Teenager dress problems

My oldest graduated last year and started dressing in black (mostly black t-shirts and jeans) in his junior year.  This drove my DH absolutely crazy and still does!  We never had any trouble with him in school either; good grades, part-time job, never ran with the wrong crowd, always called to keep in touch when he was out, etc., just like your daughter.  We let it go.  He never wanted any tattoos, collars or piercings (although he did buy a bracelet with the metal points once.  He never wore this to school however.)  The biggest problem we ever had was the kind of music he liked to listen to.  We did forbid him to buy certain types and bands after we listened to them, but he didn't argue.  He is now in college and is doing great.  His grades are high and he still checks in a few times a week just to "talk." 

If I were you, I would let the clothing thing go, as long as it doesn't change into anything concerning.  Most teens need to express themselves somewhat and this really seems pretty innocent.  My DH and I are really pretty conservative.  We found that it is best to pick you battles. There are certainly a lot more horrific problems out there to be concerned about than dressing in black.  Your job is to just keep an eye on things and if you see any drastic changes in her (grades, personality, friends, etc), that is the time to step in.  She seems like a well rounded young lady with a good head on her shoulders.  You seem to have done an excellent job in raising her.  She will soon be a legal adult and you now have to start trusting her judgement.  I think she will be just fine!  Good luck!

• Teenage dress problems... - Mom of 3
  • dressing in black - desertflour
  • dress - Meghan
    • One more thing to add... - Meghan
  • Relax - it is a phase and really doesn't mean anything. - Mom of 17 year old
  • Let her express herself, - it's harmless
  • I wouldn't worry! - MT Student
    • my mom... - MT Student
  • Of course you can't help worrying, you're a mother.. - Lindy
  • Chill out, all she is doing is wearing a color she obviously likes - - I dressed in all purple
  • Personally I would back off... - Michelle
  • relax...... - aa
  • I think you have a good kid and - TM
    • Yes but.... - Mom of 3
      • But I always say, don't be part of the problem, - TM
  • I would leave it alone - mother of 3
  • Teenager dress problems - Peeps
  • My boy did the same thing - alm
  • Yep, I would back off.. - CMT

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I know that customer service is sorely lacking, especially in bigger cities (forget what they wear) - where they act like they are doing YOU a favor instead of realizing that we, the customer, are THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER.  Customer service has been sorely lacking in central through S. Florida for a long, long time......it's really sad.

There was a program on TV recently, think it was 20/20 (not sure), but it was about HOW AMERICA GOT SO RUDE....and 20 minutes of this show was spent on cell phone usage.....and I concur.  I believe the cell phone, while necessary for some, is the bane of the world.  People became incredibly self absorbed and don't you just LOVE the people waiting on you in any customer service who CHAT ON THEIR CELLPHONES while they are waiting on you?  Or who do their jobs with their cellulars attached to their ears on personal phone calls while working (not emergent phone calls)?  It's nauseating.......

Okay, I hate to ask this, but I  need some unbiased opinions.  My almost  18-year-old high school senior has of late been dressing in a lot of black.  It's not weird stuff at all, other than a couple of camisoles that I'm not wild about,  and she always wears a jacket with those.  The thing is, she's happy, outgoing, going to school without trouble, doing her  homework, happy around the family, planning her future, doing her own laundry, keeping her room clean, everything you could ask for.  She calls us when she's out and keeps us posted where she's at, and works very part-time at a drug store.  Her hair isn't dyed, she's not wearing weird make up, and isn't doing the  weird jewely like dog collars or any of that. 

But  it bugs me!  When I ask her she just says that she doesn't want to dress like the typical Abercrombie crowd.  She does  have some tan pants and a colorful sweater she wears here and there, but she really does love the black primarily.  I'm a worry wart type and am just worried this will escalate into the look I spoke  of above.  She swears she's not interested in tattoos, piercings,  or any of the rest of it.  Should I  just back off and leave her alone?  Is this uncommon or just typical teenage "testing  of the waters."  She's never rebelled in any way  before.