded the couple of statements I wanted to respond to. As to the first one, i agree with the previous poster who said that was going too far. Goodness, the mom may have been fully aware of the lyrics but not thought it was a problem until you got upset and then tried to cover by saying she hadn't realized. I can fully understand your objection to the music (I disagree but support you in not wanting to keep it from your DD) but I do not think you have a right to tell someone else what they can play at a party at their home--even if your DD is at that party. If you really are that dead set against your DD ever hearing it you will be better to keep her home or possibly let her only go on one on one outings where you can ask the paretns to control the music as a favour to you.


The second one I am thinking and hoping is jsut a typo. You wouldn't throw the CD away DURING the party where the giver's feeligs would be hurt would you? Surely you mean AFTER the party

Thanks for not flaming me

Just curious - would any of you give it as a b'day present to a 12 yo?

Yes - her videos are a WHOLE other story - just watched telephone a few mins ago - I was strictly thinking of lyrics

And yes her songs are SOOO catchy -shes great at what she does

Well, if it were a friend of the kids who often listened to such music and enjoyed it that we knew of then maybe. Just randomly, probably not becuase there are parents who object. However, it is not uncommon for the kids (ages 11 and 13) to head into town and buy a gift on their own. DD13 is pretty good at anticipating what might be objectionable to others and avoiding it, but I could see DS11 picking up Lady Gaga (whom he really enjoys) and not thinking twice about it. I might not even realize that was the CD he got It is after all the kid giving the gift, not the parent and kids that age are capable of picking, buying and wrapping a gift you know.

 

[Jennasis]

Congrats OP. You are officially OLD. Don't worry, I am too. When we start complaining about current popular music as being to edgy/racey (and I'm talking about stuff on the top 40 on the radio) then you are officially OLD...maybe even a fuddy duddy.

As kids I can't think of a single person, myself included, who didn't listen to edgy/racy songs by Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, etc etc. And we even SNUCK into the basement to listen to RAP! That stuff is super tame by today's standards.

Anyway, I think you were out of line to bring the lyrics to the birthday mom's attention. Parent your own kids. If you had a problem with the song, since it was already on, then you need to speak with your child about what he/she is permitted to listen to. She could have excused herself from the room. She'd have been the butt of crippling humiliation by the others, but she could have done it. I had to when I was her age. I was forbidden to use a Oija board and a friend pulled one out at a sleepove. I went upstairs to sit with her grandmother while the others played. They teased me mercilessly later,

 

[jenlynn0808]

[QUOTE I need my very own bad parent thread.[/QUOTE]

Tagfairy?

 

[NHdisneylover]

Would you really throw away a birthday gift someone gave your child at the party while the child/guest is still there? That is a really hurtful thing to do to someone else's child.

I listen to some of Lady Gaga's songs, so therefore my 3 and 8 year old also listen to them. I don't think that means I am clueless or a parent that doesn't care. I am very conservative when buying a present for another person's child, so I probably wouldn't buy this cd for a birthday gift. However, I do think you overstepped by bringing the lyrics to the other parent as I think it is up to each parent to determine what is right for their own children to listen to. And I am sorry, but if you would really show your child that is ok to throw away a present that someone gave her AT THE PARTY, you are teaching her worse things than having her know a couple Lady Gaga lyrics.

Sorry to have repeated what you said--I was already typing when your post went up

 

[Minnie*J*]

Sorry to have repeated what you said--I was already typing when your post went up

No worries! Seems we had the same thought to throwing away a gift at the party.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I can control what my children listen to at home, but the radio is on in the school bus, they go to friend's houses, etc. Most of the time the kids sing, they dont care about what the lyrics say, they just like the beat.

All you can do is hope that you have raised your children well with morals and values.

Actually my ex-DH loves head banging music. When we first met 20 years ago i was so against it, but you know what, the lyrics were actually better than some of the other top 40 music. One lesson I learned was that just because it is loud and sounds crazy, doesn't always mean that it is any worse.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Be amazed, my kids listen to alternative rock.

I listen to all the "pop", hip-hop, classic rock, etc...(I love music) so naturally my kids had to go a different direction.

