Toddlers & Tiaras: Makenzie

I was watching Toddlers & Tiara's the other night to witness the toddler tornedo that is .... Makenzie.

Makenzie is 4 years old. She is a 'beauty queen' in her own words, and in my words one of the most spoilt, misbehaved and bratty 4 year olds I have ever seen. Makenzie's mum Juana explains away her child's horrendous behavior with the line "she is an only child." Like that makes it all better?

Makenzie's ear-piercing screams for her "ni-ni" aka her pacifier (what does a 4 year old still have a dummy for anyway?) and her constant demands and need for everything to go her own way wear me down after watching her for only 10 minutes. I don't believe in smacking, but if Makenzie was my child, I would have given her a smack within the first 2 minutes for some of her behavior and lack of respect. Makenzie's mother Juana doesn't seem to discipline her child at all, and somehow mostly remains calm through Makenzie's episodes.

 A small fraction of me feels sorry for Juana. She clearly loves Makenzie and is happily waiting for her side stage when she finishes her routines, and Juana doesn't seem to me like a pushy pageant mum. The sad thing is that Makenzie couldn't care less about her mum's support and just appears to take her for granted (given most 4 year olds do but if you have witnessed her behavior you will know what I mean!).

 

Juana seems to lack confidence to deal with Makenzie's issues, and appears to of gotten to the point where she just lets her child’s behavior slide as the battle she would need to wage to win the war against her terror 4 year old seems to great. But did someone forget to mention to Juana that the parent is meant to be the boss? Not the other way round! And in this situation, Makenzie is clearly the boss. 

I don't believe any child could develop such outrageous behavior naturally by 4 years of age; so in a way it is Juana's own fault that she has let it get to this (even though that small fraction of me still feels sad for her). As well as a good smack, I'd be pulling Makenzie right out of pageants, stop the day spa treatments and start with some proper discipline. Get extra support if she needs it but Juana has to do something or this child will be a train wreck in a few years.

Makenzie is a different child once she steps on the stage. She is smiling, looking sweet (if a little OTT for a child her age) and appears to charm the judges. And at the end of the pageant, she does clap enthusiastically for other girls as they receive awards and her potential for being a nice kid almost shines through….until another child admits that she met Makenzie at the pageant today and that after the awards Makenzie tried to bite her…. *sigh*

Guess there’s no rest for the wicked.

 

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