My children do not wear bikinis.
My children do not have their ears pierced.
My children do not wear mid drift shirts or shorts that are too tight.
My children are told that tattoos are not acceptable, no matter their age.
My children do not watch movies that are above their age range.
My children will not date until 16 or later.
My children will not wear high heels until 14.
My children are being raised by a conservative mother and I won’t apologize for it.
For those who know me or have followed me for a while, this may come as a complete shock. I am wholeheartedly supportive of any decision people want to make about their parenthood, lifestyle and quest to be an individual. I support my friends in their decisions that are in stark opposite of mine. I think babies in bikinis are cute. I don’t think that piercing an infants ears is a bad thing and I have seen some tattoos that are mesmerizing and important for the message of individuality they share!
But when it comes to my kids, I am a raving lunatic about being conservative, modest and keeping things the way they were when they came out of mommy.
I can’t really explain it. How a mom can be so open and loving to any decision other’s make but so conservative about decisions and the path she wants her children to take. I suppose it is just my nature. I don’t wear bikini’s – mainly because I am not comfortable in them – and I got my ears pierced at 13 as a right of passage. I have no tattoos nor the desire to get any and I rarely wear revealing clothing. I suppose it is because I was raised by a conservative mom and a professional dad and told that my intellect and talents would be more rewarded than my efforts to be different.
Now, I am not so conservative that my kids can not be individuals. If they wanted to put a pink streak in their hair, I would take them to get it done. If they want to get their nails painted, I am right there next to them encouraging the weirdest design. If they want to wear a striped shirt with plaid pants, I tell them they look amazing. If they want to color their hair black, wear dark make up and dress all in black all through high school, so be it. But the basic points of modesty and age appropriate clothing will be respected.
I won’t lie, I get heat for my conservative viewpoints sometimes. I am told that I am a hypocrite and that my girls will rebel from the rules and do the opposite I want just to spite me. I understand that. I did it. I lashed out and lived a life that was much harder on me and my parents than it had to be. In fact, as a totally free spirit that moved out at 15 and struggled to carve her own life, you would think I would be more lax about my children and the decisions I want them to make.
But I am not. If that makes me a hypocrite, so be it. If it leaves me open for the ridicule of others and the arguments to the opposite of my beliefs, so be it. If I get slammed on Facebook over my views… well, it won’t be the first time.
But no matter what happens, I will always respect and admire the decisions that parents make for their children. I will always embrace individuality and the freedom to choose the lives you want to lead. I will support my children and do everything in my power to help them through life in the best way possible for them.
But, for now anyway, they will cover up, leave their body parts un-pierced, un-tattooed and un-altered in any way. For as long as I can possibly make it last!
I am a conservative mom when to comes to my kids. And though it may be an unpopular decision to others who know this about me, I refuse to apologize for it. Just as I would never ask you to apologize for your parenting decisions.
I am with you 95%…. only cause i was 12 when i got my ears pierced. I don’t think a baby should be pierced. I do believe in circumcision cause i did it to my son a few days after he was born. I want my daughter to cover up too. She is now fixing to be 10 and we are on the “YOU HAVE TO WEAR A BRA” stage, cause she s showing. I am trying to keep her on a schedule of proper personal hygiene. She did get her ears pierced at 7. I talked it over with her and she decided yes. She ONLY wears studs though. So you GO! all mothers should keep modesty till their daughters turn 18 I think…. at least til they graduate high school. :)
Thank you – it sounds like you are doing what is right for your kids and I love it!! Thanks for reading and commenting!!
Ah this was refreshing. I love reading your work Lori :)
Thank you so much!! I appreciate your taking the time!
Awesome! Lori I love you. This is how I am too. I won’t begrudge anyone their parenting decisions, no matter how much I may disagree, but I hope to get the same respect in my conservative parenting decisions.
It is good to see there are others who feel the same as I do about these things. I am a Grandmother who is raising a Grand child…her name is Avah and she just turned 8 in May…She is well rounded and Very happy.. I do not expose her to anymore than I have to…I’m very careful about what she watches and wears… We did have a little trouble when my Daughter in law got my other Grand daughter’s ears pierced…but she quickly got over it when I gave her some stick on ear rings. lol