Last week I saw a journalist put out a call for girls aged 11 and 12 for a magazine article, so I asked Neva and she happily agreed for me to put her name forward, as she really enjoyed doing the Argos YouTube Reviews last year.
However when I got an email back, I was a little surprised, it was for a well known teen magazine, but they wanted a photo of her with fashion style and make up!
Now, anyone that knows Neva would probably be falling off their chair at this point, yes Neva is nearly 13 years old, but NO she does not wear make up and she certainly doesn’t dress up for a picture, you are more likely to find her knee deep in mud chasing the chickens…
The more I thought about it, the more I questioned my upbringing of the children, none of my children have been interested in fashion and make up, even Xene at 17 only wears stage make up when she is in a show.
So, mums of tweens/teens am I normal not wanting my daughters parading in a full face of make up, or is this what is the norm these days.
The fact that this magazine is searching for girls of this age to parade all dressed up and wearing make up is quite worrying.
I don’t want my children to grow up too fast, but at the same time I don’t want them teased or bullied if they are not classed as ‘normal’
What are your thoughts on how a 12 year old should be ?
I think it’s really difficult to say, my daughter is 10 and loves experimenting with make up but is also sporty. I would not let her wear it outside the home though not at her age x
I was a total tom boy so I didn’t go near makeup at all till my very late teens I think it was. x
A lot of my friends at school were interested in make up at that age, but my parents were REALLY against it. I was quite a tom boy, and had a great childhood just being me, so really after a few tantrums it didn’t bother me. I look back and really appreciate that my parents didn’t let me grow up too quickly. I started dabbling with make up in my late teens and wore it properly when I started university, but even then I was never a face caker. If anything, growing up without make up has made me more confident in my own skin and I wear make up only when I feel like dressing up. It’s not used as a mask to cover up who I am. I agree, let kids be kids. WE all know life isn’t as fun when we group, so there’s no need to shorten their childhoods. xx
The same with me, I have never been a huge make up fan, whereas my sister is a beauty therapist, I love wearing it when I go out somewhere special, but I just don’t see it as something I need every day.
I just think its important to let children be themselves and if they show interest in makeup at an early age then thats fine, its an expression of themselves but equally if they dont want to wear it, thats ok too! xxx
I was interested in makeup at a young age too. Guess most of young girls would be.
It depends on the situation if it is a little bit of makeup to mess around with in the house then I don’t see a problem but a full face is a nono from me.
My daughter went through a stage of wanting to wear makeup at 12 but it didn’t last long, she is 15 now and still barely wears any.
It is shocking how some 12 year olds can look like 16 year olds. I have teen girls aged 15 and 19 and there is so much pressure on girls these days. Kaz x
I totally agree! Growing up comes with so much stress, so why not make the most of being a kid whilst you can.
To be honest I am surprised by how quickly girls grow up these days – maybe I am just showing my age but makeup wasn’t something I even thought about until I was much older.
It’s such a shame because childhood is so short – and it seems like it’s getting shorter!
I have sons so I can’t speak from parenting experience but when I was a kid I’d buy with pocket money, I guess from about 9 I had partial make up and from about 11 or 12 I had full face make up daily.
But I agree kids should be kids.
Buy… make up … with pocket money. Typo, sorry.
I think it’s important for kids to be whatever they want to be. I think if at 12 she was expressing a huge interest in makeup and fashion then that’ just something she’s into. I don’t remember when I started wearing makeup, but I know that it wasn’t at least until I was 16? There’s always an edge of caution, as long as they still look age appropriate then heck why not let them! If make up makes some girls happy, and digging around makes other girls happy then they should just be allowed to enjoy their childhood. I don’t think there’s anything abnormal about not wanting to be all slammed up at 12 or 17! It’s so amazing that you’re thinking of your girls and wanting them to be happy and feel accepted for who they are. You’re obviously doing an amazing job, I think they’ll be absolutely fine <3
This is shocking! Honestly! my sister is 14 and when I see her with mascara I am scared! like she is way to young for that!
A lot of Stacey’s friends go to school with a face full of makeup and they’re only 11! Yet Stacey is one of the oldest and although she’d like to wear a little makeup for school she admits she can’t be bothered to get up any earlier to put any on. And that works for me for now!!
Louise x
Ah don’t worry I think you are completely normal, I feel the same. Megan has never been into wearing dresses or make up, sometimes I wish she would do the girly thing because she always wears her hair in a ponytail and never lets me do anything different to it :/ but I’m not complaining, I think I am lucky considering a lot her age try and be grown up too early