Mom wears a thong; girls want to follow suit
Dear Amy: I am a 31-year-old mom. My two daughters are seven and five.
When we go to the beach, I always wear a thong or G-string bottom. My daughters have started to scrunch their bathing suit bottoms so their suits look like mine.
When we were shopping for new suits, my 7-year-old asked for a thong or G-string suit, just like the ones I wear.
She could not find one in the girls' department, and was very disappointed. My mother suggested that I buy a regular suit and take it to a seamstress and have it altered.
I don't know if it's appropriate for a 7-year-old to wear a thong or G-string bathing suit bottom. What do you think?
-- Wondering Mom
Dear Mom: A good and basic rule to remember (in this and all things) is: If you're wondering if something is appropriate, then it probably isn't. This applies to behavior and bathing suits.
The reason your daughters couldn't find a thong or G-string bathing suit bottom in the girls' department is because in this culture thongs and G-strings are considered "sexy," and thus not suitable for children.
Children should be dressed in ways that make it comfortable for them to swim and play. They are not mini-adults, and are not old enough to understand the sort of objectification that often accompanies the suit that you choose to wear.
And while I agree that this objectification is wrong, you should protect your daughters from it while they are young.
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