In recent “Things That Will Scar You For Life” news, a Utah dad by the name of Scott Mackintosh could be seen sporting a pair of Daisy Dukes on a recent family outing. Unfortunately, this wasn’t some sort of American Beauty-style mid-life crisis, but rather a questionable parenting technique used to make his daughter, Myley, rethink her fashion choices.
“In our family, we have pretty definite modesty guidelines,” he said. “I’m a firm believer that the way we dress sends messages about us, and it influences the way we and others act.” But instead of opening up this conversation about style and body image with his daughter, Mackintosh chose to teach by example.
While I’m all for a little ol’ fashioned parenting, the phrase “modesty guidelines” is a liiittle Purity Ball-esque. When parents choose to enforce a dress code on their children, they should remember what a personal and self-defining thing it can be, and consequentially, tread with care. More importantly, was public humiliation really the way to go with this one? This dad completely squandered an opportunity to have a very important conversation: one about self-expression and body image. Issues that, unless handled with respect and tact, can end up haunting someone well into adulthood. So while he may have proven a point…at what price?
This to-do joins the ranks of many a mom and dad going to extremes in order to control their children. Or have we already forgotten one particular mom who forced her daughter to stand on the highway with a sign that read “I was disrespecting my parents by twerking at a school dance.” It’s like these parents are trying to out-do each other…
So while dad Scott Mackintosh may have looked hysterical in his denim cutoffs, his efforts were more insensitive than anything else. Then again, my parents were always pretty strict when it came to my need to wear pajamas out of the house…
Where do you draw the line? Should parents have this sort of say in what their children wears? Or is it just doing more harm than good?
Thanks to NY Daily News
Image via DadShortShorts.com
