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| | | NEXT MESSAGE  | | | | | AUTHOR: | mommax2 | DATE: 08/02/02 8:08pm | | SUBJECT: |  Hold the Line, Parents! | | | Yes, children's bodies are maturing more quickly than they were years ago. This doesn't mean their minds are developing as quickly, as evidenced by the growing number of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases in our youth. Parents must set limitations and parameters for their children. Children need this and will thrive under these guides that let them know that their parents love them enough to be concerned.
In choosing clothing, I often give my son several items to choose from and let him make his own choice. This eliminates the items that I won't allow, while still giving him the opportunity to choose and feel like he's a part of the process. If he really likes something that I hate, I tell him why he can't have it and offer him another option. As a child, he often doesn't understand the sexual connotations of some of the things he might choose on his own.
I don't mind being blamed for not allowing my child to dress in a manner that would be questionable. If he wants to blame me for not looking like a fool, then fine. I remember using my parents as an excuse not to bend to peer pressure. "My mom won't let me.", got me out of quite a few situations that I wasn't mature enough to deal with.
There's a difference between being dictatorial and setting limitations. I will help my child make appropriate selections while he lives under my roof, as evidence of my love and caring, just as my parents did for me. One day, I hope he does the samefor his children. | |  | |
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