Treasure Your Daughters

There is something that has been bothering me for quite some time now, and with the Miley Cyrus controversy, it is in the forefront of my mind.  My daughter is a treasure that God blessed me with. I want her to be a smart, loving, and CONFIDENT young lady!  At 8, she already asks, "Am I fat?".  And she had an issue this past school year with a "friend" who wouldn't play with her if she wasn't wearing the "right" clothes that day. We have had the issue come up with the short shorts. I WILL NOT allow her to wear them!! I prefer her to wear more appropriate clothes for her age. Heck, I am sure if I could I would have her dressing like Laura Ingles from Little House on the Prairie. But, I am realistic. However, when I picked my daughter up from school one day this last May, I saw a sight that not only baffled me, but angered me. There were several little girls, ranging from age 6-9, wearing extremely short shorts. One was even wearing 3" wedge shoes with shorts so short, if she bent over, I probably would have seen her underwear!!! I am NOT kidding!! Now, when I was in school, I would have been handed a pair of sweatpants and told not to wear those shorts again. Or anything that short for that matter!

Am I a perfect parent? Heck, no!! Do I want my daughter showing off her body and being viewed as a sex object, now or as a teen (or even as an adult)? HELL, NO!! This is where as a parent, it is my job to direct my children in the right direction. Instill morals and values. Help them to grow up to be confident in who the are, not what they wear.

This brings me to what the media and fashion industry is putting out there for our young girls. For instance, there is now lingerie for girls ages 4-12! Yep! When I first saw this on the Today Show (NBC), my jaw dropped and I shook my head! Here is a picture from their print ad. I don't care how much my daughter got paid. She would not be doing this ad!

I am not a prude. I know times are changing. But do we have to throw away our morals and values? This is what they are now deeming acceptable for our young ladies in dance and cheerleading/poms!  Sorry! I would be pulling my child out of dance and demanding a refund for my costume if this is what she came home with for her recital!

 

 



Let's see what our girls dolls are encouraging our girls to wear, shall we?  Not much better!

                        

 

Let's take a look at the latest trend in shorts! Parents, you might as well let your daughters wear their underwear out in public. In fact, let's do a comparison.

 

 

                UNDERWEAR            

               SWIMSUIT                

 

                  SHORTS                  

 

 Now, my daughter and I have had the discussion about what shorts she can and can't wear. Sometimes she tests the boundaries, but she knows what I will and will not allow. I know as she gets older, these boundaries will be tried and tested and there will be arguments, there is no doubt! If I do not feel what she is wearing or wants to buy is appropriate, the answer will be NO! I am her parent, her guardian, her protector! I do not want her to be objectified, sexualized, or demoralized! And if she EVER posts a picture like this on the internet or via text message, she will be spending a month with no internet and no phone and writing a really long report on pedophiles!!

 

I guess what I am trying to say is that we need to stand up for our daughters! We need to stand up against the media, the schools, the dance schools, and the fashion industry. Where there is a demand, there will be supply! I know there will be those of you who will argue that "it covers more than a swimsuit". To that, I ask, when did we start wearing our swimsuits everywhere? This is just my opinion. I know I have a long battle ahead of me with my daughter. I just hope she looks back and thanks me for loving her enough to care!