Tween Girls and Revealing Outfits

We asked tween girls: “Would You Let Your Friend Leave The House Like This?"

Here’s the AllyKatzz tween girl Pulse-Check Research results:

Of course – 6%
NO! – 74%
Yes, but I would let her walk ahead of me – 7%
Why not? I love this outfit! - 13%






Some of their comments:

"is that michel jackson???"

"wHATS SO BAD ABOUT IT???"

" um i dont like the outfit its kind of...reaveling up top there but yhe bottom half is totally cute and wud walk next to her..mabey"
"that would be the meanest thing ever"

"OK, my friend is not an...YKW"

"i have NOTHING against letting my friends show thier own style, but unless ou're going swimming or something, theres no need to show that much skin!! i would just suggest a less revaling versoin of that outfit!!"

"ewwww never"

"no way it shows 2 much skin i would be a horrible friend if i let her out of the house like that duh!!!!"

Posted by Denise Restauri

Is Her Weekly Reader REALLY People Mag???

Article in NYT on Sunday, May 27:
Grade-School Girls, Grown-Up Gossip
What happens when her weekly reader is People?

The article is about tween girls - how they get grown-up gossip and what they do with it.

In the article:
Picture #1: 5 tween girls. Each girl is engrossed in one of these magazines: People, InTouch, Life, US and Star.

Picture #2. 2 girls reading an adult celebrity tabloid. The caption: READ ALL ABOUT IT Arielle Urvater, left, 11, and her sister Jessie, 8, of Manhattan are quite aware of the tabloid antics of Paris, Lindsay, Britney and their ilk, but that does not mean they approve. “We’re well educated,” Arielle explained. “We know that drugs aren’t good and that smoking isn’t good.”

Is this reality or is this about a handful of girls that make a story for a holiday weekend?

Last night, we posted a pulse check poll on allykatzz.com… a community of 30K tween girls from across the nation - to find out where tween girls REALLY get their celebrity gossip. The results:

1. Tween/Teen Magazines including Twist, J-14 and Tiger Beat: 55%

2. Adult Magazines including People, US, Star and InTouch: 29%

3. Online: 16%

Here are samples of the comments the girls posted along with their votes: These sample comments are from tween girls ages 10-13… from NYC, Oregon, Ohio and Washington.

“Yeah I picked Tiger Beat/Bop. It tells me info on stars I like, not just a million ones I dont know that well. Plus, its not as big of a gossip thing as the other teen magazines. People, US, and mags like that talk about adults I dont know, so i dont read those! And the Internet lies a lot...~~CiAo”

“PEOPLE! all the way!!”

“watz STAR??”

“J-14, I have a subscription. It has good posters, a calender, and plenty of news on people I actually know. So what if it's not the most accurate, it's a good read!”

“im not that into celeb gossip. but when i want to hear it i get it online or on the news. it can be interesting sometimes!”

Posted by Denise Restauri

TOP BOOK PICKS FOR THIS WEEK

This week's AllyKatzz Book Club Review - what tween girls are reading and loving NOW. Definitely great reads for this holiday weekend. For more of their top picks, check out last week's review below- May 18 posting.

Sharon Creech. Review by “punkrockrules” age 11, NY
Sharon Creech is one of the best authors out there!She has inspired me so much!If you havent read any of her books i suggest you read them.SOME of her books are: Walk Two Moons (which i loved),The Wanderer (which i loved too),Love That Dog (it was sweet and nice), Totally Normal Chaos (which was pretty good,though it has mature content),Pleasing The Ghost (which was a nice and interesting book) and TONS more!check your library or bookstore for some of her books!You will LOVE them!Write back and tell me what are YOUR favorite books and authors and what you think about Sharon Creech!

The Westing Game. Review by “mileyfan95” age 12, California
I just finished a gr8 book called The Westing Game! It was like, the best mystery book I hav ever read! This is what it said on the back: (A bizzare chain of events begins when sixteen unlikely people gather for the reading of Samual W. Westing's will. And although no one knows why the eccentric, game loving millionaire has chosen a virtual stranger-and a possible murderer-to inherit his vast fortune, one thing's for sure: Sam Westing may be dead....but that won't stop him from playing one last game!) So, if u think this book sounds interesting, plz plz plz let me no cuz if I think enuf ppl like it, then I will start posting the chapters. Trust me, this book is vey unexpectable so evry time u read a chapter, make sure u let me no who u think is the murderer!!!

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Review by “cheerygirl” age 10, Florida
Its a wonderful stry thats about a girl who moves fro new york to new jersey and has to make new friends and i give this book a two thumbs up.

Uglies. Review by “its_me!” age 13, Colorado
my FAVORITE books in the HISTORY of the WORLD are Uglies, Pretties, and Specials by Scott Westerfeld. they are a trilogy and they are FANTASTIC!!! i highly reccomend them.

More Uglies: "I started reading the Uglies. It is totally the BEST book ever. I finished reading it and started the 2nd book called the Pretties. They also have a third book which is called the Specials. When I read the books, I can't stop. Uglies is about a girl who lives in Uglieville and when the people there turn 16, the get an operation that makes them pretty and they get to party all the time! I'd tell the whole story but I don't want to give anything away... "Review by Balerina, age 12, Utah

PUPPY LOVE???

Tween girls today are smarter, savvier and more opinionated than we were at their age. They aren’t playing with toys… they’re into music, fashion, their individuality AND BOYS. Puppy love? No way… in their minds, puppy love is for kids, not tweens. Tween love is REAL. Here's what they're saying on their AllyKatzz blogs:

I need HELP!!!
by I love Potato, age 13
“Ok I'm dating this guy named Devin AKA Potato!! He is really nice && cute, sweet..all that stuff!! But he is already saying he loves me && that he wants to marry me && he is being serious well I'm 13 && he is 14 its a little early to thank about that && I do love him but not marry me love..lol!! But I'm afraid to tell him to slow it down a bit becuz I'm afraid he will get mad!! But then agian he isn't that kind of guy that will get mad over that! So what should I do && if I don't go with ur idea don't get mad but I will appreciate it and alot of ppl go through this so I know you can help!!

Tween Girls Ages 9-15 Responded:

from tommyboy, age 9
“i dont really no about this stuff but,if i were u i would say,"i think we should slowwwwwww down a little."and if he gets all mad maybe hes just not the guy 4 u. well, thats all i got because im only 9 yrs old. i hope uget it the way u want it.... want 2 b bb? ” (bb = blog buddy aka friends.)

from Eskimoluvr, age 10
“O gosh that guy is pushing it just tell him "ya i am not reADY" AND THEN QUICKLY CHANGE THE CONVERSATION”

from countryprincess, age 11
“ok if ur only 13 take it slow. and if u love him tell him u do but say ur way to young to think about that and you would like to at least finish high school heck even JUNIOR HIGH would be better i mean ur in like 7th grade?? u like just got out of middle school!!!!!!! hope it works!!”

from penguingurl411, age 12
“when he says that again just tell him you want to slow down or say i love you to but not marriage type of love. if he truly loves you than he'll understand. if he doesnt get it then maybe its best that your just friends.”

from Glamrgrrl6, age 13, Minnesota
“wow. I'd tell him to slow down. Ur not ready for that. If he keeps saying those things tell him that he's lucky that he is in a relationship with you and that he shouldn't be saying things like that, because, eventually, he'll scare u away.”

from BLONDE_08, age 14
“there is a girl at school like that with her boyfriend! Your not really going to be togather forever.....and it the relationship will end sometime....and alls your bf is doing is making that time come quicker! Trust me......just let him do it! Your only 13 ”

from Llama_MILK_wizard, age 15
“whoa! Gee, that's a toughie. I've dated guys like that. For a while I just kinda went with it. Like when he said, "I love you" I would just say "yea." Finally he moved so I guess I just didn't have to deal with it. I'm not sure though. I guess you'll just have to wait till he moves! lol! But seriously, maybe you should just say yea like I did and if he askes you why you say that you can say, "Isn't it a bit tttooooo early to think about marriage?!?!"

