When JoJo Siwa became a meme... One mom's persepective...

Recently, JoJo Siwa tweeted out that she wanted to become a meme... From a sheltered, 15 year old girl, who only wants to see the good in this world, I don't think she thought the whole process through...

I don't think she realized that the internet brings out the worst in so many people.

And long story short, the memes turned out horrible...
Like, really horrible...

I was reading a recent post from JoJo Siwa (as do all 36 year olds) on Instagram and it broke my heart...

Here is a screen shot of the post I'm talking about...

And here are some comments...

Can we all agree that the internet has some immensely hateful people?

For those of you who don't know who she is, she's a Nickelodeon and YouTube pop star. She started out on the TV show, Dance Moms, and wore mega huge bows and brightly colored clothing to get noticed - it worked. Then, she released an awesome single, Boomerang -which she sky-rocketed from. 

She's 15 years old, but tries to keep a young persona. Mainly because, her fan base is pre-tween. She dresses young and loud, and wears her signature bows. She promotes kindness and her messages scream, to enjoy being a kid for as long as you can...

A message that is nowadays lost on most kids over the age of 10...

Sadly, people are berating her for dressing young. 

Saying, she should act her age...

But what does that even mean? To act 15 years old?

I was still playing with barbies and wore Punky Brewster style clothing at 13 years old. By 15, I was still trying to figure out who I was. 

I definitely wasn't as confident as JoJo is at 15 years old. I went to a city school, with a graduating class of over 300 kids -and it was very easy for me to get lost in the crowd, but I still felt like everyone was always looking at me. I'd never have the bravery to be who I wanted to be, no matter what anyone said about me, at only 15 years old.

Nowadays, 15 year olds act like they think they're 22. With a face full of thick make-up, short skirts, cut off shirts, and an attitude like they just did a dime upstate... 

Only, the majority of 22 year olds, don't even act like that.

My 8 year old daughter loves JoJo. Hell, I love JoJo. She reminds me of the 80's mall singing tweens that we all admired growing up - bubblegum style, who dressed young and acted their age and exuded positivity...

Kids are ranting and raving negatively all over social media - a complete mob mentality. Why? Because adults also do it all the time, that's why.

People are mean and heartless over the internet. They are using it as a mask, to pull out their inner dark side and be someone who they would never be in real life.

Kids are watching their own parents ridicule people all over the internet. Have you seen a thread about politics? Or vaccines? 

And, parents even think it's ok to shame their own children in photos and conversations, all over the internet.

Children are always watching and listening...

But, all of the sudden, you're not allowed to blame the parents... 

But then, where is all this originating from?? Bullying isn't something you're born with. It's a learned behavior...

Would society be ok if JoJo acted the way 99% of the commenters on her feed are acting. Does that show maturity, by cursing and shaming and bullying? Is that the way these kids see the world? How is that behavior normal, but yet, wearing glittery pink clothing and bows isn't?

That's a sad reality for kids.

But not for mine though.

At 15 years old, I really hope my daughter embodies her persona. I hope she embraces her confidence to be whoever she wants to be, even when you're the minority. I hope my daughter is still satisfied with being with her family, hanging home, dressing young, and not partying it up with boys...

I hope she's not wearing thick make-up and posing with duck lips in a bathroom mirror and sharing the pictures all over social media.

I hope to god, she uses proper grammar and articulates her thoughts and doesn't dumb herself down to fit into this new age, young, social media culture...

Honestly, if my daughter was as bubblegum as JoJo is at 15 years old, I'd say I did something right as a parent, and I'll arrogantly pat myself on the back for it...

JoJo Siwa, this world needs more kids like you.

*So, let's use this as an example. 

Let's teach our kids that mean words hurt and they stick with us as we age... Let's teach ourselves that nothing in this world warrants adults to badger and ridicule other adults over social media, just because some have different opinions. 

We're all individuals and that individuality should be praised, not stuffed in a box hidden away somewhere, because society doesn't want to deal with it...

And all of this, starts at home, with the parents...