Media... or Parenting?

Anyone who knows me knows just how much I love karaoke. I mean, I have always really liked karaoke - probably more than most people like just about any other hobby out there.

Have you ever decided on whether or not to buy a house based on how close it is (or isn't) to a golf club? Well, I have actually refused to buy a house based solely on whether or not there was a karaoke bar within driving distance.

Okay, you caught me... a karaoke bar and a Starbucks. But my point stands the same.

I love karaoke.

So imagine my dismay when my local karaoke bar decided to begin allowing children to come in, hang out and sing. Granted, there is a time limit - everyone under the age of 21 has to be out by 10 P.M. But I still thought, what kind of idiots would promote bringing children into a bar? Don't get me wrong, this is a relatively nice bar with large windows, lots of light and every one is really nice. But a bar is no place for a kid!

So, first week goes by and I see very few children under the age of, say, 15. Okay... well, most 15 year olds are already fairly cynical anyway and they know about drinking. For that matter, there are probably a lot of 15 year olds who are drinking. So I'm thinking that this might not be too bad.

That is, I didn't think that it would be that bad until this past weekend.

Why, what happened? Glad you asked.

So, 9 P.M. on Saturday night, my husband and I walk into the karaoke bar and as we're saying hello to our friends, ordering our sodas and sitting down to begin choosing our sings and maybe sneaking in a game of darts, I hear a new name called up to sing. I look up and the child is maybe, maybe 9 years old. And what do you think she's singing?

If you guessed Bottom's Up by Trey Songz, you'd be right. Dance, swears and all. It was one of the saddest failures in parenting I think that I have ever seen. And when she finished, cheers. Standing ovations. Calls for encores. She waved, curtsied, danced a little more, and turned in another song to see if she'd be able to sing again before she had to leave at 10...

Well, I wish it had been an entirely pleasant evening. You see, I was a little confused about how a 9 year old learns a song like "Bottom's Up" well enough to sing it karaoke. Yes, I know the words are on the screen - but words don't cover tempo and they aren't always accurate. So, anyway, I asked the mother about her... And the mother blamed the media.

Wait... what?

Are you telling me that mother has absolutely no control over what she allows her daughter to watch, listen to, or sing?

Come on people! That is nothing more than lazy parenting! Stop shirking your responsibilities and take care of your kids! Yes, I do realize that the media does provide some influence - but it only picks up where you leave off.