Posted by Denise Restauri

I'm a FAiLuRe

Pressures girls put on themselves to be super girls.
Where do they get it from? From their teachers? From their parents? Safe bet: they aren’t born thinking, “I must get into Harvard!” They get mixed messages from the adults in their lives every day. About their weight, their looks, their accomplishments. So the next time you tell the tween girl in your life to “Just do your best!... mean it and STOP there. Hopefully this AllyKatzz blog from a 13-year-old girl from Alabama, will make us all think twice before we add, “Because you aren’t going to get into Harvard with YOUR grades.”

"I'm a Failure. I feel lyk a failure right now. Okay see at my school at the end of each year we have an award ceramony. Well today was the last day and all year I work on my grades cuz I wanted to make straight A's.I QUIT BASKETBALL FOR IT!!!!!!! Well 2day the principal was giving out the A-honor roll awards. I DIDN'T GET IT!!! I got on the A-B honor roll award. Now I feel lyk a failure. Y? Cuz I did my best!! I DID MY HARDEST!! And my hardest. My best isn't good enough!!! How in the world am I supposed to get in to SOSU and Alabama Crimson Tide. If I'm on the A-B Honor Roll?? They look back all the way to the 7th grade. THATS THE GRADE I'M IN!!! So now I know what a failure feels lyk. I'm sooo sad. Any advice??? bye. and no I'm not saying PEACE OUT! Cuz I'm not at peace right now. so goodbye."

Responses from AllyKatzz girls:

“Thats REALLY GOOD!!!!!!!!!! You shouldn't flip like that!!! Its still honors! I got a F in math a few quarters ago because of the teacher. Its a long story but I promised myself it wouldn't happen again. Now I get strait "A'S"!!!! I have a 100 in math class now! So don't juge yourself so harshly from one grade. ~~~ They look back to 7th grade??? OMG! R U sirious? I wanna get into YALE!!! Shoot... ANyway. Think about it. ” By a 12-year-old girl from Connecticut.

“You are so not a failure! Some kids do terrible! Getting c's, d's and f's! This one kid at my school flunked 7th grade, you are not a failure!” By a 12-year-old girl from Nevada.

“trust me you are not a failure. Think of how much worse it could be you could be one of the people that tries their hardsest and still only comes up with a C. I'm an A-B student too and all my friends are A's so I feel really low on the totem poll when we all get our math tests back but trust me it will get better I can guarantee it. Also if you want to get into a good college I suggest doing lots of extracurricular stuff or find a sport that you really excel at.” By a 14-year-old girl from New Hampshire.

“Hey, that's not being a failure. A failure is straight F's! An A-B honnor is good, really good. At least you're not trying out for Hartford!” By an 11-year-old girl from Wisconsin.

Posted by Denise Restauri

Tween Girls Do Love To Read!

NEWS: Tween Girls Do Love to Read! We have polls to support that claim. But better than polls and cold stats, I read tween girls’ blogs every day - they're saying that they love to read. In fact, The AllyKatzz Book Club is one of the top clubs on the site.

Tween girls do hate reading boring books aka “gotta read for school" books. But, they love reading GREAT books. It’s really that simple. So let’s help them get GREAT books to read.

Starting today, I’ll post weekly book reviews from the AllyKatzz girls… books tween girls are talking about now. So when you’re at the bookstore this weekend, instead of staring at all those books, now you’ll have a clue what to look for based on what other tween girls are saying. Note: 2 Paws UP is the ultimate ranking in the AllyKatzz review system.

“The Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson. I give this series 2 paws up! It's a young adult fiction and it's sooooooooo cool! Me and my mom are reading the series right now! i'm on the second book, The Lake House and she's on the third book, The Angel Project.” Age 13.

