Miley Cyrus and the Stripper Pole

Talk around the gossip mill today is all about Miley Cyrus dancing on a stripper pole during her performance of "Party in the USA" at the Teen Choice Awards. Of course there is video on Youtube to back this up. After watching the video, I can honestly say that I'm shocked!

I'm shocked because she was on top of an ice cream cart, and the "stripper pole" was used for her to hold on to while the cart was being pushed across the stage.. Miley squatted down one time, which in my opinion is the only move that can be construed as provocative. That this is being compared to a stripper dancing on a pole just blows my mind.

I don't agree with everything she does and how she chooses to dress sometimes, but I'm not her parents. Do I think she is a bad person because of the things she has done? No! Miley Cyrus is a teenager. At the age of 16, I did plenty of things that I'm not proud of today. I learned from those mistakes and moved on. The life Miley has chosen doesn't allow her to just learn from a mistake and forget about it. Every wrong move she has ever made is rehashed over and over again. But she chose this path and has to deal with the consequences.

I hear all the time that Miley Cyrus is a bad role model for teenage girls. I have to disagree with that statement. As the mother of a teenage girl, I want my daughter to know that she is going to make mistakes,. We all do. Seeing some of the bad decisions that Miley and other celebrities make, gives me the opportunity to reinforce the effects of making a wrong turn and how to get back on track.

The decisions we make as teenagers help mold who we are as adults. So even though I did some things that I am ashamed of still to this day, I wouldn't change them. I would not be the person that I am today without going through these experiences.

I am by no means condoning the actions of all celebrities. What I am saying is we need to remember that Miley Cyrus is a 16 year old, and she is doing the things that most normal teenagers do.

The Teen Choice Awards air on August 10th, (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX