Honey Boo Boo The votes are in. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is officially host to one of the worst TV role models for kids in 2012. At least according to the folks over at Common Sense Media. But I'm wondering who is going to knock some common sense into the voters.

Their big beef with the show is Mama June Shannon, who they say is "exploiting" her family. I'm not going to disagree there, but have these people actually looked at Honey Boo Boo herself? If we're going to talk bad role models for kids, how about zeroing in on the 7-year-old whose signature look is an eye roll?

As the mother of a 7-year-old -- who has been banned from watching Honey Boo Boo -- I'm going to lay it out there. Kids pay attention to the other kids on TV shows. What Mama is doing won't faze them. They're certainly not thinking about whether this woman is "exploiting" her children.

They are, on the other hand, susceptible to picking up on little Alana Thompson's bad behavior. My daughter has seen all of two episodes of the show, and I have STILL heard her saying, "Holla for a dolla" (and told her to knock it off). Because that's what kids do. They see another kid, and they ape their actions.

In the case of Honey Boo Boo, that means backtalking, interrupting adults, eyerolling, and all around general rudeness.

Honey Boo Boo lovers will tell you this is proof of a 7-year-old who is being raised to love her body and be comfortable in her own skin.

But I call BS. I have a 7-year-old. She is a bit of an egotist herself, but she has been raised quite the opposite of Alana. When she talks back, she's disciplined. When she rolls her eyes, she's disciplined. When she interrupts, well ... you get the picture.

I'm not the perfect parent here trying to put myself on a pedestal. Did I mention the ego? But I'm managing to raise a kid who doesn't make me cringe when I take her out in public and still has a fairly healthy self esteem.

I don't want her acting like Honey Boo Boo. I don't know any parent who wants their kid acting like Honey Boo Boo.

So sure, Mama June might be a bad parenting role model. But 7-year-old Alana Thompson is the one parents really need to watch out for (and you can check out the rest of the 10 "worst" role models for 2012 from Common Sense Media).

What would you do if your child acted like Honey Boo Boo?

 

Image via TLC