“Elsewhere... Okay, so we had to read this book in school for this thing called a "Literature Circle". Of course, I thought I was going to get a terrible book and be so booooooored. But instead, I got this book assigned called "Elsewhere". It's by Gabrielle Zevin and it RULES! 'Tis about this girl named Liz. She dies and goes to a place called Elsewhere (Gabrielle Zevin's version of Heaven, I guess). At first, she's all freaked out because she doesn't know where she is! But she meets many people along the way, like Owen Welles (whom she falls in love with), Thandi (a girl who died from gunshot), Curtis Jest (an English rocker), and her Grandma Betty, who died before Liz was born. This book has a teeny weeny bit of mature content, so I rate it P-G for the content and 5 out of 5 stars for the overall book!” Age 12

“If yal want to know a good teen aged based book series check out the Mates, Dates series by Kathy Hopkins. they are totally awesome.” Age 12

“The City of Ember. The city of ember is the best book ever! I love it! it is an awesome cliff hanger! you have got to read it. My class is reading it and they are only on chapter 11 and i finished it and theres 20 chapters. now im on the second one and after this one there is a prequal which tells about what it was like before the main characters of the first one were born! i would tell u about the book but i would get to carried away and tell the ending. i will say that Ember is a poor city and is running out of everything because the builders left "Just enough"! it is an awesome book and u have got to read it!” Age 12

“ Out of the Dust is an amazing book. I'm going to write down the review of it from the back of the book. A terrible accident has transformed Billie Jo's life, scarring her inside and out. Her mother is gone. Her father can't talk about it. And the one thing that might make her feel better-playing the piano-is impossible with her wounded hands. To make matters worse, dust storms are devastating the family farm and all the farms nearby. While others flee the dust bowl, Billie Jo is left to find peace in the bleak landscape of Oklahoma-and the surprising landscape of her heart. This is an amazing book. It won the Newberry Medal too. You really should read this story of hardship, hope and love.” Age 11

"Manga is my life. I love Fruit Baskets." Age 12

Thanks to Random House for sending us books to give way to AllyKatzz girls. Ally, my 14-year-old daughter read 2 of these books: Life As It Comes by Anne-Laure Bondoux and The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance by Catherine Ryan Hyde. She gave them both 2 Paws UP and she’s not easily impressed.

If you’re a publisher or author and want to send us books for the AllyKatzz girls to review, please send me an email: denise@allykatzz.com. The girls will be forever grateful!

Posted by Denise Restauri

Review from Izzy Neis

Review From Izzy Neis Blog: Online Communities, Entertainment, Kid Empowerment, and Media Safety. Here's what she says about AllyKatzz.com: "Another rockin’ site for tweens is Allykatzz.com– it’s quite a bit different from the previous communities. UBER-safe (completely moderated), it has this close-knit feeling… organic and honest. Girls can write blog topics, have others write back, and get advice from the older kids. Pictures can be uploaded– but there’s a catch. You can’t upload any dangerous pics (identifiably dangerous, that is), and if you wanna upload yourself you need your hands over your face– which seems like a fair trade, and actually a funny catch. The site offers clubs, ecards, downloadables, etc. My favorite part is the three-strikes-you’re-out “mean girls” catch. This is a family created/originated site and NOT a branded/conglomerate property site (v. cool). A team of moderators work hard to keep a healthy, organic community… Can’t ask for anything better than that." I agree!

Posted by Denise Restauri

Heros

A girl from Colorado asked…

“Everyone has a hero. It can be family, a celebrity, a sports person... anyone! Well, who's YOUR hero? Please tell me!”

Here are some of the answers:

“my hero is my best friend and Savior, God.”

“My Hero...hmmm....probably my mom. she's always there for me when i need her!”

“Katie Voigt and my grandma! ”

“oh and my brother-i dont think he realises it becuz we fight a lot...........”

“hey, miene is any1 woo keypes therr hed held high and beleaves in anything”

“my mommy”

Interferences - So Stressed

This is the top blog on AllyKatzz.com today... so many tween girls have learning differences that go undiagnosed. These learning differences result in feeling "stupid" and low self esteem. That leads to girls falling into the "dumbing down" trap and pleasing everyone, especially boys. And it goes downhill from there.

