It has to stop!

John and I spent some time on the river walk in San Antonio this weekend. Apparently there was a cheerleading competition of some sort taking place at the Alamodome. Girls of all ages (approximately 8-18) were walking around downtown in their cheerleading outfits....if you can actually call them that. I was APPALLED!!!! I am rarely as distraught as I was while observing the "uniforms" these girls were wearing. Given, cheerleading suits have never been excessively modest, but this was sick. When I was in high school the trend was a "fly away" skirt that revealed quite a bit of leg. However those uniforms would be considered habits compared to the lingerie these children were wearing. The tops were tight and were only long enough to cover a bra. The entire torso and stomach were exposed down to the low-rise skirt, which was also skin tight and NOT long enough to cover the bloomers. No exaggeration, the suits were as skimpy as a bathing suit, but much more provocative. I was floored mostly because these were not adult women who chose to wear these clothes and purchased them themselves. These were little girls whose MOTHERS allowed them to leave the house like this and prance around downtown San Antonio. It was revolting. It's no wonder that young girls are dieting and pursuing extreme measures to look sexy. A nine year old!! Sexy!! WHAT??? There has to be a moment when a mother looks at her child and says, "I don't care how talented you are, how much you love this sport, how all the other girls' are doing it....you will not wear this outfit....period!" Why has this conversation not taken place? How are women allowing their prepubescent girls to dress like strippers? I am bothered even more because I am now the mother of a son. In the past I would have looked at these girls and thought, "Fool! She has no idea how sexy she looks, and some boy is going to come along and take advantage of her." Now my perspective has changed. I watch these girls with their heavy make up and sassy struts and think, "They know EXACTLY what they are doing. My poor son is going to be lured in by her and then be labeled a creep, predator, or worse!" It is terrifying. I can only hope and pray that parents will stop being run by their children, and that we will take a stand for what is wholesome, pure, and right. It doesn't matter what the child wants to wear or what the organization wants to dress them in. If we put our foot down and say that it is NOT allowed, the rules will change. I guarantee my mother would have yanked me out of cheerleading before allowing me to disgrace my body, my family, and my church in this way. It has to stop. This is how I felt.