*my mission statement (if you will) when it comes to parenting*
let them play with dolls.or trucks.or whatever it is that makes them happy. but let them play.
don't teach them to be obsessed with weight,or looks,or their hair. don't tell them they aren't smart enough. or pretty enough. or good enough. tell them they are everything. anything. the sky's the limit.
don't demonstrate the behavior that their self worth depends on what someone else thinks of them.
let them know it's wonderful to be SMART. that playing dumb/ditzy/cutesy isn't cute. i remember reading a survey of elementary age children a few years back. the question was, is it better to be smart or sexy?
overwhelmingly? the response was sexy.
tell them that class and elegance and grace and BRAINS? that trumps sexy any day.
dress your girls like little GIRLS. not women. not teenagers. why in the world is there even a tee-shirt made in child size that says "made you look"? why are there teensy hoochie clothes at almost all the stores now?
it's not that i dress my girls in "little house on the prairie" chic....i mean, we all know harper loves her skinny jeans. but dress your kids like KIDS for pete's sake. WHY WOULD YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO LOOK SEXY? it enrages me.
i say NO. hell no. to these things that are available for CHILDREN. i say no to booty shorts, low rise jeans,padded bras (FOR KIDS???? YES I'm YELLING),slogans across the chest,"juicy" on the booty.
there are so many good points brought up in this article.
the title of it? Parents, don't dress your girls like tramps.
i could have written that myself. heck, i wish i would have.
let your children be children.
right now is the time for sticky hands, muddy toes,make believe,fairy tales,imagination,finger paint.
heartbreak,fear,wanting to look a certain way, insecurities,"does my butt look too big in these jeans?"...that comes later.
i know for a fact that we are going to argue over clothes one day.
just as my daddy used to say to me "isn't that a little short?" with a raised eyebrow...we'll say the same to our girls.
and they will huff and puff and roll their eyes to the heavens and stomp and sigh and gnash their terrible teenage teeth,
but they will leave the house with their dignity in tact.
and then said dignity will probably be stuffed into a backpack and they will do the old switcharoo...i know b/c i invented that trick...
but that's later.
now?
let them be little.
be a mommy to them. not their best friend. you don't need their approval. you don't need to be frightened of hurting their feelings if you tell them NO.
don't be deterred what all the other kids parents are doing. that has nothing to do with you. with your beliefs.
stand strong. love strong. hug strong.
what you are doing,teaching,demonstrating...
will have a huge impact on the women they become.
and even when they are having those brief lapses of judgement, those ugh-look-what-my-mom-made-me-wear-but-don't-worry-i-have-something-cooler-in-my-backpack-moments, may they maintain grace,class,composure,and BRAINS in that teensy miniskirt.
i know that i'll be keeping MY composure by remembering the years when lacy socks,patent leather soes,and smocked dresses were the clothing of choice.
yes, let them be little. :)
p.s. aren't the dresses BEAUTIFUL? i mean, they are truly the prettiest dresses we've ever owned. my amazingly talented friend maggie made them. did i mention she's amazing?
