Raising a Jersey Girl

December 09, 2009

Raising a Jersey Girl

On Thursday my daughter went to the Tropical Nightclub and on Friday she went to the Diva Spa. Such is the life of a four year old at the Jersey Shore. And, that is how we roll around here.

When my daughter, the social butterfly that she is, was invited to attend a party at the Tropical Nightclub for Kids I did a double take. I mean, I didn't get to see the inside of a nightclub until I was in high school and some friends and I chalked our drivers license so we could get inside for an over/under night. So, while a part of me felt that the whole "nightclub" thing was inappropriate for kids - I had to check this out. Friends of mine had just talked about taking their toddlers to Baby Loves Disco which is held in an actual club in Philly. And now, my 4 year old was invited to a nightclub (for kids). I let her go, I went with her, and she had a blast. The place looks kind of like a mix between popular Jersey Shore hot spots Jenks Club and Martell's Tiki Bar - except the patrons are all under 4 foot tall and are dancing to kids music.

On Friday, my daughter joined me in some pampering at the local "diva spa". How convenient for me (and my daughter) as the place is all of 2 minutes away from our home. My daughter has frequented several birthday parties there, and they do kids cuts, mother/daughter days, mani/pedis and all that girly fun. Since it opened in the spring we've gone there a few times and my daughter is all about the pedicure.This trip we were (finally) redeeming a mother's day gift certificate from Daddy and getting in some quality time together soaking our feet and getting our nails painted matching sparkly pink and purple. My daughter got a fancy sparking up-do hairstyle and I got a hand and foot massage. Ah Spa Bliss!

I have relatives and friends that have "lost it" on me - on facebook of all places - when I shared the cute little picture of my daughter wearing a spa-robe getting a pedicure. I've been accused of being frivolous because my 4 year old got a pedicure. I don't see the harm in teaching her that it is fun to get pampered now and again as a treat. If she came to expect it, that would be a completely different beast. For now, she is enjoying going to the girliest place on earth and I don't blame her! Besides, as the saying goes "Jersey Girls Wear Flip Flops in the Snow" - So, those toes better look nice!

But, its given me pause to think about the messages that we are sending our little kids through these "grown up" birthday parties and extravaganzas.

If we are taking our kids to Nightclubs and Spas today - what's left for tomorrow?

New Jersey Moms Blog post by MaryTara. MT blogs her adventures in parenting two beautiful children on the Jersey Shore, life with autism & without it, the gluten & casein free diet, and vaccination choice issues at The Bon Bon Gazette and raising a child with amblyopia at Adventures in Amblyopia.