We’ve all seen them. You know what I’m talking about, little girls
sporting T-shirts displaying obnoxious logos like "Princess" and "Spoil
Me". I don’t know about you, but I don’t find those particularly
offensive, just in the whatareyouthinkinglettingyourdaughterwearthat?? category.
Well, yesterday morning when I dropped my daughter off at preschool, I saw one that takes the cake.
Because the public schools were off yesterday, there were lots of
older siblings accompanying the little preschoolers to class. And as I
was leaving, I passed a nice-looking, well-dressed mom with a 7- or
8-year-old little girl in a pink T-shirt and jeans. I noticed there was
something written on the shirt, so I took a closer look.
And what I saw made me drop to my knees, my hands clasped, and beg this fellow mother, "What in the name of all that’s good and right would compel you to purchase, to say nothing of allow your daughter to wear that shirt!?"
Okay, I didn’t really do that. But I wanted to. Because the shirt said…
Are you ready for this?
You better take a seat.
"Dirty Girls"
Yes. You read that correctly.
"Dirty Girls" in pink bubble letters, accented with a couple of cute
little pink flowers, was emblazoned across the chest of this 8-year old
little girl.
Can someone please explain this to me? Because I am dumbfounded.
I mean, this is a well-dressed, responsible-looking 30-something mom
bringing her children into a Christian pre-school in a fairly
conservative area of rural Pennsylvania. This is someone who should know better.
And. The child wearing the
shirt is not some rebellious adolescent with a mind of her own who is
testing the boundaries. No. It’s a young child who doesn’t even understand the connotations such a statement is putting out there.
I know I sound like an old fuddy-duddy, and I don’t know when I became my mother. But REALLY, people. Back in my day…
Well, you get the drift.
Originally posted October 3, 2006.
11 Responses
Don’t even get me started!
https://soitbegins.wordpress.com/2007/05/27/why-i-dont-read-the-newspaper/
I know you are on vacation, but I have to respond anyway. I completely agree. And it is very frustrating to find that there are precious few affordable shirts out there without some ridiculous phrase on them. Why would a mother encourage her child to think she is spoiled, bratty, easy, flirty, or any number of similar things? I know we are doing our best to avoid these shirts.
De-lurking to say hello. I have been reading your blog for awhile and enjoy it.
From one fuddy-duddy to another: I completely agree with you. Another thing I can’t stand are messages written across the rear. Why would you put something on any CHILD, with something written across the rear?
But like oh amanda says, don’t get me started!
I know there is a brand name out there that makes lip gloss and pajamas and stuff called “Dirty Girls,” and I’ll bet this T-shirt had the logo. I am with you, though, on the inappropriateness of putting said logo on your child. Could this woman just have been really, really thoughtless?
You don’t sound like an old fud to me. You sound like a person with COMMON SENSE!
This issue dri ves me nuts. When I was teaching FIRST grade, I was amazed at what they’d wear. We’d be out for recess, and I’d notcie what the kindergarteners were wearing-shock. Cutsey, flitatious sayings on their bottoms…
Deliberately drawing attention to areas on our body, especially at such young ages, will ony attract harmful attention, in my opinion. And you know darn well that these parents permitting this attire would be the first to scream if some perv was checking their young ones out. HELLO!!! You’re drawing attention to their bodies!
OK, I’ll step off my soapbox now.
I obviously agree with you. 😉
I agree. I also try to buy shirts that cover her belly button. However, Megan’s growing so fast, I can’t keep up with her! Whenever I see those awful shirts in a store, I speak as loudly as possible while saying how awful they are and the store’s buyer should be ashamed. Someone may hear me one day.
As my friend would say, “They need to give their head a shake”. I don’t get that either.
It’s truly disturbing, isn’t it??
My beloved Target is the worst. They have thong panties in size 8…ackk ! And the shirts. “Hand over the credit card and no one gets hurt.” “I want it. You’ll buy it for me. End of discussion.” GMAB.
I am just reading back through your archives and had to say- AMEN! You are no fuddy duddy- it just seems that taste and common sense are in short supply these days!
I am going to have to agree with most of what you said, but in defense of that mother and little girl (sorry, I often play the Devil’s Advocate)…Dirty Girls is a brand of clothing that specializes in racing gear for girls. They also have clothes that say “Girls Love Dirt”. No offense or anything, but you totally missunderstood what it meant by “Dirty Girls”. It actually meant dirty (as is dirt) girls.