swim suit shopping.. oh boy

Ok so.. my oldest daughter, she's 13.

She's growing, as she should be. So her swimsuits from being on swim team last year are too small.. as they should be!

So.. we go out shopping for a new swimsuit. She's not on swim team anymore, so we can play around with stuff. 

Oh. My. Gosh. 

Ok.. so here's the deal. 

She's not a child.. so we can't shop in the kid section.. she's 13 and she's getting into ladies sizes. 

But she's not quite there. 

We eventually find a set that's a women's small bottom and top.. we had to DIG for it!

But seriously. It's hard to find something in the women's section that cute enough for a teenage girl! 

Let alone the fact that (i've noticed this more recently, having girls growing up in my own house) little girls swimsuits are usually cute little one pieces or sporty two pieces, then they get up into teenage sizes and they barely cover any skin, and then once they are past the young adult sizes, they become one piece mumu's! And i'm not saying that to bash on anyone to is a larger size or anything.. not at all. But come on. 

Sure, we want our girls to learn to be comfortable in their own skin and be themselves and be confident.. but I really don't think we should be showing them that baring their whole body in public is ok. I'm all for a cute bikini, but my goodness.. at least half the ones we saw at Walmart barely covered the same amount as a bra and panties would! 

Save our girls, people. 

Don't let them parade around, barely covered. 

Teach them about being attractive and owning who they are, but doing it modestly and respect themselves. 

I don't expect them to cover up from head to toe.. not by any means. 

But please, have a sense of dignity.. 

And remember.. if you buy it, they will make more. Stop purchasing these kinds of clothing from the store. You may have to spend some time to find something that's worth your money, but it is.. it's worth it. 

Those 2.5 hours I spent with her today hopping between 4-5 different stores was worth my time, because she knows that she should respect herself, and that she shouldn't be forced to wear something she doesn't feel good in. And she knows, that she should be able to wear ANYthing anytime she wants, and if guys don't like it.. too bad. Her life is not about them.. her life is about being the best HER. And she's amazing.