debutante balls

The materialism and extravagance of MTV’s show is a far cry from what the average teen can expect. Thank goodness, or we’d have a nation of brats, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. (TIME magazine’s Anne Marie Cox wrote of MTV’s teens in a recent article, “Their blingy flings are not celebrations of accomplishment; they’re celebrations of self.”) Even debutantes, those clichéd well-to-do southern belles, hold a coming out ball ostensibly not to show off, but to be formally introduced to polite society. What’s more, these debutante balls are often charity occasions, “in which the parents of the young ladies, as well as all attending, must contribute a certain sum of money to the cause at hand,” according to Wikipedia.

Maybe MTV could take the hint…but doing good works doesn’t make for good TV; spoiled, privileged, selfish brats do. Indeed, Cox says, “What used to mark the end of childhood now seems only an excuse to prolong the whiny, self-centered greediness that gives infantile a bad name. Far from joining polite society like the debutants of the past, the kids gleefully rip through social graces, alienating friends and sacrificing tact all in the name of creating a VIP room filled with people too young to drive themselves home.” Yuck.

So what’s the parent of a teen to do when he or she doesn’t have a few extra hundred thou lying around? How about inviting a few close friends and family for an intimate, meaningful sweet sixteen party? Make the day extra special by presenting your teen with some nice traditional sweet sixteen presents that won’t break the bank, will be appreciated and won’t be tossed aside the moment something better comes along. Here are some timeless sweet sixteen gift ideas to celebrate this important right of passage for a child who actually deserves the recognition:

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Never seen the show? It centers around a spoiled teen or two, trailing them as they plan their sweet sixteen party, make outrageous, selfish demands, shed tears, throw tantrums, and torture their peers with lines like, “You’re not important enough to be invited.” Oh, and then there’s footage of the actual party, where the guest of honor may enter riding on a litter, behind the wheel of a luxury car, pulled by horses, or shuttled in a helicopter. The featured entertainment might be Kanye West, Ciara, Rihanna, or Diddy, the king of nouveau rich tasteless excess himself, to name a few. At the end of the night, the kids are presented with sweet sixteen gifts such as luxury vehicles (some get two!), jewelry and even homes. Their overindulgent, self-satisfied parents, portrayed to be every bit as awful as their kids—the truth, or the result of careful editing we don’t know—gloat in the background. I guess money can’t buy happiness, but it sure can by popularity.

Before you get too jealous of these pampered kids, consider how tough they have it, with their every whim catered to, their every foot-stamping demand met. As one teen put it, “Being rich is hard work!” Indeed.

The materialism and extravagance of MTV’s show is a far cry from what the average teen can expect. Thank goodness, or we’d have a nation of brats, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. (TIME magazine’s Anne Marie Cox wrote of MTV’s teens in a recent article, “Their blingy flings are not celebrations of accomplishment; they’re celebrations of self.”) Even debutantes, those clichéd well-to-do southern belles, hold a coming out ball ostensibly not to show off, but to be formally introduced to polite society. What’s more, these debutante balls are often charity occasions, “in which the parents of the young ladies, as well as all attending, must contribute a certain sum of money to the cause at hand,” according to Wikipedia.

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