"Hey, you mite have noticed im not exactly the best speller on this syte! Well this is really hard 4 me 2 say, but i have dylexia. If you dont no wat it is, its a disorder you have and it makes it harder for you to learn and memorize things. Orlando Bloom has it to, i think hes soo cool because he memorizes all those lines. Im hoping to be a actor myself, im really outgoing. But back to the point, im so stressed becayse my dance is infearing with my schoolwork, i aalready had to miss grade 6 a few years back because i had to go to this huge competition. I alwayz have a bunch of homework cuz i miss sxhool due to dance. The teacher also has me have seppearte things because im not smart enough, i have lots of friends but i feel so left out you know? dance is taking over my life. but in a good way? i love dance and cant let go."

Stats show that 1 in 10 people are dyslexic, but it could be much higher because there are many people who struggle without being aware that they are dyslexic... especially tween girls who slip through the cracks. Here's a listing of some "famous" people who are dyslexic: Orlando Bloom * Tom Cruise * Dave Foley * Danny Glover * Whoopi Goldberg * Jay Leno * Keanu Reeves * Billy Bob Thornton * Robin Williams * Walt Disney * George Washington * John Lennon * Cher * Einstein * Muhammad Ali * Leonard Da Vinci * Thomas Edison * Richard Branson * Pablo Picasso.

I can't wait to see how the girls respond... I'm hoping that they'll "come out of the closet" about their learning differences and share their stories. You can find out by checking her blog over the weekend.

Posted By Denise Restauri

I HAVE PROBLEMS

This tween girl's blog shows that you can't judge a girl's happiness by her cover. Leda Siskind, allykatzz.com's Advice Pro, gives girls and US great advice. Leda is a licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist AND the mom of a teenage girl.

Dear Leda, I have problems. My life is not very good. I have friends and I'm an overly hyper person, well most of the time. At school and when I'm talking to my friends, anywhere...anytime, I'm relaxed and carefree. It's a whole different story when I'm alone. I can just be sitting there reading a book or story, and out of nowhere I think everyone has a better life than me. I think about how a lot of people are skinnier than me, how I'll probably never get a boyfriend(I may deny that I want one, but I truly do), and what I really want to be when I grow up is nearly impossible for me to be. I've tried suicide. I just can't do it though. I've yet to try and cut myself. I can't take this anymore and I just want to cry. I need to find a solution, and fast. Please don't just tell me that "Suicide is not the answer." or "You need to think of all your good qualities." I hear that suicide is not the answer from my friends all the time. I've tried thinking of my good qualities and I can't seem to find any. I have self-esteem problems, and I know this. I think I need to stop naming of my bad qualities so I won't go and try suicide again. Please help me with this problem. I need to know what to do. Thanks for listening.

Leda's Advice:

Dear My Life, I think, sweetie, that you feel very uncomfortable about who you are and what life has in store for you. You would be surprised how many girls feel just as you do now…But life is just not that black and white – all or nothing! You state you have friends – so you already know how to keep a friend (including, some day, a BF), you state that you know how to be “carefree” and you even mention reading – so you have some positive skills you are overlooking because everything is seen as “never” and “always” – in the negative. And you also know that hurting yourself is not going to help you. I think, deep down, you would like to feel better about yourself, yes? So here are two choices for you:
1.) Ask your parent to see a therapist. You can tell them you have self-esteem problems or it’s about school or whatever you feel comfortable with. A good therapist will help you look at how to cope with all this sadness.
2.) Talk to a C.A.R.L.A – a CARLA is a Caring And Responsibly Listening Adult. This can be an aunt, a counselor at school, a teacher, the mom of a BFF. Sometimes it really helps to have an understanding woman who’s been a teenager (and somehow survived) help you out.
And one more thing: If you feel like hurting yourself ever again, tell a BBF to stay with you until the feeling goes away and then tell your parent and seek professional help. Feeling depressed should not lead to self harm – ever! Good luck – you can get through this. You are worth it.

does anyone know how to speak "boy?"

