Here it is towards the middle of summer. For many of us it has
been really hot. I really don't like hot weather. It makes
me tired and sluggish. I love being in my house with the air
conditioning going.
My two sons love to swim, so we go to my sister's house. Where
they live they have a nice swimming pool area. In the swimming
area there are two pools. One pool, mostly for the kids, has a
waterfall in it. Next to this pool there is bigger pool that can
be used as a lap pool or playing games. My boys love the
waterfall pool area, so that is where we spend most of our time when we
are there.
I am a person who loves to just do some swimming and relax in the
swimming pool. Of course, I am keeping a keen eye out for my boys
at the same time. They are never together. They are out
with their cousins or making new friends.
One day I was at the swimming pool and this nice looking lady walked in
and all she had on was a G-string swimsuit. She was with her
children. Because I am a guy, I thought she was nice to look
at. I also knew this was not appropriate for a family area or
even any public area. I thought about my kids. This is not
what me or my kids need to see. She was at the lap pool and so I
decided we should go to the waterfall area.
I was looking around and there were many people who were dressed
appropriately, but there were guys who had tight trunks or bikini
trunks on. There were women with bikinis on. Basically,
there was not much more to imagine after that. Than I looked at
the kids. Many of the kids were dressed appropriately.
There were some teenage boys that have those baggy looking suits that
show part of their behind, but many girls from 3 years old to teen
years were wearing bikinis. Than I got to thinking about why do
so many parents allow their children to wear sexually provocative
clothing.
In today's world sex and being sexually dressed is being shoved upon
us. Many advertisements have young nice looking people on them.
They are wearing skimpy clothes and have sexual movements. Many
TV shows and movies are the same, with sex being very much part of it.
Stores that are geared to 11yr. olds up to teen years have clothes that
are sexually provocative.
We have singers who sing about sex and wear clothes that cover very
little. Our children are idolizing these people. Many of
these kids then see these famous singers on billboards or on TV and
they want to be like them and dress like them. This goes the same
with actors.
As parents we have a responsibility to make sure our children know the
difference between right and wrong. We teach them not to steal,
cheat, or lie. Yet, we are letting our children dress the wrong
way.
Our teenagers are having sex earlier. And a lot of this is the
parents' fault. Boys are showing off what they can, and girls are
showing all they can. As parents we are forgetting that there are
hormones involved and peer pressure. We as parents should not be
allowing girls wear sexually provocative clothing. We should be
teaching our son's to respect girls.
There are cases today with women or girls being raped. I am not
saying this is all the fault of the girls, but it doesn't help to be
wearing tight clothing or showing all they can without showing it all.
When we allow our children, at very young ages, to dress in bikinis or
skimpy clothing we are not teaching them to tell others to respect
them. This goes along with underwear as well. It is telling
the opposite sex to lust or come after me. It is saying I am easy
and so on.
This all leads to peer pressure and to premarital sex. This in
return leads to pregnancy, sexual diseases, dropping out of school,
abortions (killing of the unborn), mental and physical harm and so
on. This can than lead to our children having many sexual
relationships. Or, not having one marriage but two or three
marriages. The sanctity of the marriage, given to us by God, is
going out the door. Their kids have different fathers and
mothers.
It is time for us as parents, especially us stay at home dads, to teach
our children the proper way to dress. I am NOT saying you have to
dress like the Amish or Quakers. I believe in dressing
respectfully.
The saying, "I want my child to be able to express themselves" is
ridiculous. They can express themselves in a decent way. If
we allow them to talk to us and we are open to listening to them, they
can express themselves. This is how we should be encouraging them
to express themselves. They also need to hear the word "No" from
us.
I have two boys. However, I have expressed my opinion to others
about how girls are dressing. A person said to me, "You need a
girl. Then you would understand." I do understand, and that
is why my girl would not dress in short skirts, have G-string
underwear, short shorts, or skimpy shirts. I don't allow my boys
to dress the wrong way either. I don't allow my son's to have
real baggy pants so their underwear show and so on.
As fathers it is our responsibility to teach our children to be
respectable in the way we act, and also in the way they should
dress. This world is changing and it isn't for the good.
People make snap judgments on the way our children and we dress.
This could have negative implications on our children. I don't
know about you, but this isn't what I want for my kids.
You and your wife need to take the responsibility teaching your
children the respectable ways of dressing. Don't fall prey to the
ways that are popular that encourage sexual provocative dressing.
Teach modesty and use the word "NO".
It is also our responsibility to protect our children. We do this
by teaching them to be decent in the way they dress and respecting
others.
I would like to encourage you to look at these two articles about fashion and our kids:
Remember to give your kids a hug and tell them that you love
them. Tell your wife how much you appreciate her and that you
love her.
Bart Buskey, Meridian, Idaho email at:
