Clothed With Dignity

Recently, some have approached me and say “you let Emmie wear a tube top.” So I found this to be a source of topic..

I am not the fashion police, nor the moral standard that you should go by.. but lets be real; your attire says a lot about you. I have noticed that as women we have taken what it means to be “confident” to mean “revealing”. You can be confident in who you are and dress with “decency”.

See I am raising a young lady, who watches my every move. Yes, I want her to be confident in who she is but I have to model what that looks like. Yes, she has her own style but how do we curtail that to being decent and acceptable. I can’t just throw to the wind and say “I’m not living for people”.

If I wear something, she will ask me, why can’t she wear it. I am finding out with this generation “saying do as I say, not as I do”, doesn’t work. (I would have NEVER dared pose that question growing up.) She is taking her lead from me. I am someones mother, my attire can’t be a source of conversation out there. I can’t be the reason that Emmie gets side glances when she appears in a room, because her mother is “showing all of her goods”. In the Haitian community there’s this saying “Tell pere, tell fils, tell mere, tell filles”; equivalent to the American saying, ” the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” (Side bar.. as an educator whenever a parent shows up, I go ohhhh…. I get why so and so is the way they are).

I have to watch what I’m “putting out there”, doesn’t give society a prejudged opinion of who my daughter is. I don’t want to shut off opportunities that may come her way. I am not saying to walk around looking like a “nun” or a “grandma” (No offense to nuns and grandmas…. there’s some pretty ‘Chic’ grandmas out there with ‘class’… I know a lot of them) just dress with decency! I’m not going to explain what it means to look decent. You know! If before leaving the house, you get a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and you “pause” and wonder “does it look right”, “is it too much”; you have reasons to change.

Don’t you know that you are BEAUTIFUL, made in HIS image! You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. ( Song of Song 4:7) You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (Isaiah 62:3) She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. (Prov. 31:25) For we are God’s masterpiece… (Eph. 2:10)

Believe you me, the peanut gallery is talking. I hear it! I too shake my head & left gasping for air & asking, “did someone, not see you before you left the house”. What kind of example are you being to your daughters. (I know, judgmental but keeping it authentic).

If you see Emmie out there and wonder… just know that, it has been approved by me, after all I bought it! I do the whole hand by your side to check for length of shorts and skirts, raise your arms for me to check for any belly showing. Lol! Emmie is very stylish, and wants to keep up with all of the trends. We have conversations about what she sees people wear on “social media” is just for sales. Nakedness sales!

I haven’t reached the stage yet, when she is able to make her own purchases (paying for it herself). I am confident that she will make “wise choices” when that opportunity comes. She is worth far more than rubies. (Prov. 31:10). Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Cor. 6:19-20) Ok, enough preaching from me.

You can agree or disagree with me, that what you wear have no impact on your children. You can share how you deal with the “dressing battle” with your children (could be sons too… cause I am NOT down with the sagging pants). You can share what you think dressing with “decency” means.

Wilnia

Mom2Greg&Emmie