The good, bad and ugly influences on our kids

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Desmond Devoy

EMC Editorial - The kids are all right.

Their role models, however, may leave something to be desired.

Where there were Donny and Marie and The Carpenters back in the 1970s, and even, dare I say it, Justin and Britney back in the late '90s, the current cutesy-wootsey couple for my niece Haven's generation is Justin and Selena (again with the Justins!).

When Homer got some tween magazines for his sick little girl Lisa on The Simpsons, including the aptly named rip on Tiger Beat magazine, Non-Threatening Boys Magazine, having flipped through the glossy pages, he asked "How many of these boys are named Corey?" Not missing a beat, Lisa replied, "Eight. Thanks Dad."

Amongst the many weird and wonderful press releases that cross our desks here at the office every week - Veterans Ombudsman to visit Timmins, NCC closes portion of Rockcliffe Parkway, Buy Swampland in Florida now and beat the second land rush - we got one earlier this month from whattodowiththekids.com, which detailed that, amongst 132 responses on who are the best and worst role models, Disney singer and actress Selena Gomez topped the list for best role model for girls, while her boyfriend Justin Bieber was tops for boys. (This is, according to parents.)

Hearteningly, a girl's mother and a boy's mother were in second place for both lists.

Also good to see was that America's First Lady, Michelle Obama, was in 10th place as a good role model, since she is a strong woman, and a woman of colour, like Tyra Banks, Oprah, and singer Beyonce.

Also interesting is that comedian and talk show host Ellen Degeneres, a lesbian, is on the list too.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is there too, along with country and western singer Taylor Swift, who has done so much at such a young age.

But the addition of Middleton is a little puzzling. She is a lovely young lady, a good wife to Prince William, certainly committed to the public good. But, really, what has she done, apart from wave, do a walk-about, get married, accept flowers from children?

If my daughter ended up like her, I would still be proud, but I also want her to accomplish something, which she no doubt will, once she's able to put her juice box down for long enough.

Also for the lady list, there is no shortage of talk show hosts and singers. All very good and accomplished sorts. But no scientists or engineers? Apart from Ms. Obama, no one of a political persuasion.

My mother used to say that we children could be anything we wanted, so long as it made enough to keep a roof over our heads and keep the wolf from the door.

But it would be nice to have horizons that extend beyond talk show hosts and singers.