I have failed as a parent.

I knew it would happen someday. Despite all my ranting and reinforcement of all things pure, my daughter has gone to the dark side. I just didn't think it would be so soon!

It began as an innocent trip to Target to pick up some necessities, diapers and whatnot. We passed by the school supply section (I LOVE back-to-school season. There's something about office supplies that I have always adored. Perhaps the potential in all those blank notebook pages? That the black pen that I purchase this time will be the one with which I write the great American novel? The possibilities are endless.) and Lil' Puddin' Tater spies the backpacks. Now, she'll be starting (pre)school this fall, so we're really trying to play up the positive parts of the experience. And if a new backpack could calm her fears, the by god, I'm buying a frigging backpack. I was looking at pencils (maybe the novel is not in pen, but pencils!) and I heard the familiar squeal of LPT finding something she likes. I walked over, expecting Dora or Spongebob, but I was shocked an appalled to see that the backpack she had chosen was BRATZ. "That's what I'm talkin' 'bout, Mama!," she says with a smile. Not sure if you know about Bratz, but I'll just let loose and give you my opinion. COMPLETE CARTOON WHORES. There, I said it. They promote fashion and boys (not necessarily in that order) and they completely suck. LPT had seen a commercial for Baby Bratz (see pic below) earlier today during Dora the Explorer (a MUCH better influence - and she's learning Spanish!) and expressed how she thought they were cute. I'm sorry, but this is the most deformed toddler (Baby Bratz, not LPT) I have ever seen. And the doll has on copious amounts of makeup. If you think that's bad (or maybe you don't; in that case, I officially don't like you anymore.) check out what happens when these little harlots get older:
Above we have the Baby Bratz - Jade.
Followed by Bratz Kidz - Jade.
And then they just turn into the girls you see on Girls Gone Wild. (And I may link to way too many things, but I will not link to that page. If you really want to find it, you'll figure out how.) It's like these dolls bring out my inner prude in all her glory. Ugh. Gag me with a spoon.

After recovering from the backpack incident (during which there was no backpack purchase) we went to get macaroni and cheese. I reached for the Target brand, but LPT stopped me. "No Mama! You have to get that one - the one with The Cheetah Girls."

Does anyone else just want to throw up? I think I'm going to have to buy LPT some Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell or maybe go completely the opposite direction with Ani Difranco.