Recently I ran into a friend who was visiting a seamstress because her daughter needed a dress for her upcoming winter formal. She said that her daughter was less than thrilled about the dress that she picked out, and although she was wearing a mask, I could tell that she wasn’t exactly excited. I also got the idea she wasn’t completely sold on it because she was still looking online while waiting. When she found one she liked, my friend told her, “We’re done.” My oh my, I’m sure this scenario has occurred in your household, too.
If I had to guess, my friend’s daughter didn’t like the fact that she was there for the seamstress to make the slit less high. From what I could see, the dress looked adorable on her. She is tinier than I ever thought about being when I was her age, and it fit her perfectly. My friend said that her daughter wanted more of a V neckline, too, and the dress had more of a modest cut up top. It had spaghetti straps, so it showed enough for a young lady her age.
I’m proud of my friend for sticking to her guns despite her daughter’s dismay. I know it’s not easy to stay resolute when kids decry that it’s the end of the world when they don’t get their way. I guarantee that her daughter wants a different look because of what she sees on a daily basis. I’m constantly disappointed when I see young ladies looking like they should be in a music video rather than the school dance. I think we need to do a better job of letting them know that it’s not necessary to show everythang (yes, I meant to spell it that way). I believe that when she sees how beautiful she looks, she will forget about the high slit and the deep V neckline she wanted. Back in my day, this dress was the bee’s knees. I doubt any teenage girl would touch a dress with sequins now, but I thought I had it goin’ on. I was sufficiently covered, but I don’t think I looked like a prude either. (Never mind the shoulder pads. It was a thing back in 1991.)
Let’s use this as a teaching moment. I find that while I have definite ideas of what is appropriate, I’m finding that not everyone else has the same thing in mind. While you’re shopping for the perfect winter formal dress, please consider whether or not it is age appropriate. Just because a young lady has the body to wear something that an adult would wear doesn’t mean they should wear it. By no means am I saying that they need to look like handmaids, but it’s our job as adults to let kids know that they are kids. Until they are old enough to make grown up decisions (and able to buy their own dresses), they can wear tasteful dresses that don’t show all their boobies and booties. They’ll have plenty of time for that after high school. They’ll look at you as if you’re the worst parent ever, but you’re not. With there being so many activities they have taken part in from when they were very young, it’s easy for them to think that it’s just another this or that. Each event is the chance to look extra sophisticated. Leave the hoochiness for another time.
#ksmithsays
ksmithsays 