Saturday, September 23, 2006

What is a Skank?

First off, I just borrowed the title from a book I saw at B&N last week and I noted that on the post. I called no one a skank. The title made me chuckle so I used it. I talked about what was in the stores. I was making a point about how choices are somewhat limited when girls get out of the 2T-4T range. I said nothing about limiting choices to Little House dresses. I listed Hanna, Lands End, Gymboree, and even LTD2. Only of which Hanna could be accused of carrying Little House dresses. I am talking about exactly what I said, "gauzy tops and pencil skirts"

I am also talking about little girls not teenagers. I have no problem with a jr high girl wearing a trendier outfit~sheer top with cami, tighter fitting jeans. I am talking about little girls. When I wore big belts and tight jeans, I was 13 not 8. There is nothing wrong with fashion and trends. I love to go shoppping with my oldest (and hallalujah she loves it too!) I just get frustrated by the lack of choice. Things seem to be too babyish or too teenager-ish.

About the shirts with sayings, look again at the ones I linked. I was referring to ones with "snarky" sayings. I saw one out today that said, "If you catch me, I'll just lie" While I am not a fan of the "Princess" shirts, I said nothing about parents being unfit or uncaring if they let their daughter wear one. I thought my point on that was very clear. I think it emphasizes what they are instead of who they are and that's what bothers me.

This is a Bratz doll. And here is a Bratz Baby. Starting with the name, um, Bratz? I have a hard enough time with my girls acting bratty, why make it cool? And that much make-up and skimpy clothing is not something I want them to model after. And for the record, we also own no Barbies.

And note to Carol, I make a profit every season on my girls' clothing. So I spend less than zero. And about 80% of their closets are from resales or Ebay. Caroline gets a "budget" when we shop and she knows that she can spend it on one sweater or 4 outfits. It's her choice. I think that teaches her a lot about wise spending and materialism. It's not about looking "just so" Fashion and putting together an outfit is something she likes to do~it's a hobby~and she knows that. We talk about it everytime we shop. My other girls might not enjoy it like Caroline does. We'll have to see. . .

4 comments:

Mommy Brain said...

Chill....I'm just testing the waters...it's not personal...our girls wear some of the same outfits...I just wanted do a litmus test for the whole conversation.

Carol said...

You are soooo funny! I guess you could call me a Carol-Bratz" because I am totally trying to get you going! or I guess I could be this Carol Bratz from the Ladies of the Flower golf tournament! I love your responses! You go, momma!

Kary said...

I guess I'm not really sure what the misunderstanding was about Jen's post. Although I wouldn't call a parent unfit for letting their daughter wear short skirts and shirts with words like flirt or hottie on the front, I would call them naive. I think a lot of mothers have no clue what their daughters are up against in this world. I especially find this true of many of my Christian friends who grew up in a Christian environment. They are trying so hard to break the leagalistic mold they grew up in, that I feel like they go to the extreem in the other direction. Girls were having SEX at 13 and 14 when I was in school (at my public school). . .why would it be any different now? Allowing our girls to wear "cute sayings" on their shirts or the backside of their pants only calls attention to parts of the body that shouldn't be called attention to in the first place. And I do have a problem just following the trend. Who sets the trend? Typically worldly people. "For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away. . . 1 John 16,17. I don't mind following a narrow path, even if it means my daughter wears little house dresses and she doesn't fit into the crowd.

Mommy Brain said...

To all: I am sorry if I did not give a sufficient amount of grace through my comment...

I did not misunderstand Jen's post...I did not comment exclusivly on Jen's post...I injected some questions and observations to an entire discussion that was taking place. We as mothers have three choices, to embrace the world's culture, to reject the world's culture or to teach our children how to make informed choices in the world they live in. I simply wanted to open the discussion wider...I think that mothers of daughters have a very tough job to teach their daughters how to act, dress and make descisions in a world that is not always so friendly. We DO need to teach them to protect themselves and how things they do, say or wear effect others around them.

I do not believe that it is right to set my daughter free in this world to do what ever she wants, however, I also do not believe in removing her from the world to walk around in little house on the prairie dresses...and I don't think any of us do. I talk with all my children about how difficult it is to follow Jesus in a world that wants to deny him but this is the culture God placed us in, we will try to neither embrace it or deny it but to transform it. It is a narrow path.