Even the expression on her face looks like she wants to smack you!
There is a not so fine line between being a supportive parent and allowing your young kid to have a game profile pic akin to a dominatrix. Despite serious odds to the contrary, I was able to maintain my emotionless game face when my daughter gleefully showed me this “pretty new matching outfit” her avatar was wearing today. Given that she typically opts for flowers and butterflies in the fashion world of gaming, I recognized that there must have been a specific reason for this choice. I paused momentarily before responding to allow all of the “you forgot the leash” and “no self respecting s&m wench would wear that flower headband without a complementary spike collar” type of comments to exit my mind in lieu of exiting my mouth. Not that she would have understood anyway, but even I have to draw the parental standards line somewhere.
Once the wise crack responses ceased running through my brain, I allowed my out loud voice to kick in. I asked her nonchalantly, “So what is it about this dress that you like?” She said that she wanted to look tougher because several people were teasing her about her babyish and girly profile name.
Boooooo!!!
At that point, I, too, wanted to bust out a tougher outfit and kick some avatar butt. Nevertheless I couldn’t permit an S&M response as we aren’t going for Fifty Shades of MoJo in this house. I calmly but directly explained that the dress and boots she had chosen were not appropriate for her age even if it was just a game. I told her that she had to find another outfit that was more suitable. She wasn’t pleased but it wasn’t earth shattering either, and she left to pick select something else.
And then returned with this little number…
This pasty boxy babe is effectively a mannequin displaying the clothing one can select.
Nooooooo.
I’m not going to allow an avatar with a skirt cut up to her hoo-hah either. Seriously Roblox. Stop. It.
I responded less nonchalantly this time. I wasn’t angry, but I wasn’t playing anymore either. There are other categories of clothing beyond frilly / girly and hoochie / biker wench. Pick another outfit.
And this was her final choice…
It struck me as rather unusual but perhaps she was aiming for a Richard Simmons kind of look.
I have always loved that guy. I can’t help but appreciate anyone who owns who he is through and through while also sharing humor and hope. Not too shabby Richard. You go boy! Ultimately that was the ensemble her character donned.
I know that this is a game, but are these really the kinds of options my kids are given? Seriously?
I frequently wake my kids up on school days by cranking up “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys or “Hypnotize” by Notorious B.I.G.. They are the clean versions, but I do feel like Amazon and I have seriously different takes on what the word clean means.
At what point did I become the stuffy parent? I typically don’t sweat the small stuff (nor do I Sweat to the Oldies even though I think that Richard Simmons seems like a sweetheart), but I’m not digging the hooker avatar option. I don’t want to raise a princess (although she will always be one to me), but I’m not interested in this route either. It was yet another reminder that I really have to keep a close eye on what the kids are doing on their phones. It appears that I am going to have to whip them into shape before they start thinking that they need to do the same to someone else. Yikes.
Momentum of Joy 