Hot moms: Healthy trend or dangerous pressure?

   Alba at the  Academy Awards (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

What’s the hottest trend sweeping the parenting world?  Well, it depends on who you ask, but according to the Hot Moms Club it’s all about being a “momshell.”  “Momshell” is the latest term being used by those in the ‘in crowd’ to describe hot-bombshell moms.  In a recent story written by Martha Irvine of the AP, “Momshell’ bombshell – not your mama’s mama” that was picked up by such sources like Pantagraph.com, houmatoday.com and probably a hundred other news agencies we read about this trend. 

This new trend may not be so new to many of us.  I think most of us been aware that ‘hot moms’ have been a part of our pop culture since at least the ‘70s (1967 to be exact).  Since then we can remember scenes where teenage boys have been captivated by their friend’s attractive moms.  Movies like Class (1983) and American Pie (1999) have taken the image of the attractive mom to new levels.  The ‘hot mom’ image is one that has been permeating our culture for a long time.  It used to be taboo.  It used to be the exception—not so much anymore.

``There's never been a hotter time to be a mom,'' says Jessica Denay. A mother in Los Angeles, she wrote ``The Hot Moms Handbook,'' and founded the Hot Moms Club, which started humbly as a group of moms eight years ago and has expanded to an Internet-based social network of more than 110,000.

TV shows like Desperate Housewives to the new reality show "Hottest Mom in America” (deemed the American Idol of hot moms) thrust images of glitz, glamour and superficiality on the average moms of America. 

The Real Housewives of Atlanta, New York City, New Jersey and Orange County all put a premium on looks and keeping up with the Jones.  These series promote plastic, loud, nanny-utilizing moms all while calling them real. 

Denay, of the Hot Moms Club admits that she feels like a “lukewarm mom” some days says, “I’m not saying put yourself on top of the 'to do' list.  I'm saying put yourself on the list.”

‘Hot Mom’ advice she lends new moms begins with taking a shower — and working up to doing their hair and putting on a pair of stylish jeans instead of sweats, or taking a yoga class. 

From the Irvine article we got a good dose of common sense from Elayne Rapping.  Rapping, a professor of American Studies at the University at Buffalo specializing in media and pop culture says, “Now moms are expected to be gorgeous on top of everything else? It's too much.” 

With websites like the Hot Mom’s Club and Yummy Mummy Club gaining in popularity to celebrate maternal attractiveness and all the media blitz around hot celebrity moms—could we be taking this too far?  Or, maybe it isn’t really bad at all.  Let’s face it, self-esteem is a tenuous objective at best for many parents plagued by growing curves and dwindling social lives so what’s the big deal if some moms and dads can find pride in keeping themselves looking good?  What are your thoughts on the growing trend of the ‘hot mom?’  Is this a healthy image to promote in our society?  Are opponents making a big deal about nothing?