Strollerderby

Modeling is an interesting issue. I wonder about parents who allow their children to appear in things like bed-wetting awareness ads--does that set the kid up for potential teasing, even if the child doesn't suffer from the condition? Or parents who have their kids in posters for other ailments--childhood diabetes, for example. Does that constitute an invasion of privacy? Should we trust a 7-year-old who says, "Sure, I don't mind doing this"? Does the need for education on certain issues override the potential for a given kid to become associated with that issue? It's tricky.

That said, I have a friend who is the head of the Education/Outreach program at a local children's hospital. If he wanted to use my three-month-old in a campaign for car seat safety, I'd probably say yes. Chronic diaper rash? Probably not. And I think I'd only wait for him to make the offer--I wouldn't be inclined to pursue an opportunity on my own.

But these issues are about awareness campaigns, not product placement stuff. Again, I think if I knew someone in the business who approached me and offered to have my kid be the Face of Baby Organic Carrot Lovers, I'd consent, but I would not pursue that kind of modeling contract for my son on my own.

I also have a 10-year-old daughter, and if she came to me and expressed an interest in appearing in commercials or print ads, I would cautiously allow her to pursue it, as long as it didn't interfere with her other interests and obligations. But it would have to be at her request, ONLY.

I'm not sure that I understand parents who push their kids into appearing in ads and even acting. Some kids are born hams, it's true, so I guess to each his own.

We actually did... after being asked and handed agents cards, we decided to investigate and found a reputable agency in our area (don't bother with the folks handing out cards.)

Our little rugrat did shoots for Macy's and Chasing Fireflies and it was all fun until said baby became mobile, then all the shoots were mayhem from kids who just wanted to walk (off the set.)

He made just enough to cover the headshots, which made it worth it.

http://flickr.com/photos/drakelelane/sets/72057594054132945/

If you're not in one of the big markets (NYC, LA, CHI) there's not a lot of work to go 'round.

We got enogh strangers commenting on my oldest daughter's dimples and blue eyes that I couldn't help kind of playing with the idea of having her model.  I liked the idea of having some beautiful photos done of her, and I liked even more the idea of her maybe getting a good start on her college fund.

By the time the second daughter came around (and looked eerily like the first one) we decided to investigate a place that had contacted us in Chicago.  It smelled like a scam, but could make for an interesting afternoon so we went.

We were kind of pushing the baby because my oldest was getting closer to 3 by then, and I was nervous about the impact of having people focus on how she looked so much now that she was old enough to be aware of it.  But they loved my older daughter's personality and dismissed the baby as "too big and bald"!  We left, had a nice lunch and went home.

I can't count how often people remark on how beautiful both my daughters are, and I always smile to myself and think, "Too big and bald!"

Hmmm...you did not just use a Big Black lyric for your Babble post. Hipster parenting just got hipsterier.