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AIBU?

not to want my children to be the "next Jedward"?

9 replies

jessiealbright · 02/12/2010 23:15

I have many, many problems with my mother, to the point that I sometimes over-react to normal remarks from her, simply because it was she that said them, IYSWIM. Which is where you lovely ladies and gentlemen come in.

I have beautiful, wonderful, gorgeous identical twin boys. My mother keeps saying, CONSTANTLY and quite seriously, "maybe they'll grow up to be the next Jedward" and "it would be great if they were musical, they could be the next Jedward". (As a matter of fact, like any other pfb's mother, I am convinced that they are musical, but that's a matter for smuggery somewhere else. )

I have higher hopes for them than being a modern day freakshow act, though. And as far as I can tell, that's what Jedward are: "Look at the freaky identical twins who can sing". Would Jedward have won the X Factor or whatever if they weren't identical twins, and were just two (dissimilar-looking) best friends who'd formed a band?

I don't have anything against Jedward for being Jedward, but why should my boys be put in a "next Jedward" box, just because they're identical twins?

I want them to have happy, successful, fulfilling lives that keep them and their families fed, safe and warm, but why couldn't any musical career they might have be founded on talent?

I've tried saying all this, and she doesn't respond at all, except to say "I saw them on Never Mind the Buzzcocks" and they seem very bright" and "They're very close to their mother, and I think she'll keep them down to earth".

Meanwhile, there are musicians out there with actual degrees, like Brian May of Queen. But obviously "the twins" (as she always talks about them) needn't aspire that high, need they?

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Fuchzia · 02/12/2010 23:19

Can see why this wld really grate. I'd agree Jedward is not in any way aspirational. So YNBU, does your mum not get out much?

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jessiealbright · 02/12/2010 23:24

Oh, thank you! That's exactly the word I'm been looking for- was struggling to articulate my feelings for the past half hour here.

I can't say that she does get out much, no!

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PhishFoodAddiction · 02/12/2010 23:25

YANBU Jedward are hideous and talentless not exactly aspirational figures.

Sounds like you have a lot of tension with your mum which must be tough. Just ignore her if she goes on about Jedward. Or buy her their album (if they have one) she'll soon change her tune! Literally

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PhishFoodAddiction · 02/12/2010 23:26

aspirational or inspirational? One of them anyway.

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pjmama · 02/12/2010 23:26

Buy her their album for Xmas, that'll teach her!

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Joolyjoolyjoo · 02/12/2010 23:29

YANBU! I have just started letting my children watch the X-factor, but have made it clear that

aspiring to be famous is a Really Bad Thing
They will never be allowed to even audition
if they do audition, I will not be standing gushing in the wings about how I always knew they would be stars.

Jedward are dreadful!

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MrManager · 02/12/2010 23:31

Those are the twins of the moment. A few years ago it would have been the Weasley twins. A few years before that it would have been the Olsen twins.

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jessiealbright · 02/12/2010 23:35

Either she'll text me to say "actuly jedward r Crap. Really disappointed" or she'll be really happy with her present. Either way, I win.

I think she's convinced herself that they're good, just because they're identical twins.

She was texting me last year about how she was going to watch the X Factor because of them, and she really hoped they would be good. I suppose it's kind of sweet that she's been thinking about their future even when they weren't even 1, but...

I'm obviously going to be struggling to get her to treat them as individuals for the rest of her life, aren't I?

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jessiealbright · 02/12/2010 23:39

Too many third person plurals in penultimate paragraph.

She was texting me last year about how she was going to watch the X Factor because of Jedward, and she really hoped that Jedward would be good. I suppose it's kind of sweet that she's been thinking about my boys' future job opportunities when they weren't even 1, but...

Why can't she aspire for them to be good at something and live off it? Rather than to be famous for an accident of birth and live off that? WHYYYYYYY?

Well, at least I know that she's not sexist. Low aspirations for daughter and grandsons!