My daughter and her friend were so proud of themselves when they got to shop in the mall all by themselves. I stayed in the book store and read a book and drank an iced coffee for two hours while they went from store to store doing their back to school shopping.

When they returned to show me the offensive t shirts that they said were funny t shirts, I had to make them take them back. I could just see my daughter’s friend’s parents yelling at me for letting them buy such offensive t shirts. I would be known as the mother who lets the kids do what they want. I did not want that title attached to me.

I walked with them back to the store where they had bought the funny t shirts and made them return them. I asked them if they wanted to look at any other t shirts that were not offensive because I could see that they had some really funny t shirts that were very nice. They both found t shirts that were more appropriate for school and we were on our way.

They later told me that a few of their friends had on the offensive t shirts in school the first day, and they were all sent home to change. They were glad that I did not allow them to keep the shirts.