It all started at the begining of the summer holidays when i noticed that my 16 year old daughter was only putting a couple of pairs of knickers in the wash each week. When I spoke to her and suggested that she should perhaps change them more regularly she informed me that it was not that she wore them for many days without changing them but that she was only wearing knickers occaisonally. Firstly i was a bit taken aback but knowing that occaisionally in hot weather i myself do not wear any we had an adult conversation and it turns out that after trying many different styles she just finds it more comfortable not to wear any. We discussed the mater and I said i was not comfortable with her going out without any knickers but at the same time wanted to respect her lifestyle choices we resolved that whilst at home she would go without if she chose but would wear them when out.
Then when we went on Holiday the airline lost a bag in transit which just happened to be the one containing her underware amongst other things. During the first day of our holiday we went out to replace the items lost and got the suncreams and bikini etc but when we got to replacing her underware she said she would do without for the two weeks and why didn't we save the money after all half the time she would be in her bikini on the beach anyway. I had to admit the logic was good so as we were on Holiday i agreed. Perhaps this was my mistake, but i expected her to feel self concious at times and ask me to buy some knickers during the holiday but she was as happy as i have ever seen her, even when we went to out to eat or to the theme park on the rides she had a skirt on i noticed how she took care to maintain her dignity yet was so comfy in the surroundings.
Now we are back at home. Since comming home last week she has not worn any all week and last night i reminded her about our agreement and how the holiday was diffrent but she told me she did not want to go back to wearing knickers at all. When i asked her about going back to school and sixth form she said that she did not want to wear knickers, then told me she had occaisionally been to school last year without and even sat some of her GCSE's without as she found it more comfy and could concentrate more. When i asked if it was becasue her friends did not wear knickers she said that some do and some don't, it was not a pier pressure thing just a choice when getting dressed. I was not comfy with the idea but when asked why not all i could come up with was a highly unconvincing reason that it was expected the done thing.
Have any other parents tackled this situation? What good reasons have you used to convince your kids that knickers should be worn or have you let them decide themselves and been there to discuss matters and support them?