This, from a 12- year-old girl from China is one of today's top blogs on allykatzz.com. Love her attitude!!


"ok, i can speak chinese and english and i'm currently taking spanish, but one thing i can't speak: boy. how do u know if ur crush likes u? if he talks 2 u all the time and tells u everything and follows u around at the dance, does that mean he likes u? if he asks ur bff if u like him, does that mean he likes u? someone plz help. i'm seriously pulling my hair out. (they should seriously write a book about this language!)"

And a girl who calls herself Advice and Dimplez has this comment:
“Oh i know how to speak boy!!! Well some signs are: he stares at u but doesnt say anything, gives u a compliment, does anything to be near you, looks at the side of u when talking to you and lots more. If he talks to u all the time n follows u and tells u everything, its a strong possibility he likes you. If he asks ur bff it DOES mean he likes you. Boys will do anything to try to find out if they like you. Need any more translations let me know lol! =]”

OH BOYZ

BOYFRIENDS AKA BFs (not to be confused with BFF = Best Friend Forever - that can be a girl or a boy, but not a boyfriend!) make our tween girls crazy! On AllyKatzz.com, we started a club that the Girls LOVE... it's the BF club. Sounds so simple ... and it is... it's a place for tween girls to talk about what they love and hate about boys. The girls are trying to figure out what's going on in those fuzzy boy brains. And it starts young... Today's Top Blog is from an 11-year-old-girl...

"There are 2 boys that I like and I'm scared to ask either of them out. One kid I sit next to in science and ILA and Math and we have a connection but I'm not sure if he wants to have a friend connection or more than that.. The other guy is only in my homeroom and Spanish class but he is the same (friend/connection wise). My friend says me and him look cute next to eachother ( Which makes me Smile Secretly ) LOL! I need to know if either of them like me but im shy and I dont know how to find out..i think they'll reject me :-'("

Girls sent her backatchas aka comments... here's their advice:

from illfeily, age 12
“first off, don't say that you think they'll reject you. have some confidence in youself! And if they do, it just shows that they're not good enough for you if they don't like your awesome personality! Don't take it too hard if they don't want to go out with you. Maybe they're just not ready for that yet, and want to see how things go. Second, try to hang out with each of them and find out what qualities they have. Whichever one you feel you have more of a connection to, then you should go for it with him.”

from chellybelly, age 15
“That's what I'm Scared and pretty much every girl is scared about... Beign Rejected and Gettin Hurt... I'm always scared of getting hurt. But If You don't take risks... You mite as well just stay home. Live Your Life With No Regrets. Life goes on. And Pain goes Away. But Havin Memories is the best. If Your not gonna risk it all you Mite as well just give it up... But That's What I think... And mayb i should take my own advice kus I'm scared... But I'm rele weak. And You shouldn't be scared of gettin hurt. Kus life goes on and eventually u'll get over it... Good Luck tryin to get My advice... I'll try to take it too...”

Posted by Denise Restauri

ARGGGH!!!

A top blog of this week from allykatzz.com is from a 13-year-old girl from New Jersey who calls herself phunki837. The end of the school year fun is being replaced by stress. Many girls blog about the same issues and many say their parents only add to it by pushing for those final A grades. Could your tween girl be phunki837?

"yeah so lately i have been like so down on myself. i mean, i don't know shrimp about science these days becasue i've been so exhausted this week that i couldn't even pay attention. science is my last class, so you get what I'm saying. And like, my friends keep asking me the SAME questions like 500000 times. that gets so annoying. And another friend is being so pessimistic, it's bringing me down. I am just SO happy and excited for Unity day on thursday though cuz like, i get to go do what i want to do w/ ppl i don't get to see much. SO glad bout that. So much training ,I'm being drained, and i have a huge project for SS. The teachers are trying to shove all this stuff into the last few weeks of school. AAARRGGGHHHH!!! @@@!!!"

Posted by Denise Restauri

Great Girl Blog Of The Day

"OMG all the boys in my school are gross, tho my friend, she thinks not, BUT she likes this guy who is like GROOOOOSS HE IS NOT EVEN 50% CUTE FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD!!!! Ok and he is like so gross. But like my school has no cute boys and i really want a cush but most of le' boys are like so gross looking, or their cute, but older than me, or cute, but younger than me!!! OMG help!!!! I realy need it. ~LOST IN A NON-CUTE BOY OCEAN~" by maisho, 14 year-old girl from CA

Posted by Denise Restauri

EMO Part 2

Continued from yesterday's Who's Emo? What's EMO?
From a girl who calls herself EMOtions in my glands:
“here is a something about me..like you would care: i have short black choppy hair that covers one eye, black eyes, white pale skin and i am not tall. or short. i am average. like my pathetic life. my parents do not support me. ever since i turned away from pink dresses and frilly bows..they have hated me so. now in my boring life i mourn me. i dress in black and sit around and cry and be EMOtional. My parents decided to neglect me. they work every day for 12 hours. they go away often to peru, germany, and syberia to train horses and host horse shows. they make alot of money from it too, but have decided since i have rebeled against them, they can not give it to me… my glands feel the emotions. i dont slit my wrists, because if i did they would notice. i have not a white tip on any of my nails..i have no friends. i dont see a need to trust anyone in this dark world. now i must go. my microwavable dinner calls to me…”

Sometimes what sounds like EMO, may not be EMO:
“I just want to be like the other girls. Pretty and normal but I know that’s not going to happen. I just want to be noticed. I just want to be liked. But as I just begin to think maybe if I try my hardest. My mom walks in the door telling its time to go to school. Aw school the place of where all evil drama unfolds. School the place where one day you can be super cool and the next your shoved into a garbage can. School is a place for humiliation and for the jocks to date the cheerleaders. School is the place for the popular girls to awww about the schools hottest football player. The place I don’t belong. And as I pull up to school I prepare my self for my day that lies ahead. I prepare my self for whatever may comes my way. Though I don’t really fit into a clique I believe I’m in all cliques except I’m not with the loners and geeks. I just want to fit in one day. As I head to my locker I drop my books. But as I rush to my locker and open my door what else could go wrong but my photos all falling off? I pick them up and shove them into a corner. I get my gym bag and put away my jacket and lunch. Then I rush to homeroom noticing that I’m 15 minutes late.But that’s just a regular day for me thinking and day dreaming. Shoving school work aside. I soon relies the bell for the end of the day has already rang and I have to rush to pick up my baby brother. Since my life is filled with drama its ok if I walk alone sometimes you have to. I still think I don’t fit in at school or at home or in the world. I think that the world I want to be in is filled with whatever I want. But that can’t happen now can it ? I want the world to work my way but it wont because that isn’t possible is it. I just wonder if I’m ever over day dreaming? Am I over dreaming ? Am I too into my world and not enough into this world ? I don’t know I just don’t. I don’t seem to understand anything , not even myself. This is just how I feel dont think Im emo cuz Im not !and IM not a loner dont worry .. Im just going through a hard time right now”… by XoTeenyBopper


Many of these girls do not want to be EMO. They want to be popular. But they are the outcasts, the unpopulars and the loners. EMO is where they landed - not by choice, but where their own insecurities and mean girls sent them. The first step in helping our girls is to talk to them and let them know that they can count on us to help them or a friend.

One thing we know about most girls – EMO or not – they do not tell adults everything because they are embarrassed or scared. Therefore, we always want to give them ways to help themselves and their friends. We post the following hotline information on the site. Please share it with your girls:

If you or a friend needs help that is way too big for other girls to answer or if you need help NOW, these hotlines are here for you 24/7. The calls are free and they won't tell anyone you called.

