Hi everyone!! I am so excited to be starting a blog about parenting.  It happens to be one of my favorite topics to discuss and I am really looking forward to having some honest and real discussions about current trends and issues in parenting.  I will usually begin each post with a response to parenting in the media, since that is accessible to most people.  But my hope is that our discussions dig deeper from there and really help us improve as parents.  More importantly, my vision for this blog is that is serves as a support network where we can help each other reach our parenting goals. 

This blog is also a great forum to ask parenting questions and seek resources. 

Enjoy and be well, Sheena

I have recently began watching "Dance Moms" on Lifetime, simply out of curiosity.  Lets completely set aside the abuse that the dance teacher, Abby Lee Miller, berates on the little girls and their moms.  The thing is really disturbs me is the fact that the moms are so willing to just take it.  Not only do they continue to expose their daughters to such extreme conditions as dancing until 10pm for 4-7 hours at a time, strutting costumes that are way too sexy for little girls, but the moms are actually PAYING tens of thousands of dollars for the maltreatment.  

I understand how, as a mom, you want your child to succeed.  If you see talent, personality and sparkle in your child, of course you would want them to aspire to be a star and might be willing to go to great lengths to support them in that dream.   But I do not think that means doing ANYTHING!  I would even go so far as to call this neglect. The moms (and of course Abby Lee Miller) are putting their owns desires and needs before the needs of their children.  The girls highlighted in this Pittsburgh-based reality show deserve to be children!! They deserve to get enough sleep and feel innocent and free--enjoying the experience of dance, instead of feeling like professional performers!

I'm really curious to hear what other parents think about this.  Feel free to reply based on your own experiences or check ou