Force Ripe?

"She too blasted force ripe! Deese chirren need to take dey time" were some of the expressions my grandmother and her peers would use for children (often little girls) who did things at (what some consider) a young age. I remember once I painted my nails red - can't remember how old I was - and she nearly fainted blaming my older cousins, tv and other sorts for my 'force ripe'ness'.I am reminded (fondly) of that moment whenever I pick up red polish. Without clearly understanding why she was so upset, I know that I thought it was funny. And I didn't take off the nail polish...

One website innocently asked about Willow Smith's (child of Will and Jada) haircut...if it is too much for a 9 year old. Many of the comments revealed outrage (much like Granny's) about Willow's look, her parents' rearing rules, and even societal pressures. Others were in favour of her self-expression and applauded her style.

Recently, I was watching Fashion Television and there was a segment about a 13 year old blogger who covered one of her favourite fashion labels. How cute, I thought. A fews days later I stumbled upon an article about the young fashionista Tavi, and was much more intrigued. I was a little disturbed by the connation used to describe the taste of Tavi. I later visited her blog and thought that this child is brilliant.

If the respective parents of these children only have to worry about haircuts and blogs then I'd say things are great for them. And besides they are just kids...let them make their mistakes - both beauty and editorial - and learn from them. What is truly wonderful and inspirational is that these young girls have got the confidence to display themselves and tap into their beings that don't only involve homework and chores. Shoot...at age 13 I was probably busy plotting revenge on the boy who snapped my bra strap. Self expression is beautiful and not often lauded in a West Indian household. Go'head girls....show'em what'cha made of...

I don't have any children so perhaps I don't know what it is to love so fiercely. I do however, realize that parents (aka the critics) just want to protect their kids from the perils that will surely come and it is some conveyed in all types of "Dis RED nail polish yuh wearin'?" and "my child can NEVER wear her hair like that". Only now do I realize my grandmother's fears. She wanted me to do (or not do) everything that would steer me away from 'trouble'...even evils in the form of nail lacquer. Oh, the horrors I've put my kinfolk through. Speaking of trouble...how much fierceness (and hot water) is barely 20 year old model Jourdann Dunn catwalking for Jean Paul Gautier with her preggars self? She just had a baby boy. Congrats to her!

Yours,

Asha
xoxo