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Growing up: what’s the hurry?

By Catherine Toth Fox • August 5, 2013 • Musings, The Daily Dish

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I can’t remember a time when I actually wanted to be a grown-up.

Not even now.

I never wanted to wear makeup — still don’t — and I never tried on my mom’s high heels.

The only grown-up thing I wanted to do was drive — independence! — and write real checks. I thought that was the coolest thing my mom did — until I found it she wrote checks to pay bills. That sucked.

But now I’m reading about kids — mostly girls — who are trying to be a lot older than their age. They want to wear bras and high heels. And I’m not talking about the training bras with tennis racquets or flowers on them. They want push-up bras, underwire support, padded cups! There are even some lingerie lines selling thongs — yes, thongs — to little girls. It’s just insane.

NBC’s “Today” conducted a poll online, asking viewers what’s the appropriate age for girls to wear heels. Forty-five percent said older than 16 — but the majority (47 percent) said ages 13 to 16 was OK, too. That was a bit shocking. Thirteen is quite young for heels, I think, though it all depends on how high these heels are and for what purpose these tweens are wearing them.

I’m not sure what the intent is for girls to act and dress older. Is it for attention? Is it to get respect? I totally can’t relate.

But I do know this: when they finally get what they want — adulthood and all of its responsibilities — I’m sure they’ll wish they were kids again.

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About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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8 Comments

  • Reply M August 5, 2013 at 7:41 am

    Hello Cat!
    I don’t understand why they want to be so grown up at a young age then when they get older they want to be younger.

  • Reply matt August 5, 2013 at 8:17 am

    hey Cat, not to nitpick…actually, yes, to nitpick…but it’s a plurality, not a majority that voted 13-16. sorry, math nerd here.
    ftr, what other people want to do is ok with me but my daughter will be in jogging shoes (or someother unattractive footwear) until she graduates college.
    actually, heels are ok, to me, for special occasions stuff (prom, etc) but as a part of the normal footwear rotation? grow up, first.

  • Reply rayboyjr August 5, 2013 at 9:01 am

    Hey Cat … I get that they want that movie star look in heels … but I guess they’ll quickly learn how painfully uncomfortable it can get …

    … I have yet to meet a woman … who hasn’t complained about how painful her feet are in high heels …

    … I mean is it even worth it … by the end of the night, they’re walking barefoot …

  • Reply toekinam808 August 5, 2013 at 9:48 am

    Funny you mention this article. Just yesterday my boss and his family went to church. His 7 yr. old daughter was wearing heels! It totally blew me over and I asked him why is she wearing heels at such a young age? I seldom wear heels, I’m too tall for it (5’11)
    I think heels are meant for adults, 18 yes and older for work or even an interview or special occassions.

  • Reply dbjack August 5, 2013 at 10:26 am

    The older you get the younger you wish you were…

  • Reply M August 5, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    My daughter, 26, never wanted to look older when she was in her younger days. She doesn’t even wear makeup today. When she went to the prom in HS, that was the first time she even worn a dress and she didn’t even know how to put on makeup or even owned any.

  • Reply Annoddah_Dave August 6, 2013 at 5:53 am

    CAT: When I was 17 I wanted to be 35, a man of the world, a raconteur, making money and being single. I did most of it and enjoyed the ride. Today, I am old, fat, and poor but still enjoy it. When I see a young and attractive woman, I sometimes wish I were younger, but then I realize they would not have the same experience and thus, what are we going to talk about??? well, maybe, it is not all talk…LOL. Many young girls do not know how to dance hand in hand.

  • Reply Dennis August 6, 2013 at 6:51 am

    Hi Cat! The good thing about being 70 is not remembering when you were young. I was only 25 yesterday and here I am trying to remember my first Prom. Don’t grow up too fast. You might wake up at age 70 and miss out this wonderful young world which has so much to offer.

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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