Bad Mom?

Over the past few years, pageant shows have sparked major controversy over parenting methods, causing mothers across America to ask, "How young is too young for makeup?" Lindsay Cross stumbled into the issue herself when she posted an entry on a Mommy Confession blog, admitting that she and her daughter, four year old Brenna use cosmetics as a bonding technique. Cross says that every time there is a recital, picture day, or "any other event she deems fancy," she and her daughter sit down to curl her hair and apply a full face of makeup. While Cross says her daughter is only playing dress up, and make believing that she is older than she is, Brenna says she does it because, "It makes me pretty." It is this kind of thinking that causes child psychologists like Henry Paul to deem these habits unhealthy. Pressures from magazines and television instill poor self esteem and self image because of the constant struggle to reach "perfection" and "beauty," as labeled by the media.The "I'm only as good as I look" attitude is a big part of what causes psychological disorders in America's youth, particularly young women, such as depression and eating disorders. While Lindsay Cross may only think she is only allowing her daughter to have a little fun, she may inadvertently be causing the low self esteem she would normally not encounter until her early teens.

http://gma.yahoo.com/four-old-young-too-young-072532737--abc-news-topstories.html