New picture book, 'My Beautiful Mommy' teaches kids plastic surgery equals beauty

Posted on Apr 22nd 2008 3:58PM by Mary Kearl

As an assistant on the AOL Body team, I'm constantly reading the health headlines to stay up to date of current trends and medical advances. Yet, today when I read this article from the Washington Post, I was horrified and sickened at what to me appears as a step backwards. The article reviews a new picture book out for kids that explains "Mommy's" plastic surgery, by explaining that Mommy will be prettier when she comes home from the hospital. What kind of message will that send to kids about body image, self-esteem and gender? As another That's Fit Blogger pointed out, men are turning to cosmetic surgery too.

If plastic surgery is so prevalent, and no longer a hush-hush topic that there is a market for picture books explaining it to kids, then shouldn't we explain the whole story, not one that simplifies such a costly and controversial procedure?

5 Comment

Tags: health-bloggers

Around the Web

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Chris 4-22-2008 @ 7:14PM

Way to oversensationalize the whole thing.

First of all, the reason this doctor wrote the book was because HE got a nose job and his child was asking about it. So, what does that say about gender?

Also, it does not say that plastic surgery = beauty. It explains to a kid why his or her mother looks different. Now, the reasons behind getting plastic surgery are generally to look better, so what do you propose? Lie? Say nothing and leave the kid to wonder?

Say that the surgery isn't going to make Mom look prettier, or better? After all, that's very likely what's in the mother's mind when she chooses this route. This book is just being straightforward. And plastic surgery isn't "hush-hush". It shouldn't be. Just because one might elect for a cosmetic procedure doesn't mean one should keep it secret or act like it's something shameful.

iamjames 4-23-2008 @ 2:24AM

"Also, it does not say that plastic surgery = beauty"

Actually, that's exactly what it says, word for word:

""Not just different, my dear - prettier!" Mommy said."

Newsweek agrees:
"Naturally, it has a happy ending: mommy winds up "even more" beautiful than before, and her daughter is thrilled."
http://www.newsweek.com/id/132240/page/1

Is this the message children should get about plastic surgery? "What to be pretty? Get plastic surgery!"

Didn't a 18 yr old girl just die recently from plastic surgery?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,341313,00.html

I think this book is sickening, but you know plastic surgeons around the country will buy it up by the boatload and give it to patients with children for free. Why? Because in 10 yrs those grade school children will be spoiled high school teenagers begging for plastic surgery to make them feel better about themselves.

Beckie Weinheimer 4-22-2008 @ 6:54PM

As an author of children's books I do agree that if Mommy will be prettier books are coming out in picture book form, then we do need to balance this issue out, with perhaps a book titled, My mommy is Pretty Without Surgery.

Chris 4-23-2008 @ 3:20AM

Sorry, no it does not equate plastic surgery with beauty. That's an oversimplification. It says that this mom will come back "prettier", sure, but as I said, nobody has plastic surgery to look worse.

But this doesn't equate plastic surgery with beauty. It merely acknowledges that looking better is this mom's motive for choosing this surgery. And what's wrong with that? I'm all for acceptance, but I'm also all for adults choosing what to do with their own bodies without shame.

That 18-year old died from a surgical procedure meant to correct a congenital deformity. Would you have the same sick attitude toward women who are, say, undergoing breast implant surgery as a reconstructive procedure after mastectomy?

carlabirnberg 4-23-2008 @ 5:55AM

talked about a different book on my blog yesterday FULL MOUSE EMPTY MOUSE (picture book)

Id love your take on that as well!

M.
http://www.MizFitOnline.com