"That the older women teach the younger women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children."
--Titus 2:4

"How do you deal with the issue of modest dressing with your teen girls?" Following are the responses we received from our subscribers.

"My daughters grew up knowing they were GOD's children. As such, they had a responsibility to reflect this in all areas of their lives, including the way they dressed. They also knew that I was the mother and had the final say. So if conflict did arise over what they could wear, they accepted my authority."

"Most of the clothes in the stores today are of the provokative type; plus if you don't wear something ‘in' you're just not ‘with it.' I try to make sure my daughter wears clothes that are trendy enough, but not over the top or what I would consider inappropriate. In a way I'm lucky because she knows I wouldn't approve of lots of stuff so she doesn't even try to buy anything risque.Then again, she's grown up with having me as a mother, so is use to my restrictions, rules, and expectations. You don't start parenting your children when they're teenagers, you start the day they're born and never stop. The trick, I've found, is learning to let go (how much and at what age) so they can make decisions for themselves, hopefully mostly right ones. It's as much a learning process for the parent as it is for the child."

"Since my girls were little, I have stressed that if we are to be ‘lights that reflect Christ,' we must reflect Him in all areas of our lives. As Christian women, we cannot profess to follow Christ and then dress the way of world; that would only discredit our message. Teen girls can dress in a stylish and attractive way and still be modestly dressed. They need not display glimpses of their mid section, wear clingy or tight clothing, or low cut tops, or short skirts or short shorts. I have taught them that the purpose of my guidelines are to protect them. I love them too much to allow them to dress in a way that advertises their bodies."

"For us, the most critical time to teach this concept was about ages 2 to 3. Dressing our girls in longer hems (and if unavailable, adding lace or trim to compensate) established an uncompromisable standard. Necklines and underarms were just as important to consider. If begun early as with all other forms of child-rearing and discipline, little ones will not question or challenge these pre-determined choices by us parents. They will simply accept them, which eliminates "clothing wars" later on into the teens. But more than anything else, our example is the most "telling." Do we practice what we preach? Do we wear revealing tank tops? Low necklines? Sheer garments? Tight tops or pants? --- Let us lead their way to modesty.

Editor's Note: For more on modest dressing for teens, read "Dressing to Tease? Or Dressing to Please?"