 

[Christine]

I gave up worrying about music when, at my DD's 8th grade field day, the nuns did a line dance to "Crank Dat" by Soulja Boy.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I am one of those parents that lets my daughter listen to what she wants. I'll tell you right now there is a LOT worse than Lady Gaga out there. Lady Gaga gets an occassional eye roll from me but most of her songs I am fine with. You should hear some of the rap lyrics that are out there. I can't tell you the number of times I have been listening to my ipod (we share playlists) and ripped my earbuds right out of my ears.

Here is the way I look at it. My DD isn't acting out on this music. She's just listening to it just like I did with music that was out there when I was her age. Heck, anybody wanna sing along with me to a couple of oldies from when I was in high school?

Gonna find my baby gonna hold her tight
Gonna grab some afternoon delight
My mottos always been when it's right it's right
Why wait until the middle of a cold dark night?
Sky rockets in flight - afternoon delight!!!!

or

Like an angel she was laying there
Moonlight fell across her hair
She woke and took me by the hand
We made love in my Chevy van and that's all right with me.

In the last one the girl was a hitch hiker a common practice in the 70s. He picked her up and they ended up doing the dirty.

How about Bob Seger's Night Moves? Out in the cornfields where the woods got heavy, out in the back seat of my 60 Chevy. Working on mysteries without any clues - working on our night moves.

All the same topic, different words. I think back then the lyrics just left more to the imagination, that's all, but they were pretty clear.

As for your question of whether I would have bought this disc as a present; like you say, those parents may not have ever listened closely to the lyrics. I am sure they just figured it's a popular disc and the girl wanted it so they bought it.

 

[Freyja]

Thanks for not flaming me

Just curious - would any of you give it as a b'day present to a 12 yo?

Yes - her videos are a WHOLE other story - just watched telephone a few mins ago - I was strictly thinking of lyrics

And yes her songs are SOOO catchy -shes great at what she does

Yes, I wouldn´t hesitate to give it as a gift to a 12 yr old. Was hoping to catch her in concert when I travel to London with my 13 yr old.

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

I gave up worrying about music when, at my DD's 8th grade field day, the nuns did a line dance to "Crank Dat" by Soulja Boy.

Now that would have been a sight to see. "superman that hooooooooe".....hahahaha

 

[mhsjax]

I am going to date myself here but oh well. Kids aren't the only ones that don't listen to the words. I don't, well not very well apparently. I was driving my DS 8 to soccer and he wanted to hear Slow Ride by Fog Hat? ANyway, there he was belting out the lyrics, it wasn't until I listened to him sing it(and he knew every word) that I realized what the song was about. I had always heard it at the annual fair growing up, they played it on one particular ride, so I never gave it much thought. Good thing he doesn't know what any of it means. lol

 

[Magic Mom]

Thanks for not flaming me

Just curious - would any of you give it as a b'day present to a 12 yo?

Yes - her videos are a WHOLE other story - just watched telephone a few mins ago - I was strictly thinking of lyrics

And yes her songs are SOOO catchy -shes great at what she does

If that's what the girl wanted, and I OKed it with the mom first, then yes. Maybe the moms had already talked about it?

 

[Stacerita]

I wouldn't think twice about giving that as a gift to a 12 year old. I don't really censor much around here though. DD14 has her own taste in music and it does not involve Lady GaGa. I know what she listens to, and I am aware of what the lyrics are. But I still don't censor or tell her she can't listen to it. You may ban if from your home, or toss the cd in the trash, but that doesn't stop them from being able to hear it.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I have to agree that kids will listen to whatever is popular at the time. With my sister it was Billy Joel and Only the Good Die Young. When my mom heard the lyrics, she took the record and broke it over her knee. My sister bought it again, mom broke it over her knee again. Sister finally wisened up and bought the tape, listened to it in her car only, and never took it in the house. LOL! If they don't hear the music at home, they'll hear it elsewhere.

 

[pyrxtc]

I think 12 yrs old for Lady gag is fine. Music has always been objectionable to the parents of the teens/tweens listening to it. All hit music has had those underlying tones, some are just more blatant than other. My kids can listen to whatever they like, it is just music.