"Who else has Disney turned into a tramp?" I asked.
"Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, the girls from 'High School Musical'- lots of others", she sighed.
The funny thing is that Kristin doesn't even watch the programming. But the characters are such a pervasive part of teen culture, she can't escape them.
So what's a mother to do? For starters, don't blindly trust the brands you have come to rely on.
Today's marketers have become so savvy that they know how to skillfully present themselves to parents in one way, but be something radically different to the teenage population which now wields tremendous purchasing power. While Disney still sells the childhood characters of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck to new moms, they are selling sexuality to our pre-teen girls.
When you hear about a new Disney flick, for instance, check out a reliable movie review before checking out the DVD. The best movie reviews I know are at www.PluggedinOnline.com.
And, don't let your children become enamored by any media star. Teach them that pop stars are packaged products subject to manipulation by crass marketers. Remind them that young pop icons and their agents are always looking for the next role that will maintain their super star status, and that they are likely to make mistakes along the way.
You can take heart that Tinker Bell and Cinderella will never change - it's too bad I can't say the same for Disney or their modern heroines.