Parents, Dress Your Daughters

Many people share the opinion that child predators are the lowest forms of life. Anyone who is found guilty of preying on an innocent child should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Child predators are lurking everywhere. They are present in our malls, schools, churches, and neighborhoods and even in our own homes. The last thing we want to do is make our children an easy target.

We have a responsibility and an obligation to protect and monitor our children. Knowing that predators are sick and twisted individuals that prey on children, especially young girls, we as parents need to monitor what our daughters are wearing.

I am not at all a "prude" or anything. I am as "hip" or "cool" as the next person when it comes to dress. I know that with all the changing fads and styles of clothing, there is a lot of pressure to be stylish. The other day my husband and I were standing in line at the movie theatre.

There was a young lady in line ahead of us who was dressed rather provocatively. If she had appeared to be a grown woman, we may not have given it much thought. Her top showed too much cleavage and the pair of pants that she was wearing had "DELICIOUS" airbrushed across her backside. The child had to be at least 12 or 13 years old because she was accompanied by her parent.

This style of dress is clearly not age appropriate for someone so young. Provocative logos on young people's clothing are a bit too much. There are certainly other words that can be used as a matter of expression. It makes our kids moving "billboards", yet clothing is being sold in very mature designs for our youth.

If we are going to stop adults from preying on children, we have to take some precautionary measures and not put them out there like that. I'm not saying this is the reason for the crime, but it makes our babies more "appetizing" to these sick individuals. The fact that everyone is wearing them and that is what stores sell does not make it right. Companies only produce what we are willing to buy.

So go shopping with your daughters and help pick her clothes. They can share in the decision as long as it is age appropriate. They don't have to dress like the girls in the videos. Young ladies can still look hip and cute without exposing themselves. Make them ditch the high-rise thongs and the low-rise jeans. They are worth so much more.