Suicide and crisis: 1-800-273-TALK
Cutting: 1-800-dontcut
Everything: Children of the Night: 1-800-551-1300

Posted by Denise Restauri

Who's EMO? What's EMO?

Tween Girls are talking about EMO. What’s EMO? Is it music? Is Britney Spears EMO? Is it a style? Attitude? What is EMO?

Here’s a 12-year-old girl’s definition…
“have you ever heard of emo people? well my sister is emo and they are really wierd. emo is short for EMOtional! they get really sad and dress kinda wierd, well that is all i can say.”

A 13-year-old tween girl says…
“i have 3 emo friends and i think they are the coolest people. people steriotype emos as cutting freaks. but most of them dont even cut. all my emo friends dont cut, they are christian emo. [emo] roks and you have the best clothes style anyways. i dont like preps.”

And this from another 13-year-old girl…
“cutting: when girls cut their arms legs or any other part of ur body to relieve EMOtional pain. and its real, VERY real. and i should know, i used to do it and it was horrible. i always cut when i was sad.”


So, What is EMO?

Originally EMO was a form of punk rock that was loud and EMOtional. EMO still means EMOtional, but it has gone way beyond music and has become a lifestyle and a culture of young people who wear their tortured hearts on their sleeves.

Who’s EMO? EMO is not based on age, race, religion, gender, sex or income. Bottomline: Some tween Girls are EMO. Many of these girls are scared, depressed and hurting, and their pain can be hurtful to people around them:

“I am realllyyy... depressed right now. I finaly found a really good friend whos house I can even walk to! So last night I was at her house. And I an white and she is african american. and this boy was giving us (mostly her) trouble about it. And she ran up in her room and i went up there to try and cheer her up and found her in her room cutting herself. It was the worst thing I have ever whittnessed in my life. so, I was like bawling crying and i found out that she lives with her foster-mom because her dad abuses her. If you dont know what cutting is, it is where some1 hurt thereself physically because emotionaly they are hurt. in her case, she broke a cd case and was scraping herself with the sharp parts. I feel so sorry for her. I have tried to be very nice to my parents lately. so, every1 should try to think about how even though are parents can be strict it could be worse. I dont know what to do about her cutting problem i have nervous/anzity problems and today i have been really panic. my friend wont call 1-800-dont-cut so i just dont know what i can do if anything.” by fashionguru7703

“my friend cuts her self! i asked her if her mom knows and se said her mom thinks its from kittens!i want her to get help but i am scared... any advice?” by kaneolani


Here’s three days in the life of EMOskater, a 13-year-old tween girl from Florida. Does she want to be EMO?

Day 1: EMO
“Hi. I have no friends and i am okay with that. I am what they call a skater-emo type person. ohwell,life goes on. Am i right?”

“people think emo people are werid and they want to do bad things 2 themselves. I like the way my life is. I could wish 4 anything better. Just b\c I don't fit in with the normal peeps or the popular peeps doesn't mean I'm weird. Does any one agree with me?”

Day 2: Mean girls
“2day @ skool these girl told me something that super mean. I almost cried. I was thankin the great God that it wuz only a half a day.i wrote a poem. rate it on a scale of 1 to 10. I don't care if u say1 b/c i can take bad critisism very well.
‘mean girls are mean, the teachers never can tell.
mean girls are mean, and they make your heart swell.
Mean girls don't care if you are emo, nerdy, or normal.
Every thing they say causes termoil(Chaos).
Mean girls are mean b/c they are jelious.
And that my friends is simpy how it is going to be!’”


Day 3: HELP ME!!!
“Alright I'm going to try and be preppy for at least a day. To trick these popular girls at school. One of my friends has a preppy older sis that is the same size as me. She has something called aeropstale, uh abercrmby, um hoillster, and american eagle. I hope I spelled that right. How does this soung or look... Ready, okay (valley girl accent)?? I'm a cheerleading! Go team! RAH,RAH, BOO,HISS.!! i DON'T GET IT! SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

To Be Continued Tomorrow...

Posted by Denise Restauri