I've got this under control.
My daughter Madeleine is obsessed with Justin Bieber. Obsessed, but in a healthy way; there is no melodrama
surrounding the obsession. She likes his
music and enjoyed the movie. There are posters on her wall and there are a
couple Bieber barbies in her collection (largely outnumbered by the female
blonde beauties and a few flashier-than-I remember-Ken dolls). There’s also a t-shirt, but it’s not your
typical fan t-shirt because it came from H&M, obviously upping its cool
factor.
She finds it really annoying when the girls scream and weep when
he’s singing because she can’t hear the song.
Like when you go to a concert and everyone is singing along to your
favourite song and you might as well be at HOME because you paid money to hear Bono/Dave
Grohl/Brian Fallon/insert your fave here, not to hear these CLOWNS with their rock-on hands... but I
digress.
The music snob in me hates to admit it, but I don’t really mind
her choice of idol; he’s a wholesome Canadian boy who walks the walk with
regards to being kind and generous to others.
He loves his mama. I do monitor
him closely for any sign of questionable behaviour though, and nearly had to
de-Bieber the house when the paternity suit was wrongfully filed against him last
year.
At Madeleine’s age, my idols were John Schneider (TV’s Bo
Duke from Dukes of Hazzard), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), and Carrie Fisher (note
the theme). I actually had a Carrie
Fisher Fan Club for a time, but it was run into the ground by poor
management.
Mark Hamill, sporting the original Bieber 'do
Madeleine is following the
trend for girls her age, but the fact that she also loves the Dropkick Murphys
and Peter, Paul & Mary reassures me that she’s inherited her father’s and
my eclectic taste in music (Hanson, anyone?).
A few days ago, we were watching a segment on Ellen where the
Beebs showed up by surprise; naturally the (mostly female) audience is going
insane. Madeleine is transfixed.
They want to kiss him, Mom.
Really?
They do.
But you don’t want to kiss him, right?
OH yes. Yes I do.
Pause
Okaywellyou’retooyoungtokissanybodyandweonlykisspeoplewhenwe’regrownupandturnoffthe
tvandgettothetableit’sdinnertimeandthenbedandgoodnight.
I got this.
Oh yeah, and the jammies...