It’s not clear when exactly it happened nor am I sure it’s even a bad thing. At some point recently I discovered the way I watch MTV has changed. And I’m not talking about the way it’s gone from Music Television to something more like Moron Television. But, more the point of view from which I watch the programming supplied some of which is very difficult to surf away from.

I only just realized this new point of view this morning while watching the tail end of My Super Sweet 16 directly following my shower. I thought to myself; Wow, even if I had the means to provide such a party for my kids, I never would. Instead of the desired effect of; Wow, I want to do that too.

Now it’s not that I’m a mean or strict parent that wants to strip all manner of joy from my children’s lives, in fact if you know me even a little you know I put them first always.

I just believe the idea of having an extravagant and expensive birthday party with invites and rock bands and limos and a new car as a present is just an insane level of celebration for anyone, but most especially someone that’s still in between, in that limbo state of personal growth, where you’re no longer a child, but neither are you an adult. You want to be an adult but you’re bogged down by confusion and childish expectations and wishes. This is the one time in your life you should not be catered to hand over foot.

Setting a precedence for unrealistic expectations beyond the parents home is a bad move.

A birthday party on the scale of My Super Sweet 16, only encourages the recipient to have high expectations of the years to come, which as a former teenager I can tell you aren’t necessarily anywhere near what you might have briefly experienced living at home with your parents.

My life after has been a series of trials and tribulations. It’s been ups and downs and it’s been a journey. And although none of it lives up to what I remember from living with my parents I’ve gone out and made my own home, with my own kids to raise and I plan on making sure they are prepared for the period beyond home, prior to their own.

So it is from now on I watch MTV with a different perspective. I watch as a parent, not as a child or a teen or even a young adult.

I’m still not sure if I like this new point of view, but I’m going to embrace it and learn from it all I can.