Today was Julie's birthday party! Following in her siblings' footsteps, she invited her friends to our local artsy cinema, where they let you bring a DVD (Julie chose "Chicken Little"), they give each kid popcorn and lemonade, and then they set up a big table for cake. It was an early-release day, so we had a good-sized crowd of kindergarteners.
Ever one to buck the latest trends, Julie requested that her friends bring presents for her in lieu of donations to our favorite charity. She got some arts & crafts kits, books, dress-up stuff, let's see, oh yeah, a few Barbies. Which means that it's time for a confession of my own: I, your sworn champion of the Barbie-Free Home, bought Julie a Barbie for her birthday two weeks ago. I was really torn. I've always hated Barbie (for all the right reasons, I think) and vowed never to have one in my house. Steph never really wanted one, so I could be obnoxiously self-righteous without having to disappoint my kid. But, oh, how Julie pined after Barbie! So I persuaded myself that the Barbie Pet-Sitter was not an example of the worst kind of Barbie around, because Hey! She's in a helping profession! But who do I think I'm fooling? I caved. Try not to think less of me.
Not to worry. I grew up with Barbie and I think I turned out ok. I graduate college and even got a master's degree. And my daughter LOVED her many Barbies and she not only went to Berkeley but now on her way to a PhD. We're both pretty liberal feminists. It will be fine. :-)
Posted by: susan | October 25, 2007 at 06:27 PM
Okay I 'graduated' college but that didn't make me a great typer.
Posted by: Susan | October 25, 2007 at 06:28 PM
I know. :-) But mark my words: I will NEVER buy one of those horrible BRATZ.
Posted by: Karen | October 25, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Barbie is harmless as a nun compared to those slutty bratz dolls! My mom forbid me to have Barbies as a kid and it drove me nuts so when my daughter turned 3 I gave her ballerina Barbie. Five years later she still plays with it as well as the fairy barbies. Life's short- love Barbie!
Posted by: Sara | October 25, 2007 at 08:52 PM
The ridiculous thing is that we have Polly Pockets up the wazoo (well, not literally) in this house. Why are they any better than Barbie? Who knows why I do anything?
Posted by: Karen | October 26, 2007 at 12:21 AM