Makeup as gifts

[BadFeminist]

DD is 4.
This year the majority of her Xmas gifts are makeup.

Since starting school DD loves makeup, (and shit American accents and hair flipping) and this is what she has asked for.

She will watch YouTube tutorials on makeup (which I support because it's either that or that god awful Ava Isla and whatever the third one is and I cannot handle their mothers voice without breaking something) and really just wants to play and be "made up" with glittery shit and pink lipstick.

I don't do makeup, I use the same Superdrug eyeliner I've been using for ten years and my one bottle of foundation lasts about two years, so I'm a complete failure as a mother clearly.

Today discussing what the kids are getting in Work one of the wives of a colleague made hell of a face and said "oh god" but when I asked what she meant she just shrugged it off and said "oh nothing, I just think that's not really the done thing" but wouldn't elucidate any further.

Is is THAT big of a deal?

I think that's really sad. If you want artistic expression get her paints, crayons etc. Don't know what a 4 yr old is doing watching so much YouTube too... And such YouTube.

You're conspiring in her losing parts of her childhood op. Ott? Prob a bit but not much, she should be playing with friends and toys and crafty things, and maybe in a club she likes. Poor child.

A not of a massive reversal there op!!!

Would I give face paints? Yes. Proper make up? No way! I wouldn't even give a tinted lip balm. I might stretch to some of those stickers you can put on your nails. I would see it as encouraging to grow up way too early and encouraging her to think that looks and make up are so important that she's not getting anything else. I wouldn't give make up as a present until well into mid teens.

She's 4 and you're reading her The Subtle Knife?!

I think you are to blame tbh - my neice always asks me for jewellry and make up princess type stuff, but her mum (my sibling) is always firm that she won’t have it in the house. Parenting is difficult sometimes.

I wear three items of makeup, brows, eyeliner and foundation to cover a scar, not very often and occasionally a lipstick. I very much doubt a newly found obsession with makeup is my doing but I refuse to tell my child she cannot have an interest in something because I don't have an interest in it. DS sometimes watches videos on YouTube of a guy playing Minecraft, WTF? DS has minecraft? Why can't he just play it. But it's HIS time on the tv so it's his choice.

At her age I had two working ferrets, a horse and could shoot a gun. She has ZERO interest in any of that.

Where are the toys, dolls, games, books, puzzles?

In her bedroom, under the sofa, in their playroom.

Buggered if I'm just buying more glitter glue to go with the huge amount she has already. There's only so many felt tips one household can own.

She will watch YouTube tutorials on make-up which I support

A thousand no's to this. She is 4 years old. Becoming that interested in appearance at 4 is not just sad, it's unhealthy. I don't think I've ever got so far down off the fence on Mumsnet before but just NO.
Please stop 'supporting' this. You are the parent. You do set the tone and you can redirect your daughter to more appropriate and fun things.

It’s not a case of buy her make up or ignore her interests entirely. She’s 4. You can help shape her interests and develop ones that have nothing to do with make up and beautification.

She's your daughter, you know her well, it's your choice how you raise her, but you asked our opinion. I would have felt the same as your colleague, but I wouldn't have been rude enough to show it.

If you were for real, I'd say your colleague is dead right, and much nicer about it than I would be.

But since all of your posts are designed to shock and rile....meh. Can't be fucked.

I think that's really sad. If you want artistic expression get her paints, crayons etc. Don't know what a 4 yr old is doing watching so much YouTube too... And such YouTube.

She has those, in spades, she loves to paint.
Fifteen minutes in the morning after she's got dressed. And I will not let her watch that Bad Babies crap aimed at her age.
*
You're conspiring in her losing parts of her childhood op. Ott? Prob a bit but not much, she should be playing with friends and toys and crafty things, and maybe in a club she likes. Poor child.*

She goes to gymnastics and has a trampoline in the garden. She plays out with her friends, the sudden interest in makeup is since she has started school so I'm assuming it's adopted from her peers.

Can we be clear though, I'm not pimping her out or taking her to clubs, because I fear that's going to be the next suggestion...

Hmm...The Subtle Knife is aimed at teenagers. Well, I guess we all parent differently.

*If you were for real, I'd say your colleague is dead right, and much nicer about it than I would be.

But since all of your posts are designed to shock and rile....meh. Can't be fucked*

Oh, you've just got your knickers in a twist because you fail to bother me.

You're one of those people who comments on a Facebook post "omg who cares", well, obviously you do

By MN standards I'm a pretty slack parent, but no. Not something I'd want for my four year old.

If you were so sure about your own response top this, why are you posting the question? Wouldn't you just dismiss your colleague's wife's opinion as not worth thinking about?

Why were your colleagues wives at work with you? (was it Xmas lunch?)

By MN standards I'm a pretty slack parent, but no. Not something I'd want for my four year old

I'm not particularly chuffed that my daughter is my polar opposite to be honest
I'd much rather be shopping for a nice pony right now. But there we are.

Bit of a U turn from your initial post of the majority of presents being make up.

Also, ‘since starting school’ she’s liked it and American accents etc...is there a correlation because no 4 year olds I have ever taught have watched YouTube videos about make up and are that into it!

I suppose if you're choosing between makeup and a gun, the makeup's relatively harmless.

Are you in deepest Tennessee or something?

I see nothing wrong in it if she's just playing and putting it on for fun. You can't change a child's interests. I used to love jewellery when I was little and had kids sets of clip on earrings and beady necklaces. If my mother had let me wear her jewellery I would have. I used to get nice earrings and bracelets for birthday gifts too. And as for makeup I'd have loved that when I was little too I used to have to make do with free lip gloss out of magazines and glitter. I used to love nail polish too.

YABU. There are better things to teach her at that age.

Why did you ask if you were unreasonable and then argue with everyone who says you are?

Children are individuals with their own interests. As long as your dd knows make up is just for fun and she doesn't need it as beautiful as she is.

Never mind the make-up- I'm more shocked that you are reading a four year old 'The Subtle Knife.' Why???