Have We Gone Too Far?

Would you let your 5 year old daughter pose like this for a photo? Am I too sensitive? Is this too sexually overt?

I asked these questions not too long ago on a Message Board for a Mommy Group I'm in here in my hometown. I'd like to say the reactions were mixed, but, for the most part... many of my Mommy friends agreed... the picture goes to far.

The photo is that of 5 year old Kaia Crawford, daughter to supermodel Cindy Crawford. It seems Kaia was part of an advertising campaign for a line of children's swimwear by Melissa Odabach. Perhaps in the world of a supermodel, such a photo of a 5 year old is appropriate. I'm certainly no supermodel, but as a Mom and even more importantly, a human being, I never want to see a child sexually objectified like that.

Why are our children in such a rush to grow up? Have I become an old "fuddy duddy" in the almost 16 months since I gave birth to my daughter... does becoming a mother really change you that much? I feel like I'm sexually liberated, I'm open-minded. I guess it all comes down to the age thing. I would hope never to see such a photo of anyone under the legal age. I don't know why I feel it's suddenly ok for someone 18 or older to pose for such photos... but I do.

In an age of Britney Spears, Bratz, Baby Doll Tees, I want my little girl to be a little girl for as long as possible. If that makes me a prude, so be it. I'll wear that title with distinction. If that means I can keep others from making a sexual object of my little girl, fine with me!

I guess that's why I'm joining the "Moms for Modesty" bandwagon. Growing up is hard enough. Why should we allow society to add pressure to our little ones?