Ben Preiss
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Fueled by the MTV show “My Super Sweet Sixteen,” birthdays, bat mitzvahs, high school graduations and quinceaneras have become excuses for tears, tantrums and finally extortion. Weak-willed parents take on extra jobs, second mortgages, sell kidneys to placate Princess and give her the bestest Super Sweet Sixteen that her materialistic MasterCard wielding mind can devise and ,of course, they also have to surprise her with a BMW cabriolet.  “I read an article about parties for teenagers titled ‘Don’t You Wish Your Party Was Hot Like Mine,’ and that said it all,” said Susan Reardon, a Litchfield County mother who is planning a $12,000 birthday party for her nearly 16-year-old daughter, Grace. Those plans include specially designed invitations, a tented backyard with linen-covered round tables, a dance floor, a band, an ice cream sundae bar and DVDs of the celebration for all the guests.
“I’m not sure this party is so much about celebrating her birthday but about her being ‘in,’” said Reardon, a mother of three. “You do what you do for your kids, even it means biting your tongue and spending the money.”
Andrea Manning, spokeswoman for “My Super Sweet 16,” which premiered in 2005, said the show covers outrageous events because that’s what people want to watch. “These events are planned before MTV comes into the mix,” she e-mailed. “We do not plan the parties for the families. We aren’t promoting these parties; we are just documenting teenagers who are having lavish Sweet 16 parties.”
(www2.ljworld)References: miamiherald, www2.ljworld Filed In: |
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