Dads, I come to you today about an issue that I will am facing in my household now. An issue that I thought would not have to face for another 6 to 7 years. I am referring to my daughter, who is currently 5, asking the question about swim wear.
Swimwear of days gone by…
We recently went to White Water in Atlanta. This is a branch of Six Flags theme parks that is a water park where waterslide, a lazy river and play areas for kids abound. As we are walking in the water park my boys, ages 10 and 11, are doing all they can not to stare. Not with the desire of looking at the girls, but feeling sorry for the girls in thinking that they do not know any better than to wear swimwear like they are wearing. Then my wife gets the question of all questions from my daughter. “Momma, why are all of these girls walking around in their bra and panties?” Dads, I never thought of it that way, but why are they?
The eyes of kids have no filters or blinders. They simply see what is presented to them. My daughter knows that it is not proper to go through the house in her underwear. She is being taught to be modest in her clothing choices. Now some think that a child should have the total free will and rights to choose their own way in life without the help or discernment of the parents. In this house, it does not work that way. What about yours?
Men, the things that I saw there broke my heart. From young girls to teenagers to young ladies and beyond that had their bodies on display for all to look upon. Now don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love to see my wife’s body! But it is that, it’s MY WIFE’S body. I don’t want to see YOUR WIFE’S body or YOUR DAUGHTER’S body. That belongs to you and her future husband. So with that statement or two out of the way, I come back to my question, “What happened to modesty?”
This is a reflection on the relationship between dads and their daughter. Yes, the mom is a key player in helping your daughters dress and what the meaning of modesty and beauty is. But dad, your role for both the wife and daughter is indispensable, both in celebrating what they look like and telling them when the way they dress means what they don’t think it means. Men, you know exactly what I mean! What we need here is courage. Don’t be afraid to speak up and tell them. This is your wife and daughter, and they must hear from you what they are saying to men with their clothes.
When has it become acceptable to only wear bra and panties when you are going to the pool, lake, river, or ocean? Over the years I have never looked at it like that, yet through the eyes of a 5 year old, that is what it is. I am not saying that a lady should not be proud of the way she looks. I am saying that I care enough about my wife to tell her and to make sure that her body is for my eyes only. I also care enough for my future son-in-law to make every attempt that the young lady that he marries is a virtuous and modest person that has saved her body only for him and not shown it to every person.
So again, I ask: “Do you care what they show?” Leave your comments below and voice your opinion on this topic, just keep it clean.
Till next time…
I’m just a Husband of a Homeschooling Mom,
Steve Blackston