Teen’s fashion concerns dad

Dear Diane: I am the father of a 16-year-old daughter, “Beth.” I have worked hard all her life to give Beth everything she could ever need. She is my treasure. I would do anything to ensure her happiness.

We have always had a wonderful father-daughter relationship — until now. In the past few months, my daughter has changed. Lately she has been wearing clothes that I feel are far too revealing and provocative.

Her T-shirts are merely a suggestion of clothing. They barely cover her bosom and expose all the flesh on her abdomen to a point far below her belly button (which has recently been pierced). Beth’s blue jeans are so tight, I’m surprised she can squeeze into them. Apparently, these are called “hip huggers,” but that is small comfort, because they ride so low, there is more of her backside exposed than is covered.

The boys in the neighborhood and from her school are like a pack of wild, hungry dogs, constantly sniffing around our house and asking for her. I’m a man, and I know those punks aren’t coming by to just compliment my daughter on her choice of belly rings. They are only after one thing from Beth, and I think we all know what that is.

My wife, “Florence,” says I’m overreacting. She says Beth is wearing the same kind of clothes all the other girls these days are wearing. Florence also remarked that when we were dating, she wore clothes just as revealing, and I didn’t seem to have a problem with THAT.

What is going here, Diane? Have I become the Crotchety Old Crank my Old Man was? Or do I have a point?

— Concerned Dad in Connecticut

Dear Concerned Dad: I think you are no different from any father of a teenage girl. You also might be a little overprotective. Trust your wife’s judgment on this matter. And make sure she’s had The Talk with Beth about protecting herself against pregnancy and STDs.