| "It's so great to boss people around." | | | | young ladies, as well as all attending, |
| "It was awesome having cameras follow | | | | must contribute a certain sum of money |
| me...I'm awesome and I deserve it." | | | | to the cause at hand," according to |
| "This is how it should be every time I | | | | Wikipedia. |
| enter a room." [teen as she is carried | | | | Maybe MTV could take the hint...but |
| in on a litter] | | | | doing good works doesn't make for good |
| "I had to show people how rich I am." | | | | TV; spoiled, privileged, selfish brats |
| Do these comments make you want to throw | | | | do. Indeed, Cox says, "What used to mark |
| up? Of course, and what's worse, they're | | | | the end of childhood now seems only an |
| real! These bratty statements are actual | | | | excuse to prolong the whiny, |
| quotes from the latest MTV reality | | | | self-centered greediness that gives |
| stars: girls and boys whose super-rich | | | | infantile a bad name. Far from joining |
| and apparently super-tactless parents | | | | polite society like the debutants of the |
| give the little darlings anything they | | | | past, the kids gleefully rip through |
| desire for their sweet sixteen parties. | | | | social graces, alienating friends and |
| Throwing elaborate televised bashes that | | | | sacrificing tact all in the name of |
| cost upwards of $200,000 and indulging | | | | creating a VIP room filled with people |
| every whim of their prince or princess, | | | | too young to drive themselves home." |
| the parents show who rules the household | | | | Yuck. |
| (the kids) and what really matters | | | | So what's the parent of a teen to do |
| (getting your fifteen minutes however | | | | when he or she doesn't have a few extra |
| you can, in this case, by buying it). | | | | hundred thou lying around? How about |
| What a great life lesson: If you've got | | | | inviting a few close friends and family |
| it, flaunt it, and it's okay to trash | | | | for an intimate, meaningful sweet |
| people in your quest for pseudo-fame. | | | | sixteen party? Make the day extra |
| These kids make Paris Hilton and Omarosa | | | | special by presenting your teen with |
| look like beacons of etiquette and | | | | some nice traditional sweet sixteen |
| accomplishment. | | | | presents that won't break the bank, will |
| Sure, MTV's newest reality show, My | | | | be appreciated and won't be tossed aside |
| Super Sweet Sixteen, which premiered | | | | the moment something better comes along. |
| last January, is designed to be over the | | | | Here are some timeless sweet sixteen |
| top and outrageous. That's the whole | | | | gift ideas to celebrate this important |
| point. It's the reality TV equivalent of | | | | right of passage for a child who |
| a bloody train wreck: You are appalled, | | | | actually deserves the recognition: |
| but you just can't avert your eyes. The | | | | Pearl Necklace: This timeless classic |
| kids are so obnoxious and so clueless as | | | | can carry your teen from high school to |
| to how awful they sound, that you stay | | | | college to her first job and even to her |
| glued to your tube just to see what | | | | wedding. She'll treasure it and pass it |
| horrifyingly selfish thing they'll say | | | | on to her daughter some day. Round |
| or do next. | | | | freshwater strands are affordable and |
| Never seen the show? It centers around a | | | | can rival the quality of saltwater |
| spoiled teen or two, trailing them as | | | | akoyas. |
| they plan their sweet sixteen party, | | | | Pearl Ring: Another timeless treasure, |
| make outrageous, selfish demands, shed | | | | the pearl ring is sweet and demure...and |
| tears, throw tantrums, and torture their | | | | unique. Unlike a diamond ring, which has |
| peers with lines like, "You're not | | | | wedding connotations, or a gold ring, |
| important enough to be invited." Oh, and | | | | which can be too flashy, a pearl ring |
| then there's footage of the actual | | | | gets just the right kind of attention. |
| party, where the guest of honor may | | | | Pearl Jewelry Set: Why not get her a |
| enter riding on a litter, behind the | | | | complete pearl jewelry set? She'll be |
| wheel of a luxury car, pulled by horses, | | | | ensured of having a matching bracelet, |
| or shuttled in a helicopter. The | | | | pearl earrings and a pearl necklace that |
| featured entertainment might be Kanye | | | | she can mix and match for any occasion. |
| West, Ciara, Rihanna, or Diddy, the king | | | | Diamond Studs: A little pricey, but |
| of nouveau rich tasteless excess | | | | worth it, as diamond studs are a jewelry |
| himself, to name a few. At the end of | | | | staple she'll wear forever. If |
| the night, the kids are presented with | | | | responsibility isn't your teen's |
| sweet sixteen gifts such as luxury | | | | strongpoint, CZ studs can look just as |
| vehicles (some get two!), jewelry and | | | | good, and at $40 or so a pop, it won't |
| even homes. Their overindulgent, | | | | matter much if she loses them. |
| self-satisfied parents, portrayed to be | | | | Charm Bracelet: A teen favorite for |
| every bit as awful as their kids-the | | | | decades, charm bracelets are special |
| truth, or the result of careful editing | | | | because they can be personalized. Add a |
| we don't know-gloat in the background. I | | | | slipper charm for your ballerina, a |
| guess money can't buy happiness, but it | | | | horseshoe for your equestrian, a pearl |
| sure can by popularity. | | | | charm for a June birthday girl... keep |
| Before you get too jealous of these | | | | adding charms on every special occasion |
| pampered kids, consider how tough they | | | | and soon she'll have an unforgettable |
| have it, with their every whim catered | | | | keepsake. |
| to, their every foot-stamping demand | | | | Frame: A beautiful frame made of brushed |
| met. As one teen put it, "Being rich is | | | | stainless steel, wood or mother-of-pearl |
| hard work!" Indeed. | | | | makes a great gift. To personalize it, |
| The materialism and extravagance of | | | | fill it with a photo of you and the |
| MTV's show is a far cry from what the | | | | teen, a poem that reminds you of her, or |
| average teen can expect. Thank goodness, | | | | her birthday horoscope. |
| or we'd have a nation of brats, which | | | | For boys, magazine subscriptions and |
| couldn't be farther from the truth. | | | | gift certificates to the teen's favorite |
| (TIME magazine's Anne Marie Cox wrote of | | | | store, or even sixteen of something (16 |
| MTV's teens in a recent article, "Their | | | | CDs or 16 movie passes, for example), |
| blingy flings are not celebrations of | | | | can make the day special. Best of all? |
| accomplishment; they're celebrations of | | | | No Diddy required. |
| self.") Even debutantes, those clichéd | | | | A graduate of the Gemological Institute |
| well-to-do southern belles, hold a | | | | of America's Graduate Pearls program, |
| coming out ball ostensibly not to show | | | | Amy Drescher is a fashion writer and |
| off, but to be formally introduced to | | | | accessories buyer for Check out her |
| polite society. What's more, these | | | | daily blog, Amy's Style Café, at She |
| debutante balls are often charity | | | | welcomes your comments and questions. |
| occasions, "in which the parents of the | | | | |