Kristin Stewart & Robert Pattinson: Will our Tweens Survive the Break-up?

Stewart & Pattinson at the Teen Choice Awards in July before news of Stewart's deceit broke. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The news of the recent break-up of Twilight co-stars Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson has reached the far corners of the earth as has the tale of Stewart’s lies and deceit. Under the bright lights of Hollywood the revelations that rocked this relationship seem routine, almost boring. Why then does this story seem to continue to attract more than the typical New York minute of mention?  

Why are our tweens in particular so distraught and affected? Why are they so consumed by the break-up of this Hollywood starlet and her leading man? What makes this couple so special? Finally, when will our tweens get over this? Perhaps it would help if the wave of continued coverage settled down.

The Stewart/Pattinson hook-up had all the markers of a true life fairytale in the making. Audience statistics for the Twilight movie screen saga reveal that the majority of movie goers are female and that the largest percent of attendees tend to be under the age of 18.

Tweenhood is a time when kids start looking beyond their immediate surroundings. It is a period during which development speeds up. Caught betwixt and between childhood and teenage, sagas such as Twilight can result in a strong hold of fascination for our tweens. The coexistence and contrast of fairy tale mixed with the reality of typical teenage angst result in an intriguing attraction for tweens in particular.

Tweens are caught in the struggle of letting go of childhood fancy and moving toward teenage insight. It is this new found capacity for abstract thinking that allows them to think more about the world outside their windows. Put simply, the Twilight tale offers tweens the perfect combination.

When it became clear that the attraction between Stewart and Pattinson was reality both on and off the big screen, the world seemingly sighed. Add in the age of these young stars and the seemingly star-crossed lovers present the perfect picture. Romance could not get any sweeter.

While the break-up itself is sad, it is the lie and deceits that are so upsetting, even devastating, especially for our tweens. The media has portrayed a picture of Pattinson as an innocent victim. Embarrassed and scorned by the very woman to whom he had intended to propose. Screenwriters couldn’t put together a better script. A made for TV movie is sure to follow at some point!

In response our tweens are forced to face a few harsh realities of life among them:

1.)    Nothing is ever as perfect as it seems.

2.)    Even good things come to an end.

3.)    Reality is not a fairytale.

4.)    Sometimes love is just not enough to conquer all.

Luckily our tweens are indeed tough. This too shall pass a soon as the next big Hollywood story hits the presses? How are Selena and Justin doing these days; and did you hear about Taylor and the Kennedy boy….